A large white French chair is pulled up for me. They position the chair under the massive candlelit chandelier at the center of the store. A selection of watches, necklaces, earrings and bracelets are displayed before me. I look back at Mr. Peak who watches passively as the sales staff gets to work.
“The first impression is always the most important. People will be looking at your chest,” the woman says as she grabs a case from one of her as**sociates. “And when people lay their eyes on you, they will see this” she announces as she opens the box.
In front of me is the most decadent necklace I have ever seen in my life. The diamonds blind me. The arrangement of the stones are perfect. The Cartier salesgirl places that necklace around my neck. I feel it lock behind me. The woman holds a mirror in front of me. I see that necklace around my neck. Yes, I am sold.
The woman shows me a pair of matching earrings. She places them on me. I feel like a monarch. The women continue to open case after case. They place bracelets on each of my wrists. I am offered another, more subtle necklace, for “casual attire.”
I am shown a watch with dozens of diamonds framing the clock face. “This is our Santos Demoiselle model. I think this would be perfect for Monte Carlo,” the sales girl says as she places it on my wrist.
The Cartier woman extends her hand. I stand up and am presented to Mr. Peak. He looks at me and doesn’t say anything just yet. After a long and tense few seconds, he simply says, “Something is missing.”
Mr. Peak grabs my right hand and tells the Cartier woman, “Rings attract attention.”
The Cartier sales girl nods. Oh my God. Is Mr. Peak about to put a ring on my finger?!
The sales girl comes back with a case. She opens the case. But this time, she opens the case away from my eyes. The Cartier girl shows the ring to my boss. “Good,” he says.
Mr. Peak takes the ring from the case and grabs my hand. My boss slowly places the ring on my finger. I begin to melt.
I look at the platinum ring with a rock that makes me hyperventilate. Even the other sales girls seem impressed. My boss reaches into his coat jacket and hands the woman a Black Amex Card. I awkwardly stand there unsure of how I could ever thank Mr. Peak for making me feel like the most special girl in the world.
As the store processes the payment, Mr. Peak looks at the ring and the necklace. He tells me, “You have to feel comfortable with these diamonds. They should feel like an extension of yourself. Don’t let the diamonds carry you. You should carry the diamonds.”
I begin to walk around the store. My posture straightens out. I catch a reflection of myself in a mirror. Damn, I look good. My confidence begins to rise. Other people in the store are looking at me. Hell, they are not looking, they are gawking at me. They want to know who I am. What makes me so special to deserve all this attention.
My body surges with this energy and excitement at the thought of helping my Mr. Peak win his biggest conquest. I walk back over to my boss who signs off on the final bill. When the transaction is complete, the Cartier sales woman hands me the jewelry boxes. “Have a wonderful time in Monaco,” she tells me.
“I will.”
***
We get back to the mansion in Malibu, I carefully put away all of the jewelry except for that incredible ring on my finger. I just can’t stop staring at it. Of course, Mr. Peak and myself are not husband and wife. Our bond is just as deep. We are sexual partners. We are partners in crime. Our lives will depend on each other when we get to Monaco.
That night, Mr. Peak carries me to his bed. He looks at the ring still on my finger. “You like that ring, don’t you?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever take this off.”
My boss tosses me onto the bed and jumps on top of me. He pins me down and forces me to look him directly in the face. “Pay attention and pay attention to me very carefully. Do you know what a diamond is?”
“It’s a gemstone?” I ask nervously.
“It is the most powerful stone in the world. But it is more than simple jewelry. Turn the ring around so the rock is under your palm.”
I do what Mr. Peak says. He takes my hand, with the ring, and presses it against his own neck.
“That little ring may also save your life. Serge Molidak is known for extreme violence. That diamond will be enough to cut someone open at close range. Keep that in mind,” Mr. Peak orders as he takes my hand and presses it against my face. I can feel the stone ready to pierce my skin. I wince. Mr. Peak frees my hand just before the diamond cuts my flesh.
The surge of adrenaline rushes through me. I grab my boss and kiss him. He runs his tongue on my neck.