Benjamin's Heirloom Ring

The Another Loans

The auction hall sprawled expansively, akin to a grand theater stage or a Renaissance-era orchestra setting, adorned with opulence and magnificence.

The hall boasted a capacity for 1,200 attendees, but for this particular auction, the Timeless House Center had limited ticket sales to just 800.

There are two levels of stands in the hall. The first level was reserved for the regular auction guests, while the second level was only for the guests who had VIP tickets.

Valerie leaned in and whispered to Benjamin, "You know, the Timeless House Center doesn't only host auctions in this hall. At times, they rent it out for orchestral concerts too. The setup and design are so well thought out that even from a corner, you can catch the finest strains of music."

Benjamin simply nodded his head in understanding.

After a while of walking through the rows of red benches, they finally found their seats. It was located in the middle row, not too forward, and not too backward either. The view of the stage from this spot was perfect.

Valerie opened her phone to check the current amount of money in her account. She had a huge smile on her face.

"Platinum Estate just wired $20 million into the company account," she disclosed. "I'll allocate some of that to procure the herbs for my father. Ben, based on your estimates, what's the financial requirement tonight?"

Benjamin didn't respond immediately. He was well aware of the projected cost for the herbs that evening, and it certainly exceeded the 20 million dollars recently deposited by Platinum Estate.

Meanwhile, Benjamin pondered covert ways to funnel additional funds to Valerie without drawing undue attention.

"Ben, why the distant look?" She reached out, touching him gently. "Did you catch my question earlier?"

Benjamin shook off his reverie and promptly nodded. "Yeah, I heard you. I was just running some quick calculations in my head."

"Did you get the results yet?"

Benjamin nodded once more and then responded, "I've got to be straight with you, Val. To secure all the herbs necessary for a complete cure of your father's stroke, we're likely looking at a spending range of up to 30 million dollars. The figure might fluctuate based on the intensity of our competition."

"Oh..." Valerie was taken aback by the substantial figure. She fell silent for a while, absorbing the magnitude of the amount.

"Why not consider borrowing from Platinum Estate?" Benjamin suggested shortly afterward.

Valerie appeared to glimpse a glimmer of hope, but it swiftly dimmed. She shook her head gently before remarking, "We've only just entered into a cooperation agreement with them a few hours ago, and now I'm contemplating borrowing a substantial sum. It feels rather audacious."

Benjamin shrugged casually, offering, "Give it a shot, Val. Maybe they're aware that your company is navigating some financial challenges, and they wouldn't mind extending a loan of, say, a cool twelve million dollars."

Valerie bit the bottom of her lip. She seemed to be thinking very hard to find a way out of this problem.

"I don't see any other options," she sighed deeply. "My grandfather's health takes precedence. Even if it means losing face in front of the entire Regal Hill, I'll do whatever it takes."

After that, Valerie took her cell phone back to call Joshua.

After a few rings, the resonant voice of an authoritative old man filled the line.

"Good evening, Ms. Morgan. How can I help you?" greeted Joshua.

"Good evening, Mr. Wilson. I regret disturbing your evening, but I find myself in a pressing situation, and I must implore you and Platinum Estate for a small favor," she conveyed respectfully.

"What sort of assistance do you require?" the old man inquired.

Valerie took a deep breath as if hoping it could swallow down the pride that was causing her tongue to feel rigid.

Then, she continued, "Mr. Wilson, as you're aware, our Morgan family company is facing financial challenges. Simultaneously, I find myself in need of a substantial sum to treat our grandfather's illness. It's a rather intricate situation."

"I'm left with no other recourse but to appeal to you and Platinum Estate, asking for your willingness to extend a loan. This would greatly aid our Morgan family in overcoming its current challenges," Valerie pleaded earnestly.

Simultaneously, Benjamin dispatched a message to Joshua:

[Provide her with a loan of 50 million dollars. The repayment term is two years. Let's observe if this girl can demonstrate responsibility or not.]

Despite being on the phone, Joshua managed to see and read the message from his young master. He immediately grasped that Benjamin's true intent was to assess Valerie's character and responsibility.

"Miss Morgan, there's no need for excessive formality. We're well aware of your family's challenging financial situation, and hence, we've set aside a loan amount of 50 million dollars as your initial capital," Joshua explained courteously. "Kindly let us know the specific amount you require."

Valerie was stunned and silent. She never thought that Benjamin's words were the truth, that Platinum Estate had considered the Morgan family's financial condition before they sent the contract.

This signified that whoever stood behind Platinum Estate had from the outset intended to assist her family.

Valerie was so moved that she didn't notice her eyes had welled up with tears. With a slight stammer, she expressed, "Mr. Wilson, I would like to borrow 30 million dollars."

"Understood. Thirty million dollars will be promptly transferred to your company account. We sincerely trust you'll be able to settle the loan within the stipulated two years," Joshua responded.

Valerie inquired, "Mr. Morgan, Is Platinum Estate not imposing any interest on this loan?"

Joshua, on the other hand, shook his head and calmly stated, "We understand your family's predicament, Miss Morgan; we won't take advantage of difficult circumstances."

Valerie wiped away the tears on her cheeks. She was so emotional at the moment.

"Mr. Wilson, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the CEO of Platinum Estate for being a savior to the Morgan family. Would it be possible for me to have an opportunity to meet him?" Valerie inquired.

Benjamin hastily typed a message in hurry:

[Absolutely not! Convey that the CEO of Platinum Estate prefers to keep his identity concealed from everyone!]

Joshua grasped the situation immediately and responded to Valerie's request, "I regret to inform you, Ms. Morgan, that currently, I'm unable to arrange a meeting with our CEO. He remains committed to keeping his identity confidential, even from you."

Valerie cast her gaze downward, a touch of disappointment evident. Yet, she acknowledged the necessity of respecting her family hero's decision to remain an enigmatic, shadowy figure.

Unable to contain herself, she added, "If I can't meet him in person, please convey my deepest gratitude to him, Mr. Wilson."

Joshua nodded. "Certainly, Miss."