Jack Yabut drained his glass with a single, practiced motion, the fiery liquid seemingly emboldening him as he spoke. "It’s like this, Mr. Mylod—I’ve spent the last few years grinding, saving every cent I could from my salary. I’ve been obsessively studying the antiques market, watching every historical documentary I could find and scouring ancient texts until my eyes bled. I’ve found a Blue and White porcelain vase that I’m convinced is the deal of a lifetime, but the deeper I look, the more I realize how treacherous this industry is. I’m standing on the edge of a cliff here."
He paused, his eyes pleading. "I saw how you handled yourself tonight. You recognized that Ukiyo-e print when no one else could, and you even have someone like Roger Raf treating you like royalty. You’re clearly a
