"Ace, stop pacing. You're making me nervous," Mandy said, grabbing his wrist. Seeing the confusion and worry in her eyes, Ace explained, "I'm just worried I might be cursed for finding that cursed ring."
"Are you serious?" Mandy let out an exaggerated sigh, sarcastically placing a hand on his forehead as if checking for a fever. Then, out of nowhere, she slapped him lightly and said, "Stop being ridiculous."
"Wow, Mandy was right. That body is wasted on your cowardly religious ass," Janice scoffed, realizing Ace's worries were trivial compared to her own genuinely serious concerns.
"Why do you two have to be so mean? Would it hurt you to be a little compassionate?" Ace retorted, annoyed.
Seeing Delores leave in a hurry, Ace knew something was wrong. She had gone to handle a serious situation, and while he trusted her abilities, he couldn't help but worry. Someone else might take advantage of her absence to cause trouble. Feeling that Delores was too reckless for a bodyguard, he nervously paced around the room, hoping for her swift return.
"If we were compassionate, you'd fall in love with us," Janice said bluntly. Ace wanted to retort, but he couldn't deny the truth in her words. They both possessed a dangerous level of charm. If they were kind and compassionate, any guy would misinterpret their smiles and fall hopelessly in love.
"J, who's this Duke guy?" Mandy asked, rolling her eyes at Ace, who had finally stopped pacing and found a seat.
Janice leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she spoke in a hushed tone, "Duke Lambert III. You probably know him as the Duke of Sole."
"The owner of the renowned wine Fattoria del Sole? I've heard he's notorious and has ties with the mafia," Mandy said, her eyes widening in shock, her jaw dropping slightly as she grasped the Duke's true identity. Then she asked in doubt, "Isn't he from our parents' generation and a foreigner? How can this ring be his daughter's if it was lost in Treasure Lake a century and a half ago?"
"The ring belongs to the Duke's house, the 'House of Sole,' and it's said to be created for the daughters of their lineage. It's complicated. Just know that keeping or trying to sell the ring won't do any good for you or your family," Janice lied smoothly, using the first explanation that came to mind.
"You don't have to remind me. I know better than to piss off a mafia boss. But what now?" Mandy finally grasped the gravity of the situation and couldn't help but think the ring was truly cursed. She too wanted to get rid off it as fast as possible.
"Don't worry. I'll help mediate and get your nephew his finder's fee," Janice assured, her tone easing as she noticed Delores stepping into the room, holding a small white cushion. Seeing her return with a cursed tool lifted a weight off Janice's mind—and Ace's too. Now, he could finally start thinking of a way to cut all ties with the ring.
"A finder's fee? No, thank you," Ace scoffed, his tone dismissive. "Just return the ring to its rightful owner, and please, don't breathe a word about me. I want nothing to do with this." His eyes held a dangerous glint as he plotted to sever his connection to the ring.
"Is he for real?" Delores whispered to Mandy, unable to hide her frustration. She found Ace's cowardice appalling, especially after Janice had promised to mediate.
Before Mandy could respond, Ace nodded emphatically. "Yes, I am. I don't want me or my family involved with this ring. That $10 million finder's fee isn't worth it. If anyone asks, just say your staff stumbled upon it during a routine campus cleanup or something."
"I can respect that," Delores said, her tone softening. Her eyes widened in admiration. Most people would be salivating at the thought of a $10 million windfall, but Ace was more concerned with the consequences. She finally recognized Mandy was right about him.
"Whoa, did you just get Delores to recognize you in your second meeting? It took me a whole year!" Mandy exclaimed with her eyes widening in astonishment. She knew firsthand how difficult it was to impress Delores.
"So, can I count on you guys for this one?" Ace asked, locking eyes with Janice. He knew that while Delores was stronger, Janice had the final say.
"Of course, you can. But I won't let you leave empty-handed. Returning the ring to Duke Lambert III could be a strategic move for my family's business. So, tell me your price," Janice declared firmly, her eyes gleaming with calculated intent. Being of royal lineage, she wasn't inclined to covet the belongings of others, especially those of her friends.
"T-this… a few acres of farmland near my uncle's and Mandy's farms—that would be enough," Ace stammered at first but quickly made his request.
"A few acres? Have you lost your mind? That ring is worth tens of millions, and their family business is worth hundreds of billions! And all you ask for is a few acres of farmland? How can you be this prodigal? If your mother heard of this, she'd either kick the bucket or disown you," Mandy yelled, her eyes wide in disbelief, as if he were giving away her family's property.
Before Ace could reply, Mandy declared, "You shut up. Let me handle this." Putting on her game face, she locked eyes with Janice and said, "J, no hard feelings, but that fool is family. I can choose my friends, but not my family. I'm stuck with that dummy."
"I'm hurt—deeply hurt," Janice lamented, her voice dripping with feigned despair. "But I shall persevere for the sake of our friendship."
"Alright, for starters, how does a billion dollars sound?" Mandy asked with a straight face.
"Delores, give them the ring back," Janice ordered, a smirk playing on her lips.
"J, you drive a hard bargain! How about a few thousand acres of farmland in my town?" Mandy countered.
"I'll give him a hundred acres of your choosing in your town," Janice replied, knowing full well Mandy would never stop haggling.