In the bustling city of New York, the winter days were unbearably dreary and desolate. The trees, stripped bare of their vibrant leaves, were whipped mercilessly by the biting, cold wind. Cathleen bundled up in a thick coat and scarf, stood by the window of her room. She cradled her phone in her ear as she spoke with someone, her voice muffled by the loud roar of traffic outside. As she turned to glance at her travel bag, already packed and ready for her impending trip, a sneer played on her lips. Oblivious to the creaking of the door behind her, she was fully engrossed in her conversation.
"What do you mean the auction is going to take place in New York?" Xavier stood rigidly at the doorway, his hand tucked into the pocket of his trousers as he leaned on the doorframe. Cathleen's voice drifted through the air, her words flowing effortlessly in conversation with the person on the other end of the line. She seemed completely engrossed, unaware of Xavier's presence just a few feet away. He watched her subtly, taking in the way she furrowed her brow and gestured with her hands as she spoke. The soft glow of lamplight illuminated her delicate features, making them appear almost ethereal in the dimly lit room. Meanwhile, Xavier remained a silent observer, lost in contemplation over Cathleen's every movement and expression.
"All right, head back to Manhattan. I am going to need to date." The moment Cathleen brought up the word "date," Xavier's features twisted into a hard, unfeeling expression, and a sly, cunning smile crept onto his lips. His eyes glinted with mischief, and his body language exuded confidence and manipulation.
'I had a hunch she was a prostitute.' As he stood there, his mind raced with thoughts and emotions that kept him rooted to the spot. The room seemed to hold him in its grasp, unwilling to let him go. He could feel the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on him, suffocating and overwhelming. A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead as he grappled with the situation. His face contorted into an expression of disbelief and anger, like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Are you sure about that, though? You know, the last thing we need right now is something like that. I hope you have a good rest before landing. I am going to need you tomorrow if this is going to happen. Before you go, do you know of anyone else who might be interested in this piece of work?" Xavier remained rooted in place, not wanting to miss any part of the conversation.
"Xavier Alexander Knight, are you sure about that?" Xavier's suspicions were confirmed as soon as he heard his name. The smug look on Cathleen's face and the calculating glint in her eyes only solidified his belief that she was solely interested in their marriage for financial gain. It was a bitter realization, one that made him question everything about their relationship thus far. The faint scent of her expensive perfume filled the air, adding to the feeling of betrayal and deceit that now hung heavy between them. He couldn't help but feel a sense of dread at what the future held with such a woman by his side.
"Do you have any idea why Mr. Knight would want that piece?" Now more than ever, Xavier wishes that he had the supernatural powers to be able to hear what the other person on the other end of the line was saying. He hated the fact that he heard his name being mentioned, but he didn't know for what reason. Instead of being able to talk to his wife, as he had wanted to do when he walked into her room, he had anger written all over his face. When they began to talk about a few cases, Xavier left her room and went back to his room. That night, Xavier had no understanding of Cathleen at all. Whether she was a mafia woman, a prostitute, or even a thief, he couldn't tell. The woman was confusing as fuck!
The next morning, the sun was shining as if the wind hadn't been blowing the previous day. Cathleen called old Mr. Knight on the telephone and told the man that she was in need of his help. Old Mr. Knight didn't even ask any questions. He just told Cathleen to consider it done. Cathleen went to a shop later that day to buy a dress for the occasion.
After browsing through racks of stunning dresses, she finally settled on a beautiful dark green trumpet mermaid evening gown. The rich, emerald hue of the dress seemed to glow in the light, and its form-fitting silhouette accentuated all the right curves. With a high-thigh split that added a touch of sultry elegance, it was unlike anything she had ever worn before. Standing in front of the mirror, she couldn't believe how elegant and regal she looked in this dress. It was as if it had been tailor-made just for her, with every detail perfectly highlighting her natural beauty. Cathleen couldn't wait to make her grand entrance to the event in this breathtaking ensemble.
After a few hours, her partner arrived in a limousine, and he opened the passenger seat for her. "Brief me," Cathleen said as she slid into the limousine, and the man began to talk to her. "Well, ma'am, I don't know how you managed to pull this off, but I was contacted this morning in relation to the piece, and it seems that your contact has pulled some strings. "Here," Cathleen said as she handed a briefcase over to the man. I am going to go in just for the sake of appearances, and you are going to go back to pay for the piece, so you will meet me inside. After you have paid and made sure the piece has reached the office safely,"
"Of course, ma'am." The man said, and almost immediately, the car arrived at the auction house. It was the Knight Foundation Auction House.