Chapter 24 Lilac's game
The man stared at Lilac with an interesting gaze. "How about you tell me and I will let you go? He said and Lilac chuckled.
"As if you would be so nice. Besides, do you think a bidding number is enough? A lot of companies were investigated before the bid. There is a reason the Black family was considered most suitable. It is best if you call your employers so we can have a conversation," Lilac said, then paused.
"Oh, and get me a doctor. At the rate of the wounds you left me, it seems I may die before you get an answer from me," she added and she man paused. He looked to his men preparing the torture tools and told them to stop.
Hearing this, Lilac let loose a breath internally. She may have escaped the torture this time. She watched the man walk away.
Soon, the man returned with another man in a white coat, seeming to be a doctor.
"Unchain her," he ordered his men and Lilac relaxed somewhat. It seems they decided to make a deal with her.
The doctor immediately begun to treat Lilac's injuries. He cut open Lilac's jeans to get to the wounds. Lilac endured the pain of the treatment before she was led towards a car. When Lilac stepped out into the cold air, she realized it was already dark outside. She had been held in that dark cave a whole day, it seems. The car door was opened for her and inside, her abductor was in the back seat.
Lilac entered the car and they drove off.
"Alright. Talk. This car will take you anywhere in the city. So keep your end of the deal. There is still an hour before the bidding begins," the man said.
Lilac gave them the address of a subway station and the man paused and nodded.
Lilac smiled "The Black family presented a new technology recently at our family ball," Lilac said.
"Two days ago," the man said with a nod.
"The Mayor is very invested in the technology. It may have swayed favour, but the technology is not complete. The elections are coming, and the mayor may have a lot of plans, but what if the favor he is trying to gain, all the will come to nothing when he can't get his hands on shares in time for election?" She asked.
Lilac already knew the Mayor wanted to have a stake in the new technology to have the Black family push him in the coming elections. She recalled that her mother talked about this a lot in the past. She was sure what this new technology was, even though it had been introduced in the ball a few days ago. Afterall, she was on edge all night from planning to save herself to hear what her father in law, Mr Black said the technology was.
But Lilac recalled that in her last life, on the night of the ball, the technology was never announced on the night of the ball. She was not sure why in this life Mr Black had announced it. Back then, she barely registered this change, but now, she wondered if it was because she had changed things.
From the pieces of memory she had about her past life when she had joined Eric on the Island, on the night she was abducted, she heard things. The black family and the Harold family had invited this technology with Mr Kent, who was running against the current mayor.
"Are you saying the black family is on Kent's side? Or that the technology is not possible. Are the testing results fake?" The man asked.
Lilac knew that the mayor had an interest in the Black family and would sway their way in the bid. But the Black family interacting with his rival could only mean that they never intended to favour him in the elections.
"Oh the technology is fine but just not ready. But it has nothing to do with the mayor. But it doesn't seem he knows that. Tonight, he will favour the black family," Lilac said.
"And if he knows, he will withdraw his favour, then," the man said.
"To win this bid, it is not enough to have a higher bid number. Afterall, so much could go wrong between the bidding and the announcement of the winner, right? Lilac asked.
The car rolled to a stop before the entrance of a subway station.
"Give me a paper and pen," she said.
"For what?" He asked.
"To write you the bid number," she said and The man took out something. To write on and Lilac scribbled on it. She opened the car door first before she handed him the paper.
"Send my well wishes to your employers," she said and got out of the car. She shut the door and immediately walked off, disappearing into the crowd.
On the other side of the city, Eric took his seat awaiting the bid to start. He and others entered the hall and were settling down. His eyes scrolled to one side of the hall as a young woman took a seat. Daine Milton was here to represent the Milton family in the bid.
Eric knew this woman was the one who took Lilac, to force him to withdraw from the bid. Daine looked Eric's way and their eyes met for a second. Diane nodded in passing before looking away and sitting down.
Her behavior puzzled Eric. Diane Seemed relaxed unlike Eric had expected. He had long known she would pull this stunt. After all, she was fighting to keep her position as the heir and was desperate. Eric did not mind letting her plans unfold. It kept the Milton family distracted.
But as she sat without care, he could not help wondering what happened to Lilac? He was sure Lilac was in their custody, so why was she relaxed when he did not react to their threats?
Eric wanted to have this investigated, but the bid was about to start and the representatives had all taken their seat so he let it go.
After a few minutes, every bid has been submitted. Only then did Eric leave the hall and join his father and Harris at the reception.
"How was it?" Mr Black asked when he saw the odd look on Eric's face.
"Did something happen?" Harris asked.
"Nothing. If all goes well, we should hear in a few minutes that we won," Eric said.
"What is it?" Harris asked. He knew that look on this brother's face. It was as though he felt something was wrong.
"Diane Milton seemed too calm," Eric answered.
"You said you kept them distracted, right? The Milton are the only ones with support on the counsel except us. But the mayor will bid in our favour, so it doesn't matter," Harris said.
"Harris is right, besides, we already know their bid number. No matter what happens, the announcement will say we are the winner tonight," Mr Black said to Eric.
Eric nodded then turned to his assistant motioning to come closer.
"Send word. They can start the operation to rescue her," Eric said and his assistant nodded. He knew Eric was referring to Lilac Hart. Inwardly, he sighed. His Boss's wife sure had bad luck marrying his boss.
The night continued on then, it was time to announce the winner of the bid.
The host came on stage and took out a card with he winners name.
"Congratulations Milton corporation. The Milton corporation wins the bid with five hundred million dollars," tr host announced and the crowd begun to applaud.
The black family frowned at this. Eric could not understand. They lost? How? His eyes followed Diane as she walked shook the hands of those congratulating her.
Their eyes met and Diane let out a smirk. Eric frowned and turned to his assistant.
"Where is Lilac?" He asked.
"We have not heard back from the operation team, sir," his assistant answered.
Eric's face fell quickly. If they were not distracted by Lilac, if she was never useful to them, then what did they do to her?