ADMISSION LETTER/ VICTORIA COLLABORATES WITH LUCAS
Five months later, the exciting news about Clara and Celine's acceptance into the University of London became the shining moment of Victoria's journey. To Victoria, it was more than just an acceptance letter — her heart was filled with joy she couldn't hide. She celebrated enthusiastically.
They would be studying law and accounting, respectively. Clara's fully paid scholarship would definitely ease her financial worries, though she knew she'd need to prepare to handle more statistics on her own without Celine.
For over two years, Celine had acted as her business manager, impressing everyone with her excellent skills, especially when it came to managing auction venues and schedules. Meanwhile, Clara served as Victoria's legal advisor.
As her business grew rapidly, her daily to-do list expanded. She expected more calls, especially on the first Friday of each month. And this Friday afternoon was no different.
The estate sales event was lively and bustling with noise. Victoria arrived early, as always. She was inspecting a vintage leather steamship trunk — brass hardware, silk lining, beautifully preserved. She gently touched the cool leather, admiring the piece.
"The stitching is perfect, but the lining has a slight musk. I can't go above £450," she said.
The seller sighed, hesitant, until a voice from the hallway broke in.
"She's lowballing you. That lining is original raw silk. Clearing costs £50, and in London or Tokyo, its resale value is three times what she's offering," the voice explained.
Victoria tensed up.
She didn't need to turn around to recognize Lucas Lopez's voice. He stepped into the light, looking sharper and more confident than when she last saw him — more than two years ago, when he first introduced her to this business.
His own venture had clearly grown beyond dusty warehouses into high-stakes curating.
"I'll give you £600 right now," Lucas offered, moving closer to the seller.
To the seller, Lucas's offer was tempting, even without inspecting the trunk.
Victoria remained unfazed. Her eyes narrowed behind her glasses as she steady her gaze at Lucas, sensing a proud opponent.
"You're overpaying just to flood the market, Lucas. That's a rookie move, not a friend's," she whispered.
Lucas looked surprised at her words, realizing it wasn't a competitor.
"Sorry, Vic," he said with a smile, offering a handshake. "I couldn't recognize you from afar."
Then he turned to the seller: "I withdraw my bid," he said softly. "It's not the model I was after. The lady's overpaying," he added with a smirk, stepping aside with pride and a challenge.
"Deal or no deal?" Victoria asked firmly.
"Deal," the seller agreed.
Lucas helped her carry the trunk aside.
"£450 was a steal, Vic. How do you do it?" he whispered.
Victoria tucked her hair behind her ear and explained, "It's not rocket science, Lucas. But you tend to bid with your ego. You walk into a room wanting everyone to see you as the biggest catch. You push the price up in competition…"
"It's called dominance," Lucas interrupted.
"No, it's called leaving money on the table," Victoria corrected, her eyes sharp. "You need to learn to be invisible."
Lucas watched her with genuine admiration, seeing in her the makings of a masterful strategist. "That," he said, full of admiration, "is why we should partner up. We can merge or collaborate—"
"Merge?," Victoria quickly interrupted.
"Yes," Lucas nodded in agreement.
"We can work together, Lucas," she added, as she moved over to a corkboard filled with market trends and auction dates.
"Here's the plan," she continued warmly. "You keep your warehouses separate. Your buyers' list stays yours, and my contacts stay mine. We control our own spaces."
Lucas raised his eyebrows. "Then what's the point?"
"The point?" she said, tapping a red pin, "this is where we exchange information. If I find mid-century Italian lighting in Connecticut for your high-end clients, I'll call you. You get the lead, and I get a ten percent finder's fee."
"And if I hear about the Japanese market suddenly loving vintage American denim?" Lucas added with a grin.
"You give me a heads-up before prices skyrocket here," Victoria replied cheerfully and confidently. "We look out for each other in territories we can't cover alone. We're not merging businesses—we're building bridges."
Lucas looked at her thoughtfully, realizing she had crafted a system that combined the strength of a big company with the agility of a scout.
"Fair enough," Lucas nodded, spreading his arms with a satisfied smile.
Two months later, Victoria shared the news over the phone with Clara and Celine.
To Victoria and Lucas, their partnership was fantastic. But to her sisters—still navigating the complex world of business and law—it looked more like a daring, high-stakes gamble.
"So, let me get this straight," Celine asked thoughtfully, "You've entered a 'partnership' where you don't share an office, don't pool your assets, and your main 'revenue stream' relies on tips from a man who was your direct competitor just last month?"
Victoria leaned back, her expression calm and assured.
"You're mistaken, Celine," she replied gently. "He was competing with me unknowingly; he didn't see the bigger picture. Plus, it's a strategic alliance, not a merger. It helps me lower my liability while expanding my market reach."
"It sounds a bit like a spy ring, Vic," Clara said with concern. "In business, if you don't have a signed contract with a clear exit plan and shared expenses, it's not truly a business—more like a hobby with a lot of stress. My concern isn't just expenses; it's ethics. How do you ensure Lucas doesn't get ahead of you on leads? If he finds an intellectual property you've discovered, what's stopping him from buying it out from under you before you even get to send the 'ping'?"
"Same reason I wouldn't merge—if he burns me once, I back out," Victoria said confidently.
"It's a delicate balance, Vicky," Clara warned. "Partnering with someone who's 'building his own business' means his loyalty mostly lies with his bottom line. Just make sure you're not the one left holding the bag if one of these tips turns into a legal headache."
"Well," Celine interrupted, "you've spoken highly of Lucas as your childhood friend and the person who introduced you to this business. Let's hope for the best."
"Promise us one thing," Clara said softly, her tone warm and caring. "If Lucas ever tries to push you out of your own warehouse, call us. Celine has the connections to handle him, and I can take care of legal matters. And please, don't sign any deals without running them by us."
Victoria smiled sincerely, feeling protected.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Clara," she replied with a bright, warm smile.