CHAPTER 10: CHAPTER 10: THE AUCTION

Paige Sterling thought she would have to negotiate with Julian Hawthorne, but to her surprise, Julian nodded,

"Okay, once the research results come out, I’ll have finance transfer the money to you."

Paige’s expression immediately deflated.

Doesn’t that mean she has to wait another month to get the money?

Seeing her look like that, Julian asked, "Are you very short on cash?"

"I’m a self-reliant and kind-hearted rich second generation, of course I’m short on money."

She wants to do big things, the first thing she needs is a laboratory, and without several billion, how can she build a lab.

So what’s she most lacking now is money.

But she doesn’t want to ask Jared Sullivan for it.

Julian pursed his lips, wrote a check.

"Here’s ten million, the rest will be given after the product comes out."

Paige took the check, put it in her pocket, and raised her brows slightly.

"Thanks, President Hawthorne."

Julian sensed that she was quite happy now.

It made him want to write a few more checks for her.

Director Abbott saw the two were only discussing money and felt anxious.

Such an excellent talent, why wasn’t President Hawthorne eager to bring her into the company?

Director Abbott had to speak up himself, "Miss Sterling, I didn’t expect someone as young as you to be so capable. Would you be interested in joining our company?"

Paige, "No."

Director Abbott, "..."

Why do young people talk so bluntly? Can’t they think it over before rejecting?

As Director Abbott was leaving, he accidentally knocked another set of data off the table while grabbing the documents.

Paige bent down to pick it up and was attracted by several lines of content on the document.

DR’s endorsement planning materials?

Judging by the time, it was just made today, and the spokesperson was not Melody Mercer.

Which means not only did Melody not get this endorsement, but Stellar also lost the endorsement opportunity.

Paige gave Julian a peculiar look.

It’s not that she has a tendency to overthink it, but everything seemed so bizarre.

Initially, DR specifically wanted her for the endorsement, and DR is a brand under Hawthorne Group.

After she left Stellar, DR didn’t keep the endorsement opportunity for the burgeoning Melody Mercer...

So was Julian really her fan?

Of course, she could think that but couldn’t possibly ask.

She put the document back on the table, Julian glanced at it.

"The company considered that you were more suitable for the DR endorsement, that’s all, not my idea."

This explanation seemed somewhat like a cover-up, so much so that even Julian felt awkward after saying it.

Paige made an "oh" sound, didn’t say anything, clearly not very concerned.

Julian pursed his lips and fell silent.

Until Shaun Jones pushed the door open and walked in, "President Hawthorne, the auction time is coming."

Paige stood up, "I’ll head back then."

"You’re going too," Julian said, "there are lots of people at the venue."

So does he need her protection?

Paige, a person who liked quiet in both her lifetimes, especially the previous one where she spent most of her time in the lab.

So she really wasn’t keen on going to the auction.

But having signed a contract, she had to be true to her word.

The auction was particularly boring, and Paige found it quite uninteresting, lazily lounging on the chair.

Until a rock appeared on the auction platform.

A meteorite about the size of a cow, colorful and rather aesthetically pleasing.

It would be nice to buy it and put it in the garden as a display.

The host introduced, saying this was an extraterrestrial meteorite.

Such a large extraterrestrial meteorite is indeed rare, but generally, apart from research institutions, no one else buys these kinds of things.

Sure enough, the starting price for the stone was only fifty thousand, and only a few people were bidding, with the price only rising to one hundred thousand.

Paige perked up and quickly raised her bidding paddle.

Originally thought when the price went up later, no one would bid.

But even when the price soared to five hundred thousand, there was still someone continuing to bid.

Paige turned to see who was bidding, only to spot a man.

Upon noticing her gaze, the man with delicate features responded with a cold smile.

Austin Xavier?

Come to think of it, the Sterling Family and the Xavier Family were family friends.

Paige and Austin Xavier were barely childhood friends and playmates.

However, Austin Xavier, from a young age, was particularly eccentric, and as he grew, more devious and ruthless, especially targeting her, causing Paige to gradually distance from him after entering the entertainment industry.

Now is this lunatic deliberately picking a fight with her!?

Paige also returned Austin’s cold smile with one of her own.

This meteorite she must have!

Austin Xavier raised the paddle, ultimately driving the price up to nine hundred thousand, and everyone’s eyes in the auction hall turned to Paige and Austin.

Paige bid one million, but Austin Xavier stopped raising the paddle.

He indeed wanted to fight with Paige, intended to make Paige uneasy.

But if he spent a million to buy a useless rock, his old man at home would probably slap him to death.

"Okay, one million once, one million twice..."

About to secure the stone, Paige was a bit excited, as this kind of meteorite contains a special substance, quite common in The Star Empire two thousand years later.

But currently, it’s not common.

Getting hold of this stone, she would make a huge profit!

But at this moment, next to her, Julian quietly raised his paddle.

Before Paige could react, she heard the host shout excitedly.

"One and a half million once! One and a half million twice! One and a half million three times!"

Paige, "...!!"

Looked at Julian stunned.

Shaun Jones had already gone to sign the contract and pay, Paige had to reluctantly give up.

Julian’s company was involved in technology, if they drag the rock back to study it, they will understand the stone’s value.

So, wanting to get the rock from Julian’s hands was almost impossible.

Still, Paige wanted to know why Julian bought this rock.

"President Hawthorne, do you have a special purpose for buying this rock?"

Julian, "I believe Miss Sterling has a keen eye, anything worth bankrupting yourself for must be extraordinary."

Paige, "...", nearly spat blood, her tense face began to crack.

She glared at Julian, stood, and headed to the restroom.

When coming out of the restroom, she saw Julian washing his hands at the sink.

The side of his face that was bitten still had a band-aid on it, but it didn’t diminish his looks in the least, high nose bridge, perfectly shaped lips, even his skin was better than most women.

Paige glanced at him, "Your band-aid is about to fall off."

Julian looked in the mirror, then tilted his face towards Paige.

"My hands are wet."

Still irritated, Paige raised her hand and pressed the band-aid hard on Julian’s face, intending to stick it back firmly.