Chapter 437: Who Schemed Against Whom (1)

Chapter 437: Chapter 437: Who Schemed Against Whom (1)

The moment Joel Xavier heard this, his heart began to pound frantically. "Mrs. Fenton, please, my client is here. If you keep holding up my payment, how am I supposed to do business?! You can’t screw me over like this!"

"A client? I’d like to see just what kind of client would make a store manager like you resort to taking out loans!" Jacinta Hale said, following Joel Xavier all the way to the reception room.

Inside the reception room sat a single, gray-haired man. He held several pieces that looked like calligraphy scrolls and exuded a refined, scholarly aura, giving him the appearance of an artist or intellectual.

"Store Manager Xavier, have you made up your mind? This is the third time I’ve come. If you can’t make a decision today, I won’t be selling these pieces to you!" The old man spoke first, seizing the initiative. His tone was resolute; it was clear his patience had been worn thin by the previous disappointments.

"Mr. Warren, please don’t say that! I’ll take them! I really will! It’s just that your asking price is very high, and my little shop only recently opened. I don’t have that much working capital on hand. You have to give me some time to get the funds together! But rest assured, I am definitely buying these pieces! I just need a little more time!"

Upon entering, Joel Xavier immediately began preparing and pouring tea for the old gentleman himself. His service was impeccable; he was treating him with the deference one would show a king.

But the old gentleman paid no mind to the personal service from the store manager. "More time? Store Manager Xavier, it’s been a week since my first visit, has it not? These are authentic works by the great Early Dynasty calligrapher Shan Franklin, and you authenticated them yourself! I’m only asking for three million, which is an absolute bargain! Don’t tell me a sprawling antique shop like this can’t even produce three million!"

When Joel Xavier heard the old gentleman announce the artist’s name, the color drained from his face. The Gilt Alley was packed with antique shops. The deal wasn’t even closed yet. If another store manager overheard and snatched this prize from right under his nose, who could he even complain to?

"Sir—" But before he could get the words out, Jacinta Hale interrupted him.

"Mr. Warren, I’d advise you to stop waiting on Store Manager Xavier. He’s not going to have money for you anytime soon! You might want to explore other options. You’ll probably have an easier time finding a buyer at another shop!"

"Ma’am, it’s not that I don’t want to find another dealer. But if I have to start over with someone new, the authentication process alone will waste a tremendous amount of time. Not everyone has a discerning eye! And authentic calligraphy is inherently harder to identify than many other antiques. On this whole street, only Store Manager Xavier is a true connoisseur with real expertise! He confirmed they were genuine on the spot!"

Although Mr. Warren was furious with Joel Xavier for dragging his feet, he couldn’t deny the man’s talent. Sure, anyone who managed to open an antique shop in The Gilt Alley had to have a few tricks up their sleeve, but Joel Xavier was truly a cut above the rest. His eye for authentication, in particular, had earned the old gentleman’s profound admiration.

Joel Xavier swelled with pride. As an antique shop owner, such high praise was the ultimate validation of his expertise. But before the look of pride could fully settle on his face, it froze on his lips.

"Rest easy, sir. I can recommend another antique shop where the appraiser has an even better eye than Store Manager Xavier. If he could confirm their authenticity, so can this other expert! You won’t have to worry about wasting any time!" Jacinta Hale was dead set on ruining his business today. ’He dared to bully my precious daughter. I will make him pay for this!’