Chapter 375: Indirect Kiss (7)

Chapter 375: Chapter 375: Indirect Kiss (7)

"Please, Mr. Gallagher, you’re too kind. Apex Collections is an out-of-town company, after all. It’s one thing to set up shop in Aethelgard, but breaking into the market is another challenge entirely. Joel Xavier told me you were a great help in getting Apex Collections established here! It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, and I was merely the one who connected you. The brilliant success of the porcelain jewelry is all due to your own skill, Mr. Gallagher!" Seraphina Sterling wasn’t being falsely modest; she didn’t know how much Felix Gallagher knew about her connection to Apex Collections, so she had to be cautious with her words. ’It’s not yet time to reveal everything!’

"But that was only because of the fantastic publicity you generated! If you hadn’t gifted those porcelain earrings at Miss Chapman’s birthday banquet, causing all the young ladies from prominent families to clamor for them, this porcelain jewelry would never have become an instant sensation at my Jade Pavilion! The store’s sales have doubled in the last two months! I simply must propose a toast to you!"

Felix Gallagher was truly overjoyed. Jade Pavilion had gone through a major crisis. Although it had pulled through, its sales were much worse than before. Jade Pavilion specialized in jade adornments, mostly jadeite jewelry, but the styles were largely similar, making it hard to attract consumers based on design alone! Jade Pavilion had always leaned on its brand and the quality of its pieces. Now, the jewelry market was fiercely competitive; young people overwhelmingly preferred diamonds and paid little attention to jadeite. His title as Apex’s foremost jeweler was on the verge of being abdicated!

But in the two months since Jade Pavilion began selling the porcelain jewelry, sales had skyrocketed, returning to the store’s original performance levels! The novel designs, unique material, and profound symbolism of the porcelain pieces had already kicked off a fashion craze in the jewelry world. Backed by the fervent pursuit of the wealthy elites and high society’s love for keeping up with the Joneses, it would have been hard for the jewelry *not* to become a hit! On top of that, Seraphina Sterling had patented the entire creative concept and even registered a trademark for it—Timeless Charm. Even if other jewelers wanted to copy it, they couldn’t!

Besides, even if other jewelers wanted to follow the trend, they would need the right materials, and not just anyone can identify authentic antique porcelain. If they partnered with antique dealers, their costs would be substantially higher. How could they possibly compete with Jade Pavilion and Apex Collections then? They would also have to conceive of a name more elegant and a meaning more profound than Timeless Charm, which would be no easy feat!

No matter how he looked at it, Seraphina Sterling’s contribution to Jade Pavilion’s rapid and massive sales boost was indispensable. While he had indeed expended considerable effort to help Apex Collections break into the Aethelgard market, he knew that with their stunning performance at the appraisal conference, Joel Xavier could have carved out a place for them in Aethelgard’s antiques circle even without his help. All things considered, it was his Jade Pavilion that had truly benefited from this partnership!

Felix Gallagher had already raised his glass. As the junior, Seraphina Sterling had no choice but to follow suit. Watching him drain his drink in one gulp, Seraphina Sterling frowned, steeling herself to do the same and finish her cup.

However, just as her lips touched the rim of the cup, Wyatt Gallagher snatched it from her hands and downed its contents in a single gulp. "Old man, Seraphina isn’t even eighteen yet! And you’re making her drink? Has all that business dealing fried your brain?"

"You’re right, that was thoughtless of me! My mistake entirely! I’ll drink another as penance!" Felix Gallagher roared with laughter and downed another glass.

Seraphina Sterling stared at the cup in Wyatt Gallagher’s hand. ’I just touched that cup... and he just drank from it? Doesn’t that count as an indirect kiss?’ A wave of profound awkwardness washed over her. ’And why is he still holding my cup? Is he not going to give it back?’ She recalled what Wyatt Gallagher had said at the club, her brow furrowing. ’This is getting complicated.’ But now wasn’t the time or place to discuss it. ’Maybe he did it unintentionally and I’m just overthinking this. If I make a big deal about it, it’ll be so embarrassing!’