Christiana’s POV.
The might had turned into something I hadn’t imagined in my wildest dreams.
It started out as a disaster–empty halls, stolen guests, and a pit in my stomach that refused to settle. But now, as I stood at the center of the bustling banquet hall, I could hardly believe what was happening. Everywhere I turned, there were guests admiring the jewelry, talking in animated voices, and signing purchase agreements. The pieces I had worked so hard on, the ones my employees had poured their hearts into, were being sold off one by one, and it was happening so fast I could barely keep up
“Christiana, we just sold the Sapphire Cascade set for twice its expected value,” Grace called over from the display table, her voice brimming with excitement. “And the Diamond Crown earrings–they’ve been snatched up too!”
I blinked, feeling a rush of emotions flood my chest. “Really? Twice the value? My voice cracked slightly, disbelief washing over me. I had been preparing for a disaster, and now everything was exceeding expectations in ways I hadn’t even hoped
for.
Grace rushed over with a clipboard in hand, her eyes wide and bright. “We’re almost sold out of the entire collection,” she said, practically bouncing on her heels. “This this is incredible!”
I could barely keep up with her energy, my own emotions swirling in excitement, relief, and sheer gratitude. I let out a small laugh, almost incredulous, my eyes sweeping over the tables where the remaining pieces of jewelry were being admired. “I don’t even know how this happened,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head in disbelief.
But I didn’t have time to wonder. The guests–my guests“-neciled me.
1 straightened my back, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear, and moved toward the crowd. There was a buzz in the air, an electric excitement that seemed to sweep through the room like a wave, and it lifted my spirits higher with each step I took. I caught sight of Alexander Graham, the oil magnate, studying one of the statement necklaces with a discerning eye.
“Mr. Graham,” I greeted, my voice steady now, full of the confidence I hadn’t felt an hour ago. “I hope you’re finding something to your liking?”
He looked up from the necklace and gave me a thoughtful nod. Your work is impressive, Christiana. I wasn’t sure what to expect tonight, but I have to say, you’ve exceeded expectations.
I smiled, warmth flooding my chest at his words. “Thank you. That means the world to me.”
Moving on, I found myself engaging in similar conversations with each guest. They all seemed genuinely impressed by the craftsmanship, the designs, and the creativity behind each piece. And as I spoke with them, the earlier frustration and anxiety I’d felt melted away, replaced by a deep sense of pride and gratitude,
“We did it.”
I made my way back to Grace, who was still furiously scribbling down numbers on her clipboard She was glowing, a huge grin plastered on her face as she gave me the latest count. “Chrisjana, we’ve officially sold out. Every last piece.”
My breath hitched, my hand instinctively flying to my chest. “All of it? Every single one?”
Grace nodded, her eyes practically sparkling. “Everything I just can’t believe it. This turned out even better than we’d hoped”
1 felt a laugh bubbling up from deep inside me, light and unrestrained. “This this is unbelievable.” My voice was barely above a whisper, the weight of the evening finally sinking in. “I don’t know what to say
“You don’t have to say anything.” Grace replied, her smile softening. “You’ve worked hard for this. You deserve every bit of
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Chapter 62
it.”
My heart swelled at her words, but deep down. I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I didn’t do this alone. There was a whole team behind me, people who had believed in me, supported me. And now, somehow, we had made the impossible happen.
As the last of the jewelry was packaged up and the paperwork finalized, I made sure to personally thank each and every guest who had attended. I walked them to the door, offering heartfelt words of gratitude. “Thank you for coming. I can’t tell you how much this means to me,” I told Evelyn Starling, one of the top investors in the country.
Evelyn gave me a gracious smile, taking my hand in hers. “You’ve done something extraordinary here tonight, Christiana. I look forward to seeing where you take this next”
I smiled back, feeling a rush of pride and relief. “Thank you. I won’t forget this night.”
By the time the final guest left, the banquet hall was quiet again. I stood there for a moment, absorbing the silence, letting it settle over me like a soft blanket. The night had started out as a nightmare, but somehow, it had turned into a dream come
true.
Grace came up beside me, her expression soft and proud. “You did it, Christiana. We did it.”
I turned to her, my chest tight with emotion. “II still can’t believe it. How did everything turn around like that?” I chuckled softly, shaking my head in amazement. “It felt like the universe was laughing at me earlier, and now it feels like someone had my back.”
Grace smiled knowingly, her eyes glimmering with something I couldn’t quite place. “I think someone did.”
I frowned slightly, my thoughts immediately drifting back to Alex. “Could it have been him?* The idea gnawed at me, but I pushed it aside for now. I would deal with that later. Tonight was about celebrating the success we had earned, no matter how it came about.
I glanced around the hall one last time, my heart swelling with gratitude. I had done it. Despite everything, despite the sabotage and the chaos, I had pulled off the exhibition. And it had turned out better than I could have ever hoped.
This was just the beginning.
“Come on,” I said, turning to Grace with a smile. “Let’s wrap this up. We’ve got a lot to celebrate.”
