He took a sip of wine, his eyes unreadable.

“Do you know what this movie is about?"

His voice sounded strange, almost mechanical, and she began to wonder whether she was experiencing an auditory hallucination.

Ariana looked at the screen, paying more attention now.

“Is it a movie about love? I haven't seen it."

“Love? Kind of," the man replied with a chuckle.

"A woman gave up her riches to elope with a poor boy, for so-called love, and then helped build her husband up to be successful. But when he became rich and powerful, he started to dislike his wife."

As he spoke, he placed down his wine glass and looked at Ariana from under his mask. His cold eyes were frightening.

“The woman kept waiting at home in their manor like a lunatic. But then her husband went into trouble and she was the only one who stayed by his side."

“What happened in the end? Did she win her husband back?" Ariana asked, frowning.

"In the end, the husband was moved by her show of love, he repented for his mistakes and remained loyal for the rest of his life. Her hard work paid off in the end. She got the love she always wanted. What a moving story!"

He said this last line so quietly it was almost a whisper.

Ariana listened intently to the whole story. When he was finished, she sneered, “I want to take back what I said. That's not love but the story of a stupid woman."

She seemed to pique his interest with this comment.

“Then what about you?" he asked, sitting up straighter and moving closer to her.

“Love or profit. Which would you choose?"

As his eyes examined her, she felt it was oddly familiar. It was a feeling of being trapped in a cage, suffocating.

She lowered her eyes, avoiding the question.

“I'm not here to watch a movie. I just want to make that clear. I don't know where you got that ruby necklace but that doesn't matter. I want it."

Ariana took a deep breath before continuing, “That necklace is very important to me. What would you like for it? I'm willing to Pay as much as you want."