The All-Seeing Security Guard

Chapter 005

"It was Julian who invited Ms. Sinclair here tonight."

Julian Ashford wore a polite smile, but his eyes kept crawling over the pale skin Lila Sinclair left bare at her collar and shoulders. She felt the weight of that gaze settle on her like something physical, and she suppressed a shiver of discomfort, forcing a small nod in his direction.

"Thank you for the invitation, Julian."

"No, thank you for coming." Julian extended his hand toward her, his smile widening. "Whitethorne Manor is brighter just for having you here."

Lila reluctantly offered her hand. The moment their fingers touched, Julian closed his grip around hers and let his thumb drift slowly across the back of her hand. Dana Whitlock, catching the lingering touch, stepped in smoothly to break it up.

"Hello, Julian. I'm Lila's talent agent, Dana Whitlock."

Only then did Julian let go, with visible reluctance, turning to exchange pleasantries with Dana while his eyes kept flicking back toward Lila. She used the distraction to lean closer to Cade Merrick and strike up a quiet conversation, grateful for the breathing room.

Standing nearby, Mr. Pike noticed the irritation flickering across Julian's face and decided to smooth things over. He turned to Lila with a knowing smile.

"Ms. Sinclair, weren't you curious about rough jade? Julian happens to be quite the expert. Why not let him show you around?"

Julian shot Mr. Pike a grateful, approving look before stepping past Dana to close the distance to Lila again.

"Expert is too strong a word. I just enjoy studying it in my spare time." He spread his hands modestly. "But if you're interested, I'd be glad to be your guide tonight."

Lila had little choice but to nod. "Then thank you, Julian."

"It's nothing!" He laughed, clearly pleased with himself, and led the group deeper into the manor.

Inside, long tables lined both sides of the room, each stacked with stones of every size, arranged into four distinct sections. Lila looked around curiously, and Julian explained as they walked, clearly enjoying the chance to show off his knowledge.

"Gambling on rough jade generally falls into four categories. Unopened rough jade, rough jade with a cut window, partially cut jadeite, and jadeite cut fully open."

"Unopened rough jade is completely sealed. It's the riskiest and most thrilling, since without eyes that could see through stone, there's no way to know what's hidden inside. Then there's rough jade with a cut window, meaning someone's sliced a small opening into the stone. This one takes experience. Sometimes the window shows green, but the color vanishes the deeper you cut. And the green itself can even be faked."

"Partially cut jadeite means the stone's been split in half, or more, so you can see how the veins and texture run through it. And finally, jadeite cut fully open. That's for investors, since there's hardly any gamble left in it."

He finished with a bright, expectant smile aimed squarely at Lila.

"So, what do you think? Which one interests you?"

"Whatever you recommend," she said.

Julian guided the three of them toward the unopened rough jade. "Since you're new to this, let's start with the fun part. Unopened stones are the most exciting. It's mostly down to luck, which makes it perfect for a first-timer like you."

A spark of curiosity lit up Lila's expression. "Is there really no technique to it at all?"

Julian smiled and pulled a small jeweler's loupe light from his pocket, pressing it into her hand. "Hold the light against the stone and look closely for any green reflecting back. If you see it, the stone might be worth the risk. Though of course, the odds of failure are still high."

Lila took the loupe with a polite smile and began sweeping it across the nearest stones. Julian leaned in close behind her, watching with rapt attention, breathing in the faint scent of her perfume a little too eagerly.

She finally settled on a stone roughly the size of a soccer ball and turned to ask his opinion, only to find him hovering right behind her shoulder with an expression she found distinctly unsettling. She stepped back quickly, moving closer to Cade instead.

If Julian noticed her retreat, he didn't show it. He simply scooped up the stone she'd been examining and held it out proudly.

"Excellent eye, Ms. Sinclair. I have a good feeling this one's going to show color. Shall we lock it in?"

"How much is it?" Lila asked carefully.

"Hardly anything." Julian chuckled. "Twenty-eight thousand."

Twenty-eight thousand dollars. Lila's brows drew together despite herself. She might be a rising star, but spending that much on a single rock still felt absurd to her.

Before she could decline, Julian added smoothly, "Since you like it, consider it my welcoming gift."

"That's far too generous," she said quickly, waving her hands.

"It's only twenty-eight thousand." Julian feigned offense. "Are you saying you think so little of me that you won't accept it?"

"Of course not!" Dana cut in at once, scolding Lila with exaggerated sternness for the show of it. "Julian's offering this out of pure goodwill. How could you refuse?" She turned back to Julian, softening her tone. "She didn't mean any disrespect. She's just shy."

"Dana's right," Cade said, stepping forward to stand between Julian and Lila. "She's mainly worried that if the stone turns up green, there'll be no clean way to settle the debt afterward."

Julian's gaze slid over Cade, up and down, with a faint sneer curling at the corner of his mouth. "And who exactly are you?"

"Her bodyguard," Cade said, meeting his eyes without flinching, his tone calm and unbothered.

"Bodyguard?" Julian let out a short, derisive laugh. "What private security company dug you up? Your manners are appalling. Do you even understand what kind of event this is? Since when do you get to speak here?"

Lila's expression turned cold the instant she saw the look on Julian's face. "Julian, show some respect. As for the twenty-eight thousand, I can afford it myself. I don't need your help."

Something sharp and ugly flashed behind Julian's eyes, there and gone in an instant, replaced by a practiced smile. "My apologies, Ms. Sinclair. I spoke out of turn. Even a dog gets spared for its owner's sake." He spread his hands in mock surrender. "If you insist, then the stone is yours to pay for."

Lila turned to Dana. "Pay for it."

Dana, well used to Lila's stubborn streak, didn't bother arguing and went off with Mr. Pike to settle the payment.

Lila reached for the stone, ready to carry it to the cutting station, but Cade put a hand out to stop her.

"Pick a different one," he said.

"Why?" She looked at him, puzzled.

Cade's expression carried an unshakable confidence. "Trust me. Choose another."

"Which one, then?" she asked, already leaning toward trusting his certainty.

Julian, overhearing, let out a mocking laugh. "Switching stones now? Does a bodyguard suddenly know how to gamble on jade too? Tell you what. If you can pick one better than that stone, I'll pay ten times whatever it costs."

Cade raised an eyebrow and turned to face him directly. "Deal. I trust a man of your standing wouldn't go back on his word."

He reached across the table, picked up a stone roughly the same size, and handed it to Lila. "Take this one."

Just as she moved to carry it off, Julian stepped in front of her, his tone needling. "And if it turns out worse than the one you had before? I want you on your knees, barking like a dog."

Lila glanced back at Cade and gave a slight shake of her head as a warning, but he remained completely unfazed and simply nodded in response.

After stepping closer to her, he lowered his voice so only she could hear him and whispered, "Don't worry. I've got this."

Lila carried the stone to the cutting station, where Dana and Mr. Pike had just returned from handling the payment.

Mr. Pike called out to the stone cutter. "Beck, this is Ms. Sinclair's stone. Cut it properly."

Beck nodded without hesitation and began preparing the saw and the water basin. But before he could start cleaning the stone, Julian walked up cradling the stone Lila had originally chosen, and addressed Beck directly.

"Cut mine first."

Beck didn't argue. "Of course, Julian." He set aside Lila's stone and took Julian's instead.

Julian turned back to Lila with a satisfied smile. "I'm sure you won't mind."

Lila, bristling, opened her mouth to object, but Cade caught her arm before she could speak.

"Not at all," he said evenly. "We don't mind."