Gemsicuted

Written by Julian Robov


Thirty


The receptionist at Ris Rubyhall Towers was waiting for July Lim and Rubin Rosenberg.
“Mr Rubyhall!” July extended her hand to greet Rubyhall, as he walked towards her in a jovial mood.
“July Lim!” Rubyhall said. “Why don’t you pull up a chair and sit comfortably? All right, would you mind me calling you, Ms Lim?”
“July, please!” she said cutely.
“Okay, July, I heard from Rubin that you are a resident of President Park. Is that right?” Rubyhall asked, while closing three stone boxes.
“Yeah. We have a condo. It belongs to my dad,” she replied, smiling heartily. She wondered why he was asking such questions.
“How did you meet Rubin?” he asked.
“Happy accident, I must say,” she said, glancing at Rubin. He nodded gracefully.
“I believe Rubin had done the introduction,” Rubyhall continued. “I have other businesses, but ruby is very special to me, and I keep collecting them from all over the world. I have a special ruby desk, and Jay Lam is the man in control. We work together gathering information regarding demand and supply, and do the best in the interest of the trade to stabilize the market. I don’t have any monopoly in this business. It’s a free enterprise country, and I work within the rules of my country. People outside might say otherwise, but it is not always true. I respect free speech and thought. So I’ve no control over their lives. But I do have control in my business, and I believe that’s why I’m still here doing what I like best. I’ve a line of faithful clients who have stood by me during the good and bad times and Rubin’s father, David, is one of them. I know the tastes and likes of my special clients, and they in return respect and reward me with repeat business.”
“May I interrupt?” July said. “I’m really impressed. I should have met you a long time ago. I’ve a client in Indonesia who wants a 15carat ruby, the best. Price is not an issue at all. Rubin told me that you are the right person. But I’m really impressed with everything that you said.”
“Thank you,” he added. “There shouldn’t be a problem with a 15carat or 50carat, I have it all. Let me show you something. Perhaps, you might want to look at it.”
Rubyhall walked to his safe deposit vault and removed two black stone boxes, and laid them on his table. He opened them slowly and laid twenty rubies of various shapes on a white tray.
“Wow!” She immediately remembered Rubin’s advice and managed to restrain herself.
“Do any of these match your specifications?” Rubyhall asked. Rubin remained silent during the period studying both, Rubyhall and July.
“I think so. The round brilliant cut ruby. What’s the weight of that ruby?” she asked curiously.
“Let me weigh it again to confirm,” Rubyhall said, switching on the electronic weighing balance. “This piece is 15.01carat. The price is in this envelope. Look first. Do you like it?”
“Beautiful! I think this is it. You’ve made my day, Mr Rubyhall.” July began to get excited. She had never seen anything like this before in such quantity.
“Now if you like it, and if you think this is the color and shape your client requested, the deal is you can take it to Indonesia, and show it to your customer. Give her a chance to romance and feel the stone and then call me. I’ll give you other details. The ruby is with you,” said Rubyhall, surprising her.
July glanced at Rubin and Rubyhall with disbelief. She had never dreamt of anyone taking her for granted and giving this exclusive privilege. She remembered Rubin’s advice again. She had remained composed but deep inside she wanted to scream, because she had never seen such beauties before. If she had the money, she wanted to buy the whole two stone boxes and immerse herself with their color in her privacy. A dream! Who would dare blame her!
“I’ll take it,” replied July calmly.
Rubyhall watched her gestures carefully. He purposely extended this offer to test her confidence and understanding of the tradition and trust. It was an indirect message as to how influential people did trade with such beauties sometimes without any documentation.
“So you like that ruby, don’t you? Let me wrap it in a nice stone box for you. Do you want to carry it with you? Or you can come and pick it up when you leave Bangkok for Indonesia. Either way, I want you to make sure the stone is in safe hands. It’s up to you,” said Rubyhall, glancing at Rubin. Rubin was totally absorbed by the swift pace at which the whole transaction ended.
“I will take it with me, Mr Rubyhall. Thank you very much. You saved my time. Here is my card,” she answered.
“You see how simple it is when it comes to buying good quality rubies,” Rubyhall said. “Connection! That’s where your success and spectacular failure is, if you don’t have one. You can stay in Bangkok, or wherever there are rubies, but finding the one you like is sheer luck and planning. One thing I want to emphasize here is it’s very difficult to find a round brilliant cut ruby due to weight loss. But one good thing is, I have what others don’t have.”
“I believe so, Mr Rubyhall,” said July, rubbing the stone in her hand.
Rubin slipped a note to Rubyhall, as he walked to his safe deposit vault. Rubyhall opened it, and read the content. “Why don’t we have lunch together at my office?”
July glanced at Rubin. He nodded.
“I usually don’t eat that much nowadays,” Rubyhall continued. “The doctors have been constantly reminding me of this effect and that effect. Who the hell cares? I’m already seventy. Not that many years left. So today I eat what I like. Probably, you will have to eat what I eat. Just for one day.” The nephrite carved dining table stood majestically bringing together his most distinguished client.
Rubin Rosenberg!
“Oh, no problem. We would very much appreciate that,” replied July.
“What do we have here? Homemade pizza, hamburger, spaghetti, fish, vegetables and fruits! July, you must be familiar with all these combinations. Help me to arrange them accordingly. At my home, I’ve a wonderful wife, who takes care of me like a child. I’m lucky, and still am,” echoed Rubyhall.
Rubyhall saw her inexperienced hand struggling to put them on to the plate. He looked at Rubin and winked.
“You will be extremely lucky if you can find a good husband someday in your life,” he said jokingly. He then continued, “These are all the basics a woman must know no matter how busy you are. I tell this all the time to my friend’s daughters, who are good in other crafts, but not at home. Then I remind the women in my office of one thing. No matter how busy you are, home is the place you go back to rest. Both, men and women must know today how to run a home. Times have changed okay no more lecture. Let’s have something to fill our hungry stomachs.” He motioned Rubin and July to go ahead instead of waiting for him to start.
“Could you please pass that orange juice?” Rubyhall asked, smilingly.
“Sure,” said Rubin. “Here it is, Mr Rubyhall.”
“Perhaps, you might know my father. He comes regularly to Bangkok,” reminded July.
“I think so. Mr Lim, right?” Rubyhall recalled. “Singapore! I think I’ve met him. Let me remember, yeah, on two occasions. I remember. At the Queen Sirikit Convention Center! You look very much like him.”
July’s face blushed. Rubin looked at her, and then smiled.
“So you want to be a ruby dealer in Indonesia?” Rubyhall asked, sipping the orange juice.
“Oh, not really,” she added. “It was a friend of mine who introduced me to this lady, a Suharto relative and a family friend, let me put it that way. She asked me if I could get a ruby of 15carat, as an anniversary present for her beloved husband. I said I would try. So here I am with the right type of stone out of nowhere. I still can’t believe my eyes.”
“Well, in this case a lucky husband and lucky you,” replied Rubyhall. “How many wives today will think of giving their husband such a memorable and expensive gift? She must be a very special person to do such a thing. The husband also must be a good one to deserve this special gesture. Well, that’s the allure of this trade. Romance, illusion, charm, affection, relationship, love, all intertwine to make a sale and ruby stands out as their favorite. And I love to repeat that again. I have what they don’t have. I’m quite proud of that privilege, and I love to hear people telling how happy they are after wearing this magnificent piece. It’s god’s gift. How come you two are deceptively quiet? Eat more of the pizza and vegetables. Don’t waste. Finish the whole thing. There’s some nice wine in the cupboard. Help yourself. I’ll stay with the orange juice. You two finish those two bottles, yeah?” Rubyhall reminded them.
“We would like to listen to your experiences and words of wisdom. Rubin has more than enough experience. I’m just a greenhorn. I have a lot to learn before I buy with full confidence.” July said, while pouring the wine into two glasses. There was a clink, and then Rubyhall continued.
“You have to keep buying knowing your priorities,” Rubyhall said. “Teaching how to buy is very difficult. You have to learn by observation and planning. You might succeed in coining a few words to explain certain attributes of color, which is very important with rubies, but there is something much deeper. Only a developed mind can absorb and understand, and no words can explain what exactly you are thinking at that particular time. The advantage of working with someone who has access to all different types of top quality stones is that you will never forget the experience, because they don’t come out of the ground all the time. Rubies are my specialty. Now you understand somewhat of what I mean by quality? Could you please pass me those vegetables and fruits?” He continued, “Rubin has an angle in doing things like I do. His father was no different. I had no problem working with both of them. Two different generations.”
“I believe so,” replied July. “I should have known him a long time ago.”
Rubin just listened to their conversation allowing them to talk more about themselves.
“Time, time and time. It’s so important in this trade, because you just don’t know when the time comes. The anticipation is there so what is needed is perseverance. Then all follows in order with a little bit of luck. Today you just can’t be an expert of gemstones, but must have an eye on other factors, which directly and indirectly influence the price of the stones. You should know the world you live in updating all the time, very important. There is a lot of chaff out there, which is of no use in any way. INFORMATION! If you have it correctly, then you are ahead of others in every respect. For that you must have that access code, which will save your expensive time. How do you do that?” Rubyhall asked
“How?” July glanced at Rubyhall and Rubin.
“Keep your eyes and ears open with a closed mouth,” answered Rubyhall. “That’s the unwritten rule of the day, everyday. July, Rubin have you had enough?”
“I think so. Two bottles of Bolla Bardolino Superiore, and all of the food, it was absolutely delicious,” Rubin said, tapping his bulging stomach.
“I don’t think so. You are trying to please me with these flowery words. Are you sure you had enough?” Rubyhall asked, a bit worried.
“Of course, Mr Rubyhall.”
“Okay, leave everything here. The office girls will clear the table,” Rubyhall said.
“No, Mr Rubyhall. I’ll clean up the table. Just give me fifteen minutes.” July replied, as she rushed to the kitchen to pick up the gloves.
“Well, I can join you and cut that fifteen minutes, perhaps, to ten minutes,” said Rubin.
“Okay, I’ll finally join you guys when I’ve put all the things in the right place. You see the difference in what I said few minutes ago?” Rubyhall said with a smile.
“I do,” replied July. “I now realize how stupid and timid I have been all these days. I feel ashamed of myself. Thank you for that friendly reminder.”
“What a wonderful day!”