The high-jewelry salon was bathed in warm, directional spotlights that made every glass display case shimmer like crushed ice. Martha stood near a velvet pedestal, examining a delicate platinum chain, while Catharine leaned in beside her, offering gentle suggestions on the cut of the stone.
Aliya, meanwhile, was leaning against a polished pillar a few paces back, casually reviewing raw footage on her tablet and humming a tune. The sleek, unmapped black Sovereign card was tucked securely into her coat pocket, its quiet weight a subtle reminder of the limitless backing behind them.
As Catharine turned to inspect a glass display featuring raw blue sapphires, a shadow fell across the counter.
"You know, sapphire blue is a difficult color to pull off," a smooth, rehearsed voice chimed in from her right. "It requires a certain level of natural poise. But on you, it looks entirely effortless."
