Page 1 of Diamond Don

1

KAT

The man in the corner won’t stop looking at me.

Five minutes.

I take a long sip of Dom Pérignon. Five more minutes and I’m home free.

I admit this dress was a mistake. The form-fitting gown is too eye-catching for my purposes this evening. After all, above all else, I must blend in tonight, and the dark velvet piece makes it a little too hard not to attract the male gaze.

But I had to improvise when the stronzo surprised me with his latest demand only two days ago. At such short notice, this dress was my closet’s only appropriate outfit. Its luxurious fabric is too thick and warm for a hot, humid night in June, but the concealed pocket below the cleavage line makes it my best choice for tonight. It will come in handy in the next five minutes.

The things I do for love…

I take a calming breath, glancing around the exquisitely decorated grand hall.

The Metropolitan Museum pulled all the stops for tonight’s gala.

Fragrant floral arrangements in rich crimson and gold hues adorn the spacious room, while elaborate crystal chandeliers illuminate the space. The ornate fixtures, casting a soft, warm glow, set an intimate atmosphere for the party’s illustrious guests.

Nothing is too opulent or lavish for the Flame of Mir—the museum’s newest exhibition’s pièce de résistance.

It’s almost hard to believe that the entrancingly beautiful red diamond sits just a few feet away from me, carefully enshrined in its high-security glass display case.

My prize.

I mean, the stronzo’s prize.

I mentally run through my plan one last time as the museum director delivers the opening speech for the Sparkling Splendor exhibition, rambling on about the infamous gem’s significance and rarity.

If everything goes as expected, soon, the man will finish addressing the crowd and invite the gala’s esteemed guests to step outside and join him at the museum’s gardens, where live entertainment and hors d’oeuvres await them.

Unfortunately, I have a prior commitment with a particular priceless bauble.

All work and no play makes me a dull, dull girl.

At last, the director seems to approach the end of his spiel, expressing his gratitude to the gem’s mysterious owner—who wishes to remain anonymous—for lending it to the museum and sponsoring tonight’s festivities.

I discreetly move towards the ladies’ room, hidden in the darkest corner of the large hall.

After stepping inside, I check every stall, ensuring I am all alone. There is no attendant. No rich girls doing coke off the marble countertops, either. Maybe it’s a sign that my recent bad luck is about to change.

I wait behind the door until the noise outside dies down as the illustrious guests empty the museum’s exhibition room.

After a while, I can faintly but distinctively hear the orchestra playing tonight’s first live song as the musicians perform for the guests filling the gardens.

A guard whistles a cheerful tune while locking the exhibit area a few yards away from my hiding spot.

This is it.

After steeling myself, I inch the door open, peeking through the small opening to verify no one else is lingering around the immense hall. I waste no time before exiting the restroom.

A common thief would have positively quaked upon learning they had no choice but to steal the world’s most famous and valuable diamond with only two days’ notice.

But then again, I am no common thief.

As a matter of principle, I generally do not tolerate blackmail or extortion. I value my freedom and independence above all things. Well, almost all things, I suppose.

---