The Enigmatic Alexander Chase

Chapter 5: King Harrington

The crowd at the Diamond Banquet stood frozen, their collective breath caught in disbelief. Every gaze was locked on the scene unfolding at the bar.

Jacob Harrington, the King of Diamonds himself, was shaking hands with Alexander Chase, the live-in son-in-law of the Lockwood family.

Whispers rippled through the banquet like wildfire.

"Why would Jacob Harrington know him?"

"Is he someone important we don’t know about?"

"Impossible. That man is just a leech living off the Lockwoods. There’s no way Jacob Harrington would associate with someone like that."

Julian Monroe, still sitting at the bar, watched with a mix of shock and fury as Jacob Harrington ignored him entirely. For a man like Julian, used to being the center of attention, it was nothing short of humiliating.

“Alexander Chase, I wasn’t sure you’d make it,” Jacob greeted him warmly, shaking Alexander’s hand firmly.

His voice carried across the room, silencing the whispers for a brief moment.

Alexander returned the handshake with a small bow, an act of respect, though his expression remained unreadable.

“Jacob Harrington,” he said calmly, the weight of the moment not lost on him.

Julian couldn’t hold back anymore. “Sir Harrington, do you..... know this man?” he stammered, his tone betraying his confusion.

Jacob turned to him with a mild smile, the kind that was polite but dismissive. “Not as much as I’d like to,” he replied smoothly. “Did you come with him, Julian?”

“N-no, sir. I didn’t,” Julian admitted, shrinking under Jacob’s gaze.

“That’s a shame,” Jacob said, his attention already shifting back to Alexander.

“Oh and Julian, about the business contract with your family—please tell your father it’s as good as done. We’ll finalize the paperwork soon.”

Julian’s face lit up with forced gratitude, though his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“Of course, Sir Harrington. I’ll be sure to let him know.”

“Now then,” Jacob said, turning back to Alexander, “shall we talk here, or would you prefer somewhere more private?”

Alexander glanced around the banquet hall. The weight of countless eyes boring into him made the decision easy. “Anywhere but here,” he replied.

“Perfect. Follow me,” Jacob said, leading Alexander toward a side staircase. The murmurs in the crowd grew louder as they disappeared up the steps, leaving Julian stewing in his embarrassment.

---

The rooftop balcony of the mansion was breathtaking. The city lights stretched out endlessly in the distance, twinkling like scattered diamonds under the night sky. A gentle breeze carried the faint scent of flowers from the gardens below, mingling with the crisp, cool air.

“Nice view, isn’t it?” Jacob remarked as they stepped out onto the balcony.

Alexander nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. The sheer opulence of the banquet and Jacob’s warm demeanor felt like a world away from his daily life.

"It is,” he admitted, leaning on the balcony rail.

Then he turned to Jacob, his voice steady. “But it doesn’t answer my question. Why exactly am I here? Why did you invite me?”

Jacob took a sip of his champagne, his expression contemplative. “The Azura Star Diamond” he said simply.

Alexander stiffened slightly. “What about it?”

Jacob turned to face him fully. “How were you able to tell it was a fake?”

For a moment, Alexander’s mind drifted. He remembered his mother, the original Azura Star Diamond gleaming on the necklace she wore as she laughed and danced in the courtyard of the Chase family mansion. That diamond had been her favorite—a gift from his father during better times.

“I happen to know a thing or two about the Azura Star Diamond,” Alexander replied vaguely, not wanting to reveal too much.

Jacob nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. “Well, your sharp eyes saved me a lot of trouble. I was planning to buy the diamond from Lady Lockwood after the banquet. I was willing to pay a hefty sum, too. But you—” he gestured with his glass— “you figured out in seconds what my team of diamond experts might have taken weeks to determine. So, you have my thanks.”

“There’s no need to thank me,” Alexander said, brushing off the compliment.

“Nonsense,” Jacob insisted. “You accomplished in mere seconds what would have cost my team and I time and resources.”

Alexander smirked slightly. “Then maybe you should consider hiring a new team of experts.”

Jacob laughed, a deep, genuine sound that caught Alexander off guard. “You’re funny, too. I like that.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t trying to be.”

“Even better,” Jacob said, setting down his glass.

“You’ve got brains, instincts, and apparently, a good sense of humor. You’re a diamond in the rough, Alexander. And I don’t let diamonds slip through my fingers.”

Alexander frowned, unsure where the conversation was heading. “What are you getting at?”

Jacob’s tone grew serious, his gaze steady. “I want you to work for me. Be my assistant.”