Chapter 47
When Tiffany walked into Treasure Tower, someone approached her with a friendly smile immediately and asked, “Miss, are you here to buy something or sell something?”
As Wyatt spoke, his gaze swept over Tiffany subtly. Her designer dress and polished look suggested she was from a wealthy family.
But Tiffany raised an eyebrow and smiled pleasantly. “I’m here to apply for a job.”
‘Apply for a job?’ Wyatt looked stunned, his face showing disbelief.
However, the people at Treasure Tower were accustomed to dealing with various situations. After recovering from his surprise, Wyatt kept his smile and asked, “What position are you applying for? We’re looking for two more service staff currently.”
“I’m applying for the position of appraiser,” Tiffany said confidently, without seeing anything wrong with it.
Wyatt burst into laughter as if he had heard the biggest joke. Then he said, “Miss, appraisers’ salaries are indeed enviable these days, but not everyone can do the job.”
The implication was clear: Tiffany was probably dreaming, and her bold claim was laughable.
Feeling dismissed, Tiffany raised an eyebrow and asked simply, “Is Mr. Mask here?”
Frank was the owner of Treasure Tower.
It was rumored that the real boss behind Treasure Tower was someone else with a powerful background, which was why the store had stood strong in Lovell City for so many years.
After Tiffany’s question, Wyatt lost all patience and said coldly, “Oh, Mr. Mask isn’t someone you can just meet on a whim. You might as well leave and check out other places.”
As Wyatt was about to usher her out, it so happened that Frank had just finished attending to a VIP guest and was personally escorting him downstairs.
“See you next time, Mr. Howel. I’m always here to welcome you! Frank said.
“Thank you, Mr. Mask,” Ryan replied.
After sending off the guest politely, Frank turned and asked with a serious face, “What’s going on?”
“Well, Mr. Mask, this young lady insists on seeing you. She says she wants to apply for the appraiser position here. It seems like she’s just fooling around,” Wyatt explained.
With that, Wyatt was about to kick Tiffany out, but Frank looked her up and down with renewed interest
‘Someone who boldly claimed to be an appraiser would typically be older and more experienced. This young woman, with her delicate appearance and bold claim, is indeed hard to believe, Frank thought..
However, Frank had been in the business for years and had met many notable figures. Despite her young age, Tiffany had clear, sparkling eyes and a composed demeanor. Her subtle smile and graceful presence were impressive.
‘If I’m not mistaken, she might be someone of significant background, Frank thought.
Then Frank waved his hand to stop Wyatt and said to Tiffany, “Since you’re applying for the appraiser position, you must be familiar with the industry’s standards. Follow me.”
Frank led Tiffany to the back of Treasure Tower, where many rare items were stored, including those collected from various sources and others brought in for appraisal.
This was clearly a test. If Tiffany had the real skill, it would be evident soon enough.
Entering the gallery, Tiffany noticed numerous surveillance cameras and high-tech security measures.
Soon, Frank stopped in front of a glass case and pointed at an item. “This was just received yesterday. Can you appraise it?”
Inside the case was a seal, entirely black and looking very delicate, with a vivid design. However, due to age, the appearance. had some chips and damage, though it was still relatively well-preserved.
Tiffany picked up the seal and, upon turning it over, saw the inscription “Robert’s From World War II” on the base.
Tiffany smiled, placed the seal back, and said calmly, “It’s a fake. This is from the Cold War Era, not World War II. It’s a private seal, and the material is just copper. It’s worth about two thousand dollars at most.”
Hearing Tiffany’s calm yet confident tone, Frank raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. Because she was spot on. Every item they collected or planned to sell had been carefully authenticated.
What surprised Frank was that his team of appraisers had taken their time, scrutinizing every detail to avoid mistakes, and Tiffany had made her judgment with just a glance.
Is she bluffing, or does she truly have such extraordinary talent? Frank thought.
Frank didn’t hesitate and was ready to let Tiffany examine the second antique.
But then he heard Tiffany tap the table lightly and say, “There’s a story behind this seal. Would you like to hear it, Mr. Mask?”
“Oh?” Frank found this curious, even a bit amusing. “Are you about to make up a story on the spot?”
“Every antique that has survived the ages must have its own story.” Tiffany tilted her head and asked with a smile, “Isn’t that true?”
Tiffany wasn’t making up a story, though. She was simply different from others.
Whenever touching an antique, Tiffany could clearly sense the authenticity and origin of the item, and it was as if she could see the moving stories that the object had witnessed over the years.
It was quite extraordinary. James once said this was her gift. But it wasn’t something to be shared with others casually, so she might as well let them believe she was making it up.
“Go ahead, tell me,” Frank said immediately.
Tiffany began to speak. “During the Cold War Era, there was a scholar who deeply admired the president, Franklin. Unfortunately, he faced a difficult life and, despite his lifelong efforts, remained insignificant.
“So, as he lay on his deathbed in old age, he had this seal made quietly, intending to take it to the grave. Unexpectedly, a thousand years later, this seal, which had witnessed the passage of time, has been unearthed once more.”
Tiffany’s voice was lazy, like a gentle breeze, with a tone that was calm and unhurried. Yet it seemed to carry a certain magic, making the story she told unfold like a vivid picture in the listener’s mind.
In this line of work, selling antiques requires not just knowledge but also the ability to convince others. The more they believe, the easier it is to sell.
Whether the stories were made up or not didn’t matter; what mattered was the ability to make people feel as if they were truly there.
And to test Tiffany’s skills, Frank decided to raise the stakes.
James handed Tiffany a collection of items that were almost indistinguishable between genuine and counterfeit. To his surprise, each item took her no more than three minutes to appraise, and she provided a perfect, precise answer every time.
Moreover, for each antique, Tiffany could tell a unique, vivid backstory.
If Frank had previously seen Tiffany in a new light, now he was thoroughly impressed.
“Great! From today onwards, the Treasure Tower has a new appraiser!” Frank announced.
Tiffany’s skills were on full display, and the compensation Frank offered was generous. In addition to the income from each appraisal, the Treasure Tower was hosting an appraisal event tomorrow.
Frank promised that Tiffany could participate as an appraiser at the event, competing with others in the field. And for any item sold through her, she would receive an additional thirty percent of the profits.
Tiffany agreed without hesitation. “Okay.”
When Tiffany stepped out of the Treasure Tower with her new role, Wyatt was completely dumbfounded. He had been ready to mock Tiffany for her overconfidence, but he never expected Frank would hire her as an appraiser.
‘Is Mr. Mask serious? Isn’t he afraid of ruining the shop’s reputation?’ Wyatt thought.
Tiffany left gracefully, ignoring Wyatt’s stunned expression.
In her past life, Tiffany remembered this appraisal event being quite dismal.
The antiques were increasingly valuable, each one more unique and rare than the last. Though many wealthy families attended, very few were willing to spend tens of millions on a single piece.
If Tiffany wanted that thirty percent commission, it wouldn’t be easy.