"How dare you talk to me like that!" Natalie stared at Robert in disbelief. "Those internships were already agreed on. You can't just take them back because you feel like it."

"Not only can I talk to you like that, but I'm also this close to slapping some sense into you," Robert said, looking her over with contempt. "And your boyfriend is even more ridiculous. Are you actually blind?

"Let me be crystal clear. I said none of you are getting in, and I meant it. You threw away a fortune just to settle for this idiot!"

Brandon's face flushed red. He parted his lips to retort, but the words died in his throat.

The classmates around us were stunned, unable to fathom the sudden turn of events.

A few of them had gone pale, probably because they had been the loudest in mocking me alongside Brandon.

"Wait… Does that mean the diamond is real?"

As soon as those words were uttered, the gazes in the room turned hungry.

"That's enough," I said with a calm smile. "The blue diamond is sitting in a bottle of liquor right now. I want it assessed for damages. Did you bring a specialist?"

Robert grinned. "Mr. Reed, your matters are always of utmost importance to me. I'll handle this myself."

With that, he took out his tools and carefully began working the blue diamond necklace out of the bottle. To avoid letting it scrape against the glass, he couldn't simply tip the bottle over and pour it out.

At that point, he didn't need to say a word about its authenticity. The care he took with it said enough.

I looked at Brandon. His breathing was shallow, and the panic on his face was palpable.

Natalie noticed and softened her voice as she comforted him, "It's just a diamond. Don't be scared. I can afford to pay for it. Even if we have to pay the full price up front, my family can handle it!"

Brandon nodded, clearly moved. "Natalie, you're the best! I love you so much."

Watching their public display of affection only made my skin crawl.

But when Natalie said her family could come up with ten million dollars, something immediately felt off to me.

"You're really overselling it," I reminded her. "Natalie, you know exactly what your family can and can't afford. Are you planning to embezzle the project funds from Reed Enterprises, or are you thinking of using the card?"

"What does that have to do with you?" she snapped, anger creeping into her voice. "I don't know what your deal with Mr. Whitman is, but you don't get to tell my family how to spend our money! Once you get the money, take your diamond and get the hell out!"

I shook my head disdainfully. "And what if I do get a say?"