Before the holidays, Daniel was set to return to Oakridge Manor to visit his grandfather. Before leaving, he gave Anna a few reminders, telling her to make herself at home and even leaving her a black credit card—the password was her birthday. It felt as if he was trying to pamper her, so overbearing.
The next day, Anna went to work. As soon as she stepped into the office, Sarah called out to her in a flat tone, "Pack up; we're heading to Titan Mining."
Anna was a bit puzzled but didn't ask much. She was just a newly hired junior mineral appraiser at the company; it was her duty to comply. Although her background was once illustrious, after her family's downfall, she had to start from scratch, relying on her own skills to carve out a place for herself.
Upstairs, they were greeted personally by Alex Weston of Titan Mining.
Also present at the meeting were the CEO and COO of Titan Mining, as well as several executives from Titan Jewelry. Standing among these big shots, Anna felt particularly small and even a bit uneasy. Subconsciously, she glanced back at Sarah, hoping for some support.
But Sarah was happily chatting with Alex Weston, completely ignoring her, as if she were just a bystander.
Soon, Anna understood the purpose of today's meeting. Titan Mining wanted to sign a new appraisal cooperation contract with her.
"Anna, take a look at this contract. If everything looks good, go ahead and sign it," Alex Weston handed her three copies of the contract, his smile carrying a hint of deeper meaning.
Anna took the contract and read through it line by line. Although she wasn't a legal expert, she could tell that this contract was extremely generous, especially in providing substantial resources for her future mineral appraisal work.
She looked at Sarah once again, like a child seeking an adult's approval.
"What are you waiting for? Do you think Alex would trick you? This is a golden opportunity falling into your lap—sign it quickly," Sarah said with a smile, her tone urging her on.
She was right. Titan Mining was a subsidiary of Titan Jewelry. If Alex Weston wanted to mess with her, he wouldn't need to go through so much trouble.
Without further hesitation, Anna swiftly signed her name.
To her surprise, the contract terms allowed her to directly participate in several high-level appraisal projects at Titan Jewelry, even giving her the responsibility to evaluate some world-class precious minerals and jewels. For her, this was an opportunity to soar to new heights.
Alex Weston began to explain the specific details of the contract methodically. He told Anna that Titan Mining was a top company in the industry, specializing in global mineral extraction and custom jewelry. There would be many high-end appraisal projects in the future, and she would have the chance to be directly involved.
Although Anna had been exposed to many top-tier jewels in her youth, this opportunity came so suddenly that she felt a bit overwhelmed. She nodded, trying her best to appear calm. "I understand. I'll follow the company's arrangements."
Her cooperation took Alex Weston by surprise, and he relaxed with a slight smile. The last thing he wanted was someone who was clueless and uncooperative.
"He's here," Alex glanced at his phone, stood up, and walked toward the door with a broad smile. "Your partner for the first collaborative project has arrived."
When the door opened, Anna was completely stunned.
"Long time no see, Anna." Michael Weston walked in with a smile.
Michael Weston, in his early thirties, was tall and athletic, exuding an air of confident vitality. He was one of the most renowned mineral appraisers in the industry. It was said that he came from a wealthy family; his parents were famous jewelry collectors.
Alex Weston was his cousin. Although Alex came from a modest background, he had successfully carved out a niche in the mining and jewelry industry through his exceptional management skills. The two cousins had a great relationship and had been running Titan Mining together.
Seeing Michael's smile, a hint of unease stirred in Anna's heart. He had once been one of her mentors. Before her family's downfall, she had studied mineral appraisal techniques in his laboratory. Michael had taught her how to distinguish between natural gemstones and synthetic minerals, even praising her highly.
But now, their reunion was under entirely different circumstances.
Michael briefly explained the previous situation. He said that due to the performance of the "Black & White Gemstone Series" jewelry launch not meeting expectations, they had replaced the previous appraiser. However, after reconsideration, they decided to use the appraisal report she had provided earlier and bring her back onto the project.
This sounded like a bunch of high-sounding excuses.
When she was first replaced, Anna still held onto some hope. Because Michael had once shown her considerable favor, she thought he wasn't the type to abandon his protégés for profit.
It wasn't until later that she learned Michael was closely connected to her competitor, Grace Hart. To protect Grace's project, he had suppressed half a year's worth of her efforts. Only then did Anna realize what kind of person he really was—saying one thing to her face and doing another behind her back, a smile hiding a dagger.
Unfortunately, this was the norm in the industry; most people could change their stance at any time for the sake of profit.
"Although the mineral samples you appraised earlier performed well, we still need to supplement some new data and experimental verification. Also, for the subsequent 'Third Sector' and 'Fourth Sector' projects, we've decided to have you continue participating," Michael said blandly.
Anna wasn't very good at hiding her emotions. She forced a slight smile, her voice somewhat muted. "Thank you for your support, Michael."
"You're welcome," he replied, as courteous as ever.
As they left, Sarah was still muttering, "What kind of stroke of luck is this? They actually chose you." She still seemed incredulous. "Titan is selecting three mineral appraisers for their 'Diamond-Level' support program, and the other two are famous masters in the industry."
She glanced at Anna and changed her tone. "Of course, you have to work harder yourself. If your subsequent performance isn't up to par, they might replace you."
Anna agreed, her emotions complex.
Is there really such a thing as a free lunch in this world?
After seeing Sarah off, Anna sat on the steps for a while and couldn't help taking out her phone. She dialed Daniel's number, her mind a jumble. She both hoped he would answer and didn't know what to say if he did.
Pathetic, she silently mocked herself. It's just a top-tier contract, but it makes her feel like she's "sold herself at a good price."
Ten minutes later, Daniel called back. Despite the distance, his voice sounded a bit tired yet magnetic. "You called?"
Anna's ears inexplicably grew warm, and she didn't respond immediately.
"I was just playing chess with my grandfather; my phone was on silent," he explained.
"Oh, it's nothing," she mumbled, unsure of what to say now that he had called back.
They were silent for a moment before he finally spoke first. "Have you eaten?"
"No."
"Then let's eat together."
Ten minutes later, someone sent by Daniel picked her up and took her to a restaurant. Anna got out of the car and walked along a corridor into an elegantly decorated courtyard. The wind blew in through the skylight, and the air was filled with a faint aroma of coffee.
Daniel was sitting in a modern lounge area, leisurely flipping through a magazine. When he saw her enter, he looked up, his gaze deep. "What, are you afraid of me? Why are you standing so far away?"