Capítulo 20: Lunch with Lena
Jack's day at Noble Collection started as usual.
It was around noon when Jack clocked out for lunch. He had already arranged to meet Lena, who had the afternoon off. She was the perfect person for this task someone John had never seen before.
Jack made his way to the small café where they had agreed to meet. The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the city. The streets bustled with the usual mid-day traffic—people rushing to grab a quick meal or heading back to work. As he walked down the cobblestone street, he spotted Lena sitting at an outdoor table, casually scrolling through her phone.
She looked up and smiled when she saw him approaching. Her blonde hair caught the sunlight, giving it a golden sheen. She was wearing a light blue sundress today, patterned with tiny sunflowers, and a pair of comfortable sneakers. The dress added a cute, carefree touch to her already cheerful demeanor.
"Hey," she greeted, slipping her phone into her bag. "You're right on time."
Jack smiled back, pulling out a chair and sitting across from her. "Of course, wouldn't want to miss lunch."
They ordered quickly—simple dishes, nothing fancy. Jack went for a sandwich, while Lena opted for a salad. They began chatting.
"So," Lena said, leaning back in her chair as the waiter cleared their plates, "You're really trusting me to handle this vase thing? I mean, I've never done anything like this before."
Jack chuckled, sipping his water. "It's not that complicated. You just need to act casual, like you're not too interested. John's the kind of guy who'll raise the price if he thinks you know what it's worth. So, you just go in, act like it's something you stumbled upon, and negotiate."
Lena tilted her head, a playful smile on her lips. "What if I'm really good at this and end up haggling him down to half the price?"
Jack grinned. "Then you can keep whatever you save. I'm giving you 1000 credits. The goal is to get it under that. But if you manage to get it for less, you pocket the difference."
Lena's eyes lit up. "Now that's motivation. I'll see what I can do."
They finished their lunch and headed toward the small town where John had his stall. It wasn't far—just a short bus ride away—and the area was known for its local markets and hidden treasures. The narrow streets were lined with stalls, each one filled with trinkets, antiques, and hand-made goods. It was the kind of place where you could find something incredible if you knew where to look—or, in Jack's case, if you had a good eye for valuable antiques.
As they walked through the market, Jack gave Lena a few more pointers. "When you see the vase, don't act too interested. Look at a few other things first, ask about prices, and then casually mention the vase. It's all about not giving away how much you want it."
Lena nodded, her expression serious for once. "Got it. Casual, no interest, haggling. This is gonna be fun."
They finally arrived at John's stall. Jack hung back, keeping a safe distance so that John wouldn't spot him. He watched as Lena approached the stall, her demeanor completely relaxed, as if she was just another passerby looking for something interesting.
Lena greeted John with a friendly smile, picking up a few random items from his stall as they chatted. Jack couldn't hear their conversation, but he could see Lena was doing exactly as they had planned. She spent a few minutes browsing through the knick-knacks, asking about prices here and there. Eventually, her attention drifted to the vase.
It was an unassuming piece at first glance, a simple ceramic vase with faded patterns. But Jack knew it was a rare antique. He watched as Lena picked it up, turning it over in her hands, examining it with just the right amount of casual interest.
He couldn't help but feel a little anxious as he stood there, waiting. Negotiations were always a gamble, and there was no telling how John would react.
After a few minutes, Jack saw Lena pull out the credits he had given her. They exchanged a few more words, and Lena also picked a copper bracelet and then, to his relief, she handed over the money and walked away with the vase and bracelet in hand. She didn't look back at John or give anything away.
Jack walked over to meet her, grinning. "Well? How'd it go?"
Lena held up the vase, a triumphant smile on her face. "Got it for 200 and 100 bracelet. He wasn't too hard to convince. I think he just wanted to make a sale."
Jack's eyebrows shot up. "Just 300? That's better than I expected."
"Guess I'm a natural." Lena shrugged, her grin widening. "So, I get to keep the extra, right?"
Jack laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah, a deal's a deal. You earned it."
As they walked back toward the main street, Lena glanced at the vase again, her curiosity piqued. "So, what's the deal with this thing? Why's it so valuable?"
Jack glanced at the vase in her hands. "It's an old piece. It's worth a lot more than what we paid for it, but John didn't know that. It's rare to find something like this in a place like that."
Lena gave him a playful nudge with her elbow. "You're really into this stuff, huh?"
Jack smiled, slipping his hands into his pockets. "It's not like that but I'm good at finding good stuff."
They continued walking, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the street. Lena looked content, clearly pleased with her successful negotiation, while Jack felt a sense of accomplishment. The plan had gone perfectly, and they had managed to get the vase for far less than John's inflated price.
As they reached the bus stop, Lena turned to Jack, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "You know, if you ever need me to negotiate for you again, I'm available—for a small fee, of course."
Jack chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll keep that in mind."
The bus arrived, and they climbed aboard, settling into their seats as they headed back toward the city. Jack felt good. Not only had they secured the vase, but it had also been a surprisingly fun afternoon.
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