Duncan stood up from his bed like a man on a mission. Unplugging his phone and checking his time. The local time was five minutes past noon and he also confirmed his system clock was right. It was a good time to leave, since he could still catch the bus towards the uptown which left in 25 minutes.

He was fully dressed however a bit wrinkled but he didn’t want to waste time choosing fresh clothes. He took a single diamond out from the drawer and wrapped it in a piece of paper. Duncan checked his thigh pocket for holes before sticking the diamond inside and fastening up the single button. Running down the stairs after locking his apartment, he felt no discomfort from his ankle which made him smile.

The lower he got in the building the stronger the smell of urine got and as he came to the entrance it was overwhelming his senses. As he came into the street the smell of urine was exchanged with the fresh smell of car exhaust fumes which was a lot more tolerable although probably less healthy than the former.

The sky was overcast as he turned right from the building and rushed through a mass people who were walking on the sidewalk. It was lunch time and people were crowding the stalls looking for sustenance.

Duncan avoided them as a slalom skier avoided the flag poles and finally came to the bus stop five minutes to spare. There was a crowd already waiting. He got on the bus but didn’t get a seat and was standing next to drunk, who was trying to chat up a woman who looked like Pablo Picasso did her makeup.

The alcoholic fumes reminded him of better times and puke. He cringed and awaited his destination to get out from the crowd and finally breathe again the toxic fumes. He preferred them to a mixture of body odor and cheap perfume.

After his first bus stop, he had to go around the corner of a block to catch the next bus. Checking his google maps guide he would make it on time and would not have to wait half an hour for the next one he let out a breath of relief.

The next bus was far less crowded and he got a seat and traveled in relative luxury compared to before. People who worked uptown had enough money to buy cars and didn’t like to mingle with the plebs on public transport.

He checked the jewelry stores he will visit on his mobile and planned the order in his mind. First stop ‘Fine diamond jewelry’. It was just about 100 meters from a bus stop and the name was what he was looking for. Finally arriving at his destination, he got off the bus and rushed towards the store.

Walking inside there was a couple looking at some rings apparently, a female clerk and a security guard at the door. The customer area was small around 5 meters across and 8 meters deep with a U-shaped counter behind which was another room indicated by a shiny steel door.

The shop clerk was a tall blonde with a nice face and short hair that emphasized her jeweled earrings. She was dressed in business suit with cleavage exposed to distract the male customers from the price.

The guard was a black man taller by half a head from Duncan and probably weighed more than half as much as Duncan too. You would expect he was menacingly looking but he had one of those faces you instantly connected with friendly people. The opposite of resting bitchface. They call it resting nice face but it’s much rarer.

The couple were a balding middle-aged man and a young woman with red hair as far Duncan could tell. They were both dressed nicely and looked at the rings on display intently.

Duncan did not know the procedure so he greeted and stood behind the couple waiting his turn.

In his cargo pants and wrinkled T-shirt Duncan was out of place and the shop clerk paid him no attention or rather outright ignored him. The couple seemed to be choosing their wedding rings. They asked a lot of questions and Duncan was impatient looking at the clock on his phone. Every minute wasted was one minute less he had. He was considering if he should just go to the next one but since he invested already so much time here, he delayed. Seeing the shop clerk busy he approached the guard.

“Hello. Excuse me. I wonder if you could answer some questions seeing I am being considered air by the shop clerk,” Duncan said.

The guard smirked at first and then smiled, he whispered, “Sure. I mean hello. Maybe if you dressed better, she would consider it. What do you need?”

“Do they buy diamonds here?” Duncan asked.

The guard looked to be in deep thought before he answered, “I think they just sell stuff. You want to sell a diamond?”

“Yeah,” Duncan replied disappointed.

“Rolland, what does he want?” the clerk asked as she didn’t appreciate the two of them whispering behind her customers.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“He wants to sell a diamond…” the guard apparently named Rolland replied.

The woman scoffed before saying, “Escort him out. Does he look like he can afford a diamond? The kid probably found a piece of glass or cubic zirconia. Don’t waste my time.”

“Sorry kid, you heard the lady?” the guard apologized.

“Yeah, Rolland I heard the stuck-up BLEEP,” he wanted to say bitch but didn’t want a shock.

The couple at the counter laughed and the shop clerk looked shocked before she started screaming, “Get him the fuck out now. You better move before I call the police.”

“Yeah, I will go. You just missed out on a 2-carat diamond you dumb stuck up…” Duncan shut up as Rolland put his hand on his shoulder and gently pulled. He turned around and Rolland closed his eyes slowly and shook his head.

“Alright, I won’t make anymore trouble,” Duncan told Rolland and prepared to leave as the back door opened and a loud bellow of an elderly man was heard right after, “What the hell is going on here?”

“Sir this young man was just leaving,” Rolland explained and gently tugged him. The woman from the couple could not hold it in and shouted, “The young man wanted to sell a 2-carat diamond.”

The elderly man turned to her, “So, why all the fuss?”

“Let me explain!” the clerk interjected before seeing a raised hand from the man.

“He waited patiently behind us and then talked to the guard before your clerk told him to leave,” the woman continued.

Duncan wanted to move and leave but for some reason Rolland held on to him, so he waited for the story to end.

“Why would she do that? Was he loud?” the old man asked.

The woman shook her head, “No they were whispering. I guess she didn’t like his clothes.”

Duncan once again made an attempt to move but Rolland gripped him harder. He looked at the guard and he gestured somehow with his eyes and movement of the head to wait.

“Beverly, do I need to remind you where we first met?” the old man said.

Beverly the shop clerk looked down and said, “No.”

“Young man come with me to my office and let these nice people finish their business, Beverly give them a 10 % discount,” the man said before he walked back.

Rolland gently shoved Duncan forward and gestured him to follow with his hands.

Duncan walked slowly towards the counter and Beverly opened the latch to the inside. She starred daggers at him and he almost showed her his tongue. He went through the door and came into a workshop.

“Hello, I am Ezra Bergstein the owner of this joint,” the old man said.

Duncan looked at him. The man looked around seventy years old. Hair totally white. His blue eyes piercing him. He took a breath and replied, “I am Duncan.”

“No, last name I see. A man of mystery. Show me your diamond and we will see if we come to an arrangement or not,” Ezra said with a laugh.

Duncan took out his folded piece of paper and gave it to Ezra.

“You would not happen to have a certificate of this gem on you, would you?” Ezra asked.

Duncan shook his head and Ezra continued, “Well, then let’s do it the old way.”

Ezra slowly opened it up and took a look.

“The cut is really old fashioned but it can be recut nicely if needed. There are also no issues with the clarity,” Ezra said after looking at it through a magnifying glass and then put it on digital scale.

“Hmm. 451 micrograms. So, 2.25 carats,” Ezra continued.

“Let’s check the color next,” Ezra said as he brought out a box and opened it. He turned the cover around and placed Duncan’s diamond inside and then took out a gem from the box. He shined a bright light on them. The took out another gem and repeated the process.

After a while he said, “It’s somewhere between an E and a D.”

Duncan nodded having no clue what it meant.

After that he shined an ultraviolet light on it and nodded.

“What you have on your hands is a very nice diamond. Do you have any provenance on it?” Ezra asked.

“Provenance?”, Duncan asked.

“Papers where it came from. Don’t tell me it just appeared one day in your lap,” Ezra said with a laugh.

Duncan sighed and replied, “I don’t.”

Ezra touched his forehead before saying, “Tell me what should I do with you?”

Duncan looked at him intensely.

“I presume you want money in cash?” Ezra asked next.

“This stone is worth around 20 thousand dollars in retail a thousand up or down. If I would buy it with all the paperwork from a stone broker, I would probably pay around 15 thousand. I will give you 7 and a half and you will take it and be happy and I will be miserable trying to find a way to legitimize it,” Ezra explained and huffed out a puff of air.

Duncan debated with himself if he should get a second opinion but then he nodded. He would try it elsewhere with the next one.

“Please step outside for a minute. You can take the stone if you don’t trust me,” Ezra said.

Duncan nodded and went through the door. The couple was gone and Beverly was by the door smoking a cigarette with big puffs and twitching nervous hands, yelling at Rolland who just smirked at her. Duncan waited for a bout a minute before the door behind him opened and Ezra came out.

He looked at Beverly and shook his head before he said, “Here is the money. Don’t spend it all in one place.”

Duncan nodded before he said, “Thank you. I have to ask you this…”

“Ask your questions before I go back inside,” Ezra replied waving his hand.

“Can I bring you more?” Duncan asked.

Ezra’s eyes sparked with interest, “You have more?”

“I might have,” Duncan replied.

“Sure, handling one is the same as handling ten. Tell Beverly or Rolland to let you inside. Tell them Big E said so. Will there be anything else?” Ezra asked.

“Where did you meet Beverly?” Duncan asked.

Ezra rolled his eyes and whispered, “I met both at a strip club, Rolland was a bouncer and Beverly bounced her tits on stage. Now scram and let me sleep in my workshop.”

“Yes, Sir. Thank you again,” Duncan replied and prepared to leave.

“Beverly, what did the nice couple buy?” Ezra yelled.

“A set of rings for 20 thousand. I gave them the 10 % discount,” Beverly shouted back.

“Ahh. Good! Just so you know those 2 grands will come from your commissions,” Ezra said and closed the door behind him.

Beverly started screaming at Rolland harder and Duncan made his way quietly past behind her and mouthed quietly sorry to Rolland who just closed his eyes in recognition.