Chapter 0095
"I think I should get used to saving you, don't you think so, neighbor?" Elijah teased as he led Amara to a table at the far end of the auction room.
It was secluded, but with a great view of the stage.
Amara eyed him, refusing to play along with his jest.
When they arrived at the table, Elijah pulled a chair open for her and took his seat in the chair opposite her.
"Not gonna thank me?"
"I could have easily handled that situation, Elijah." Amara retorted, shrugging her shoulder.
She couldn't help the smile that made it's way onto her lips when he feigned hurt, placing his hand across his chest and dramatically sighing, just like when they had first met. "That's the thanks I get for helping you out."
"What? We're you expecting another home cooked meal?"
Elijah smiled. "Well, I expected a date, but home cooked meal sounds nice."
Amara playfully glared at him, but soon, the expression on her face dropped and she reasoned Elijah's actions so far.
Although their first meeting was a coincidence and so was their second, he had no reason whatsoever to help her.
But he did, without hesitation at that.
She glanced at him and Elijah smile widened.
Her eyes narrowed. What was his objective? What was he hoping to gaining from always showing up and helping her?
Money? Connection? No, there was no way he knew her true identity.
What then? Was he...trying to court her?
Amara shook the ridiculous idea off as soon as it breezed past her mind and decided to focus on the auction that was about to begin. Whatever his agenda was, she didn't want to know, because no matter what...
"It isn't going to work." She muttered.
"What?" Elijah asked.
Ah, she didn't mean to say it out loud. "Nothing. Why are you here by the way?"
As if debating his answer, or rather, reading into her expression and obvious change of subject, Elijah was silent for a few seconds.
"I came to bid on something." He answered at last. "Isn't that why we're all here."
Of course he was here to bid on something. Amara nearly felt stupid after asking that question.
So, to save whatsoever of her dignity that was left, she choose to remain silent for the night.
As the auction begun, a man in his late forties, dressed in a maintenance suit, approached the building. "Evening folks," He greeted the bodyguards, flashing an ID card at them. "I'm here for maintenance." The bodyguards glanced at each other before one of them reached for his walkie talkie to confirm. "Was there a request for a maintenance guy?" The guard asked into his walkie.
Seconds later, a reply came. "Yes, please send him to the women's bathroom, that place is busted." The guards stepped out of the way after hearing this, giving directions to the maintenance guy.
With a nod, he walked past the guards. But instead of following the directions he had been given, the guy took a turn in the direction of the upper floor, making his way to the upper layer of the auction house.
He smirked the moment he spotted the chandelier's mounting box and got to work on it. After a few minutes, he whipped out his phone and wrote down a text. [Done. Waiting for further instructions.]
As the maintenance guy tucked his phone into his pocket, he couldn't help but clicked his tongue as he stared at the loosened chandelier latch. Whoever this thing was going to fall on top, was mightily unlucky.
After two hours of watching other bids, it was finally time for the empress's heart to be put on display.
"And for the last item of the night," The host announced as the item was rolled on stage. "The empress heart!"
Everyone gasped at the sight of the beautiful necklace. Amara could see why Maria wanted it.
If she had been the jewelry type of Lady, she would have wanted it herself.
"So, the starting bid is ten million," The host began.
"Ten million," An old man announced his bid.
"Eleven million," A lady called from the third row.
"Fifteen million,"
"Twenty-five million,"
The bids continued to increase, Amara allowed them have their fun for a little while before raising her bid.
"One hundred million," She called out, loud and clear.
The room was immediately filled with shocked gasps and murmurs.
"A hundred million? Isn't that too outrageous?"
"What the hell is that woman doing? She must have lost her mind."
Amara paid the whispers no mind. Her attention was solely focused on the host, so focused that she didn't see the way Tobias, who sat
her, glared at her.
What had she done to get such an amount? What man did she...?
No, he didn't even want to think about it. As a matter of fact, he didn't want to think about anything relating to Amara, didn't even want to be near her.
The only reason he was sitting in the
same room with her was because he wanted the empress heart for Celestine, and the only way to get it was to bid against her.
So, with that thought, Tobias raised his bid.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.
"One hundred and ten million."
The whispers grew louder, and Amara couldn't help but look behind her, meeting Tobias's gaze.