Chapter 15: The Authentication Appointment

The next afternoon, Freya packed four luxury bags into their original boxes and checked everything twice before leaving. The combined selling price was high enough that she refused to take unnecessary risks. She photographed the serial numbers, saved copies of the receipts, and sent the meeting location to Louis almost without thinking. Only after pressing send did she realize what she had done.

Louis replied a minute later. "What is this?" Freya typed, "I'm meeting a buyer. Sending you the location for safety." His next message came quickly. "What time will you finish?" She estimated around four. Louis responded with a simple "Okay." Freya put away her phone and headed toward the shopping center.

The authentication store was located on the third floor, surrounded by expensive boutiques. Freya arrived early and handed the bags to an employee for inspection. The buyer appeared ten minutes later, a stylish woman in her thirties who introduced herself as Nina. She examined the bags enthusiastically while the authenticator checked each item.

Everything went smoothly until another familiar voice reached Freya from behind. "Freya?" She closed her eyes briefly before turning around. Melissa Hart stood outside the store carrying several shopping bags. Two women accompanied her. Judging by their expressions, they recognized Freya immediately.

Melissa looked at the boxes on the counter and covered her mouth. "You're selling your bags?" Her voice was loud enough for nearby customers to hear. "I knew things were difficult after Louis's bankruptcy, but I didn't realize they were this bad." Freya stared at her calmly. "I'm selling things I don't use. Is that unusual?"

One of Melissa's companions whispered something, and the other laughed. Melissa stepped closer with exaggerated sympathy. "You used to treasure these things. If you need money, you could have called me." Freya smiled. "Why? Are you offering to buy them?" Melissa's expression faltered.

Freya continued, "This one is twenty-eight thousand, that one is nineteen, and the other two together are thirty-six. Since you're worried about me, I'll let you buy all four." Nina, the actual buyer, tried unsuccessfully to hide her amusement.

Melissa's face stiffened. "I don't need them." "Then your concern isn't very useful, is it?" Freya replied. The authenticator returned at that moment and confirmed that all four bags were genuine and in excellent condition. Nina immediately completed the transaction through the platform.

Freya checked the payment notification and smiled. "Thank you. Enjoy them." Nina thanked her and left with the boxes. Melissa watched the exchange with an increasingly unpleasant expression. She had clearly expected to see Freya desperately pawning possessions, not conducting a calm sale worth tens of thousands.

"You've changed," Melissa finally said. Freya picked up her empty packaging bag. "People do that." "Clement thinks you're pretending because you're angry with him." "Clement thinks too highly of himself."

Before Melissa could respond, Freya's phone rang. Louis's name appeared on the screen. "I'm downstairs," he said when she answered. "Already?" "You said four." Freya checked the time. It was exactly four o'clock.

She walked past Melissa without another word. Outside the shopping center, the same black sedan waited by the curb. Louis sat in the back while Derek drove. Freya got in and fastened her seat belt. "You didn't need to pick me up." Louis glanced toward the entrance, where Melissa had just appeared. "I was nearby." Derek kept his eyes firmly on the road, wisely deciding not to mention that they had driven twenty minutes out of their way.