CHAPTER 29: THE AUCTION (3)

Seith took me to the other side of the mansion, where a bunch of professional stylists resided. Within a few minutes, they got my hair and makeup done, making me look even more beautiful.

"Don’t leave my side again, there are so many bad people here today," Seith said as he led me out of the stylist’s room to the auction hall.

"I’m sorry for bothering you. I only wanted to take a look around... it won’t happen again." I really felt apologetic for everything that happened. He was someone I barely knew and he had saved me twice from danger and even got a professional makeover for me. Those were things no one has ever done for me and it really warmed my heart.

I looked up at him, smiling and said, "Thank you very much."

"There is no need to thank me for things I can do. They are nothing." He stared back into my eyes with a smirk, and it made me flustered.

We arrived at the auction hall which was also part of the extravagant mansion. And unlike any other auction, there was no noise, and the auction hall could accommodate thousands of people without being in disorder.

Small TVs were installed in front of each table so that every guest could see the exhibit clearly and make a bid on time. This was my first time at an event like this, and I just looked around in awe, while Seith was busy explaining the auction process and teaching me how to use the TV.

Shortly, the auction began. Mr. Rick, the organizer of the event stood up and gave a short speech. "Thank you all for being present in tonight’s exclusive auction. Most of the collections came from generous donations from fellow business leaders and celebrities. Only a small portion came from my collection. We gather here tonight not to only acquire precious items, but to raise money for our war-torn children. On behalf of the children who were rescued, I would like to thank you all for your good deeds."

After he was done, the crowd broke into a rapturous applause. His speech was really touching.

"Mr. Rick seems to be a kind-hearted man."

Seith glanced at me and scoffed. "Then, you’re wrong."

"Why?" I asked, surprised.

"This is the business world, Jacy. I can assure you no one here gives a shit about those children. They are only concerned about bidding and showing off their wealth, just to gain more cooperation. Some of them are even donating to avoid tax and increase the company’s profit."

"You mean even the people who donated didn’t do it out of pure kindness?"

Seith nodded. "There is complicated interest trading behind every donation, and no single donation was done out of pure kindness."

I bit my lips, unable to believe it. I had really believed Claudia had donated my necklace for a good cause. Even though it was my grandma’s necklace, I wouldn’t have felt bad about giving it out to children who needed it out there. But now, it seemed like a complicated game. No one here cared about those children, and Claudia only donated to hurt me.

The bidding of the first item began; it was a vintage hair pin, one of Mr. Rick’s collection. According to the introduction, it once belonged to Queen Elizabeth the second. The initial price was five thousand dollars. The rule was to bid up by one hundred thousand every time.

Since it was the first exhibit, everyone was enthusiastic about bidding. But I couldn’t pay attention, I just stared blankly at the TV screen, waiting anxiously for my necklace.

"Do you think it’s pretty?" I heard Seith asked.

Out of instinct, I nodded my head. "Yes... it is." And to my uttermost surprise, he entered five million on the screen. The bidding price was still at two million and he just skipped three million.

That also startled the host, then he reported, "Guest number three offered five million, anyone higher?" Whispers started spreading through the hall.

It was just a hair pin, even though it belonged to Queen Elizabeth, it wasn’t worth the price. Maybe he was getting it for someone really important to him.

"Did you buy it for your mom, or sister?" I asked.

"I thought you said it’s pretty."

"Yeah... I do..."

"Then, I bought it for you," he proudly said, and my eyes widened in shock.

"This isn’t part of the deal..."

Seith almost rolled his eyes. "Five million dollars is nothing, Mi Lady. That’s just for food."

I knew it was nothing to him, but instead of making me happy, I felt uncomfortable. Spending that much money would only make his demands high. What if it was something I couldn’t give?

I drew out a sigh and tried to focus on something else. The auction went by with me hardly speaking. Even when Seith asked me if I found any item beautiful, I would just shake my head. But he saw right through that and still bought me some things. Well, it wasn’t my fault. I never asked him to do that.

After several bids, Mr. Rick took out a jewelry box and put it on the exhibition table. When he opened the box, it sparkled, surprising everyone.

Seeing the necklace, the world around me went still. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. To everyone else, it was just a necklace, but it was more than that to me. It was a gift that was given to me from my grandma’s love.

"Someone from a powerful business line donated this necklace. It’s named the Starlit Haven. The necklace has a thousand diamonds on it and every diamond was cut perfectly, so no matter where you look at it, you can feel its radiance and shine like stars haven," Mr. Rick said.

The necklace caught everyone’s attention, especially the females, and I just knew it wasn’t going to be easy, since almost everyone wanted it.

I sat straight, as my hands began to shake in anxiety. Shortly, the bidding started. The price was set at two hundred thousand. The bidding was very competitive, and it didn’t bother Seith, he seemed to be waiting for the last bidder before he bid. The numbers on the screen grew larger, and not before long, it had already gone up to one million. These rich people bid as if the zeros in the number weren’t real money.

Soon the number on the screen jumped to two million, and Seith finally joined in. And again, he broke the rules, he jumped all the way to four million, which didn’t end well, because the room suddenly turned noisy.

"Who is that? He just doubled the price?!"

"I really can’t afford it anymore. It’s just a necklace anyway. Doesn’t worth it."

"Wow... number three offered four million, what a generous guest. Is there a higher bid?" the host asked, waiting. And just then, a voice rang from the other side of the hall.

"Ten million dollars."