As they peered at their phones, a collective astonishment spread among them. "Xavier Jewelers notched up sales of 30 million dollars in just one morning! Their designs must be exceptional. We should definitely check them out later."

"Sure, I'll be free later on as well."

Lilah, witnessing the flurry of excitement, arched an eyebrow. Xavier Jewelers seemed to be aggressively broadcasting their sales figures to drum up publicity. Yet, amidst the buzz, Lilah remained a portrait of poise by the showcase, her attention dedicated to presenting her wares to the customers with care and knowledge.

As the day dipped toward evening and the exhibition neared its end, Katie found herself at the heart of a captivated audience. Their eyes were full of respect-most were her peers in design.

“Katie, there's a soulful quality to your work-it's absolutely enchanting," one of them praised her.

"And rightly so," another voice added. “Your talent never fail to amaze. Truly outstanding."

Everyone couldn't take their eyes off the jewelry piece.

Today, Katie had unveiled a pendant of such a striking blood-red hue that it seemed as though the sapphire at its heart was threaded with scarlet veins-captivating and hauntingly beautiful. Crafting such a piece demanded a fusion of complexity and precision that few could master.

Admiration rippled through the onlookers.

“How much for this piece?" someone inquired, their voice tinged with the gravity of genuine interest.

Katie offered a smile touched with pride and stated, "One million and eight hundred thousand dollars."

The number hung in the air, and the room seemed to still.

One million and eight hundred thousand dollars for a single pendant?

Their expressions froze, caught between commendation for its beauty and shock at the price.

As appreciative murmurs turned perfunctory, the crowd began to dissipate.

Later, at the close of the Xavier Jewelers' exhibition, Evelyn began to tally the day's earnings. Katie, eager yet anxious, approached.

"How did my pieces fare this afternoon?" Katie asked.

"You've accumulated sales of five million and four hundred thousand dollars. Three of your jewelry pieces were sold," Evelyn reported.

Katie's brows knitted slightly. Including the morning's sales, only seven of her creations had been sold in total.

"You know, Katie," Evelyn suggested. “More pieces might be sold if the prices were more affordable."

"But this is my finest work to date. To sell it for less would be to undersell its value," Katie retorted, her tone laced with a hint of defiance.

Evelyn, choosing not to dwell further on pricing strategies, shifted the focus to the positive. "Regardless, your individual sales hit more than ten million dollars, and collectively, we've made a splash with sixty million in total sales today."

The atmosphere among the other designers was electric with excitement.

They had modestly hoped for thirty million, but to double that was beyond their expectations.