The Three-Hundred-Million-Dollar Gift

I froze, Sebastian Sinclair's secretary standing before me with my mother's jade bracelet extended in his hands. The auction hall had fallen into a shocked silence.

"Mr. Sinclair instructed that this jade bracelet is a gift for Miss Shaw," the secretary announced, his voice carrying through the quiet room.

My mouth opened, but no words came out. Three hundred million dollars. The figure bounced around my head like a pinball, too enormous to grasp.

"I... I can't accept this," I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper.

The secretary's expression remained professionally neutral. "Mr. Sinclair anticipated your refusal and asked me to inform you that he insists. The bracelet is rightfully yours."

Vera nudged me, her eyes wide. "Hazel," she hissed, "take it!"

Around us, the crowd had begun to whisper. I could feel hundreds of eyes on me, assessing, judging, wondering. Who was I to receive such an extravagant gift from Sebastian Sinclair?