Gemsicuted

Written by Julian Robov


Thirty One


After July had left for Siam Discovery Center, Rubin moved closer to Rubyhall to discuss the serious stuff. Rubies! Big ones!
“Mr Rubyhall, I had to do it that way. The note, I hope you didn’t mind,” Rubin said with a grin. He didn’t want July to know the number and sizes of the rubies he had intended to buy from Rubyhall. Business and friendship always went separate. A cherished lesson he had learned from his dad.
“No… no…. no. It’s just fine,” said Rubyhall, holding Rubin’s hand. “That’s the way you should do. You don’t buy stones to show someone that you know how to buy stones. It’s stupid and unwise. You lose money doing it that way just to impress someone. July had gone to do her business or whatever. She is happy. It’s like winning a jackpot lottery for her, isn’t it?” He continued with a meaningful smile, “I’m giving a loose rope to see how far she can afford to go. The reason I did her favor was when they see she can afford to buy or find such stones these people will contact her again and again to buy bigger ones. It’s a self-promotion building up confidence and trust. Where will she go to find such pieces? Ris Rubyhall! She will come here. She wouldn’t go elsewhere. I’ve what others don’t have. I took a small risk, which I can afford anyway. Let’s see what happens when she comes back. Okay, let’s get back to business.”
Rubin understood everything, the meaning behind Rubyhall’s proud statement. He had heard the statement countless times before when Ris had tamed a novice client.
The ruby whisperer! Rubyhall had the knack, patience, and the stones to deliver when in time of need. It was such a marvel to watch Rubyhall finesse a client.
“Right,” said Rubin, extracting a piece of paper from his
pocket. “What I need is five pieces. A merchant banker needs the biggest size. 37carat! He wants to give it to his beloved wife in commemoration of their 37th wedding anniversary as a special present. I need two stones of 20carat each for a rich gay couple in Manhattan. One stone of 25carat for a special lady in the White House, and one stone of 30carat for a rich businessman from Hollywood for his Chinese mistress. All Burmese rubies! What do you say Mr Rubyhall?”
Rubyhall walked to his safe deposit vault, and removed two more brown boxes and laid them on the table. He opened the first box, and removed two 20carat stones and put them aside. “Open the master stone box and check its color, clarity and cut,” Rubyhall said. “See if it meets your standard. They are twin stones: ovals cut from the same rough good enough for the gay couple. Is the color good?”
“Yeah,” said Rubin, after a quick glance face-up (table-up). “It’s good. Perfect! They will like it.”
“They have certificates from Switzerland stating origin,” Rubyhall added.
“Here is your 25carat piece, again Burmese, oval. Check its color, clarity and cut.” He opened the second brown box for Rubin to view.
Rubyhall walked back to his safe deposit vault again remembering another box. He opened it recollecting a certain shape and said softly, “I found your 30carat piece, Burmese, oval. Have a look, before I can find your 37carat piece!”
Rubin put all the stones he had requested on the tray, and looked at each of the pieces, side by side, to see the color shift and the quality of luster. They all glowed like embers, as he looked at them in different positions. A life of their own! He had before him what he had asked for, and more.
“Look son, I’m terribly sorry to disappoint you,” said Rubyhall. “Give me a couple of days to get your biggest piece 37carat. I’ve bigger sizes, like 40carats and above, but not that precise 37carat piece. I’ll get it for you.” He apologized.
“One more piece, and then I can leave for New York,” replied Rubin. “Dad will be happy. I must call and tell him.” He said in a low tone, while writing the details of four stones on the invoice.
Rubyhall now had all the reasons to hate Jay like a Satan. “ 37carat ruby! ” He had never in his life sent anyone from his office empty-handed. They always got the pieces they had asked for. He had the entire stock of the best in the world in his safe.
“Are you happy with the four pieces?” Rubyhall asked.
“Perfectly happy!”
“Don’t worry about the prices. It will all be taken care of,” Rubyhall said, “and once I get that 37carat ruby in place, we will talk about the final numbers.”
“Fine with me.” Rubin had no problems with that suggestion.
While putting back the stones in his safe deposit vault, Rubyhall thought for a sec. How on earth was he going to find that 37carat ruby? He knew for sure, Tito and Miko had the piece. Lam had become a good for nothing. The custodians were much smarter. If worse comes to worse, he might have to re-cut the 40carat ruby to match the 37carat. That means a loss of 3carat, a lot of money. The worst scenario in two days! IMPOSSIBLE!
“Okay, Mr Rubyhall,” said Rubin. “I’ll take the 4 pieces, and when should I come to collect the last one?”
“In less than a week,” answered Rubyhall, confidently. “It will be here, right here. My word!”
“Your word is my word. The invoices, I’ve prepared and duly signed.” They shook hands like always. Rubyhall kept the rubies selected by Rubin separate in his safe deposit vault.
“Don’t worry about that. Trust and word is more than enough,” said Rubyhall, accompanying Rubin to the front door.
They shook hands once again, and Rubin left the office with a confident smile.