The floor-to-ceiling glass paneling of Golden Investments' corner executive office framed a sweeping, panoramic view of Aurelia's financial district. High above the chaotic morning traffic below, the room was quiet, filled only with the soft hum of the climate control and the occasional rustle of heavy paper.
Sitting behind his dark mahogany desk, Jake leaned back in his leather chair, his thumbs slowly flipping through the thick, glossy pages of an auction catalog. Across the desk, Alice sat with her tablet perched on her lap, monitoring incoming communications while waiting for him to finish reviewing the file.
The booklet was embossed with gold foil along its spine, bearing the crest of the Meridian Gallery. Inside were high-resolution photographs, historical provenance logs, and estimated bidding ranges for over fifty rare artifacts, classical paintings, and high-end jewelry sets scheduled to hit the block this coming Friday night.
