Two
Hollie
I glanced over my shoulder to check I was going unnoticed in the ballroom full of men in tuxedos and women wearing dresses that cost more than our trailer back home in Oregon. I’d only ever seen scenes like this in movies, yet here I was, one of the guests.
I didn’t belong here.
My new colleagues had disappeared as soon as we’d entered this vast room, and given the number of people here tonight, I’d probably never see them again. That was okay. The bus to take us back to the office was leaving at eleven, which meant I had limited time to study the incredible royal jewelry on display.
A tall waiter thrust a tray of drinks under my nose, like being offered free champagne was just completely normal. I’d never tasted champagne before, and was determined to keep a clear head, but if my sister, Autumn, was here, she’d tell me I shouldn’t miss out. I took a glass and headed toward one of the displays of jewelry from the Finnish royal family. I was here to work. Learn. Invest in my future. My three-month internship was my one shot—my opportunity to escape the life my parents had led, a trailer-park existence I was ready to quit.
“Wow,” I said out loud as I came to the first of the display cases dotted throughout the room. I took in the two-tiered tiara, not quite believing what was right in front of me.
I’d seen it online. The queen of Finland had worn it on her wedding day. Seeing it up close and personal was an entirely different thing. It was almost overwhelming, there was so much to look at. The bottom layer was a headband of huge solitaire diamonds, each one as big as my knuckle. The top was like a string of bunting of alternating rubies and diamonds. From a distance, just the bigger stones were visible, but as I got closer, I could see a top string of small stones that had been strung together with even smaller stones. It was so unusual I wanted to pull out a sketch pad and start to make drawings. I had a notebook and pen stashed in my bag, but I couldn’t see anyone else writing anything down and I didn’t need to draw attention to myself tonight. I stood out as it was. If I didn’t keep my head down, I’d probably get arrested by the plain Jane police likely patrolling here tonight. I was wearing a cheap, slightly too big A-line white dress my sister had loaned me. I’d sewn a line of black sequins around the collar in the hope of passing it off as cocktail attire. I’d even borrowed Autumn’s slightly too small shoes and had newly formed blisters to prove it.
Blistered feet were a small price to pay for being in this room. I was the intern for a jewelry house that had a real chance at winning the competition. The sheer luck of it all was enough to dull any pain I might otherwise have felt.
The thought of being part of the team that would bejewel the princess of Finland on her wedding day was the cherry on top of the cake. I’d have been happy with three months’ experience with one of the most successful jewelers in London. This was the push I needed to get a job in New York at one of the big jewelry houses. A dozen job applications had sent the message loud and clear—no experience, no job. But a letter of recommendation from Charles Ledwin, CEO of Sparkle, would open every door that had been slammed in my face. It was my ticket out of my dead-end life in Oregon.
I glanced around at the display cases dotted throughout the room before clocking the burly security guys at every exit point. There was a lot of money here tonight. A lot of talent. It was intimidating and completely exhilarating at the same time. It felt as if I was about to start a supermarket sweep of knowledge. I’d have three months to grab as much as possible and then the buzzer would sound and my fate would be sealed. Hopefully I’d have done enough, seen enough, learned enough to change my future.
Why wasn’t there a line to see this tiara? It was so freaking beautiful that I wanted to shout at the top of my voice for people to come see. I guess this way I had it all to myself. I glanced around to ensure no one was paying any attention to me—of course they weren’t—abandoned my champagne glass on a nearby table, pulled out my notebook and scribbled down some ideas.
The next display case contained a silver hair comb incrusted with pavé diamonds. Another tall waiter hovered next to me with a tray of champagne. Jiminy Cricket, I must have left my glass behind at the tiara display. I never even got to taste it. Could I just take another one? I glanced at the waiter but he wasn’t taking any notice, so I swiped another glass and turned back to the display.