And So I Ran - Complete

Chapter 38

"Christian Grey," I said, sticking my hand out and shaking the hand of New York's most influential diamond merchant. "I very much appreciate you making the time to see me, especially so early."

It wasn't yet 7:30 am, but Levi Ziegler was at his workplace, impeccably groomed, and waiting for me.

"I'm up at dawn anyway," he said in an oddly generous way. "A man wishing to propose is a man in a hurry." I laughed self-deprecatingly. He had me pegged! "So, you're interested in the oval eight carat stone?" Ziegler asked, as though he were speaking about some inconsequential matter, not a diamond worth over a million dollars.

"Yes. I'm every bit as impressed as you said I'd be," I ventured, recognizing this was not yet the time to negotiate. "I wanted to discuss with you your thoughts about a setting."

While Ziegler had a wealth of knowledge and skill when it came to stones, he was equally well connected when it came to high-end jewelers who could set the diamonds he sold. Even a phenomenal diamond would struggle to show to advantage in a poor quality setting.

"What of the lady?" he asked. "What is her nature and temperament?"

I understood what he was doing. He was trying to get a sense of the type of design that would suit Ana.

"She's beautiful," I said, watching as Levi all but rolled his eyes. I suppose every hopeful groom said that. "She's smart, witty and didn't grow up with money. She isn't motivated by wealth or prestige. She'd be horrified if she knew how much I intend to spend on her engagement ring. She's pure, innocent and wears her heart on her sleeve. I want something simple for her. Understated and very classy. I saw something online I thought might suit?" I said, handing over a print out of an infinity design.

Levi looked at the design and shrugged.

"With a stone that size you won't see any of the detail. What about this?" he suggested, sketching on a notepad, taking my ideas and adjusting them slightly. And it was perfect. Uncomplicated, I could see the design on Ana's finger.

"How much and how long?"

"Six weeks and one and a half million."

"The stone is a million two hundred and fifty. Two hundred and fifty thousand is a lot for a setting and a few grams of gold."

"That would include a matching wedding band..."

"It would need to be made up of diamonds to make it worthwhile," I joked.

Ziegler regarded me. I knew it would be foolhardy to speak before he did, so I looked around his modest office. It was nothing special, and one could be forgiven for thinking one was in a bank manager's office - if it wasn't for the presence of two armed security guards for Ziegler, and Sawyer and Ryan with me. And the three-inch-thick solid door we'd stepped through to attend this meeting.

"So, make me an offer..." Levi said raising his hands in a conciliatory gesture.

"I want that stone, set as per your sketch. I also want a matching plain wedding band and matching eternity ring. The eternity ring is to have channel set diamonds along the front."

As I spoke, Ziegler was scratching on the piece of paper in front of him, designing complementary wedding and eternity rings. As soon as I saw them, I knew I was looking at Ana's wedding set.

"That's it. One point three five million. One point four if you can have the engagement ring ready in a fortnight. The other two rings can follow within a month."

"A fortnight?! You're killing me!" Ziegler said in an over exaggerated voice.

"Levi? I'm working on a fixed timeline here," I said with raised eyebrows. "This needs to happen sooner not later."