The Jeweled Daughter

The Hong Kong residence in which she is staying is called the Pavilion of Apricots. It is a beautiful palace filled with an extraordinary art collection, but for Sarah Brent, it has become a prison, the scene of events over which she has no control, which threaten to overwhelm her career, her great love- and even her life. Sarah is an ambitious young woman who is a specialist in fine jewels, a designer as well as an agent for wealthy collectors. She is employed by Theodora Paradine, a ruthless American woman of whom Sarah says, "I have worked for Theodora for nearly two years, long enough to know that if she wants something-a jewel, a house or a man-her money will get it for her." Theodora's power encircles Sarah and threatens all that she cares about. Yet she feels that her own success is tied to her relationship with Theodora, and she makes great sacrifices to sustain it. For example, as part of her job, she must travel all over the world to jewel auctions to bid on great pieces. This responsibility has led to the breakup of her marriage to her physician-husband Maritus. Now Sarah has come to Hong Kong, where she grew up, to see her father and to perform some professional duties for Theodora. Almost as soon as she arrives on the island she helps Theodora acquire an ancient and extremely valuable jade belt. Sarah soon suspects that the beautiful object has been stolen from the People's Republic of China, but when she tries to rectify the situation, she runs into a terrifying sequence of events which seems to involve the people she cares most about in the world: Marius, her estranged husband, and her beloved father.