A Warm Marriage After Rebirth

For Joel Xavier, this was an unexpected turn of events. He thought that after the appraisal mishap, Seraphina Sterling would question his abilities and simply let him go. He never imagined she would still want to hire him!

"Aren’t you afraid that if I make another appraisal mistake, you’ll lose your shirt?" Joel Xavier had been supremely confident in his appraisal skills, but after this incident, he wasn’t so sure of himself anymore.

"Before today, you might have made such a mistake. But after today, I believe you won’t make one so easily!"

This was true. In terms of technical skill, Joel Xavier was already excellent; his only flaw was his overconfidence. After what had just happened, she believed he would definitely reflect on his actions, never be careless again, and wouldn’t jump to conclusions so easily.

"But what if I really do make a mistake?" Joel Xavier pressed, not letting the issue go.

Seraphina Sterling furrowed her brows slightly. ’Did I go too far just now and completely shatter his confidence? He can’t be this fragile, can he?’

"Everyone makes mistakes! There isn’t an appraiser alive who has a perfect record. If you make a mistake that I would have also made, then I’ll bear the loss. If you make a mistake that I wouldn’t have, then the loss will be deducted from your salary!"

"To protect my livelihood, I’ll have to keep working hard and keep learning! If I slip up, won’t I have to sell my soul to you?" Joel Xavier laughed, finally at ease. He really hadn’t expected to end up working for such a young boss.

"I’m still a student, as you know. I need an operator, not just a simple shop manager. This antique shop is yours to run. You can manage it according to your own ideas, and as long as your plans are reasonable and effective, I will provide the funding. Of course, in addition to your regular salary, you will also receive five percent of the shop’s net profit!"

Seraphina Sterling’s words didn’t just shock Joel Xavier; even Wyatt Gallagher, who was standing to the side, was stunned by her grand gesture. Five percent of the net profit was no small sum. She was truly generous!

"You’re a very generous manager. It looks like I’ll have to get serious starting today! Such a handsome reward is too attractive to pass up!" At that moment, Joel Xavier truly accepted Seraphina Sterling as his boss.

’She has skill, methods, and vision. It looks like a dark horse is about to enter the business world!’

"Six months from now, Manager Sterling, you will definitely think you have great judgment for not misjudging me!" A fire ignited in Joel Xavier’s heart. He felt every cell in his body jumping with excitement, and he was filled with passion and drive for the future. He couldn’t wait to get started and achieve something great.

"One more thing. From now on, you are the owner of this antique shop. I will only be in the background. I’m sure a man as smart as Manager Xavier understands what I mean." Seraphina Sterling gave him a warm smile, her faint dimples barely visible.

"No problem! But... there really isn’t much genuine stock in this shop. Philip Hale’s eye was terrible; he was always getting duped. The only thing nice about this place is the decor. Everything else is pretty mediocre." Even if he had world-class talent, it would be hard to sell anything without enough good inventory.

"Don’t worry about the antiques. I have stock! Just drive to Tollan Town tomorrow and haul it back." Her six months of browsing antique stalls had not been for nothing!

’Haul?’ Joel Xavier carefully considered the word. Just how many antiques did Seraphina Sterling have that they needed to be *hauled* away?

"Let me remind you one more time: if outsiders ask, you tell them you bought this shop from me. And don’t tell me you don’t have the money. Even if the Xavier Family has fallen on hard times, it’s impossible you don’t have something held in reserve. After all, you come from a family of collectors. A single heirloom would be enough for you to get back on your feet. No matter what, no matter how big this shop becomes in the future, as long as I don’t say otherwise, you are always the one in charge here!"

Seraphina Sterling added the instructions, feeling she had to be thorough. ’The day will come when I have a complete falling out with Justin Hale. My businesses must remain completely hidden!’

Joel Xavier was stunned once again. It seemed Seraphina Sterling had already investigated his background thoroughly. Her visit today probably wasn’t to fire him, but to secure him! That explained their two recent confrontations. If she hadn’t demonstrated her own extraordinary eye for antiques, he wouldn’t have agreed to stay.

’Scheming and shrewd!’

By the time Seraphina Sterling finished her conversation with Joel Xavier, the sky had already grown dark.

To thank Wyatt Gallagher for his help that day, Seraphina Sterling treated him to a lavish meal at the most luxurious restaurant in Sanford.

Wyatt Gallagher hadn’t said a word all afternoon. It wasn’t until dinner that he finally spoke.

"You warned Joel Xavier repeatedly not to reveal that you’re the boss, so this must be very important to you. But you didn’t hide it from me, and you didn’t even give me a warning. Aren’t you worried I might leak your secret?"

"There was no need to hide it from you. How could you not know what Mr. Gallagher knows? Besides, you’ve never been very interested in the business world, so why would you go around gossiping? And taking a step back, I think we’re friends now. You wouldn’t do something like betray a friend, would you?"

Seraphina Sterling blinked playfully. Having had a little red wine, her fair cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, creating a pure and innocent allure. For a moment, Wyatt Gallagher was completely captivated.

"Don’t worry, I would never betray a friend."

They looked at each other and smiled, raising their wine glasses. The glasses touched with a light, crisp clink, signaling the beginning of a friendship.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the restaurant, behind two large potted plants, Terrence Grant was sipping red wine all by himself. Through a gap in the leaves, he had a perfect view of Wyatt Gallagher and Seraphina Sterling.

"Sir, they’re probably not on a date. It looks like they’re just having a meal together," Hughes said, unable to bear the increasingly oppressive atmosphere around his master.

With a sharp CRACK, the plate holding his steak fractured. "What does it matter to me if they’re on a date or not?"