Chapter 88 The battle just began
Meeting someone willing to help despite the competition we were going to enter made me know there were still good people out there. He nodded at my words before he returned his focus to the stage. The auctioneer stood nervously, with his hands joined in front of him as he smiled. The way his lips curled reminded me of a Chester cat. I could see him calculating the amount of money he would get from this.
A buzz at the entrance caused me to turn, already aware of who it was. Who else but my darling mother-in-law, in all her glory? Amaya Esmeralda James. She stepped in, smiling as she removed her sunglasses. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought she was the president of the country from the whispers she made with her appearance.
I turned before she could see me, opting to relax until the last moment when I would flash the items she wanted to get on her face.
The minute my mother-in-law got to her seat, which was on the right from where I sat, the auctioning began. As they unveiled each one, the Auctioneer's voice rang out. The people who wanted them
The battle just began
"Aren't you binding anything?" The kind man next to me asked. He had been involved in five biddings but only got 2. "Did you just come over to watch without bidding?" He gave me an incredulous stare, his head tilted in confusion as he watched me, almost as if he were trying to figure me out.
"I'm bidding." I sat up, waiting for them to introduce the items I came over to bid. "They haven't brought the items I want to bid on." I rubbed my palms eagerly, knowing they would call the items soon. "Oh, I see." He relaxed in his chair. "I'm through with the items I intended to bid on. Those were my wife's. She wanted them, which was why I came over."
"Are you going home now?"
"Depends on the next item to unveil. I heard the high-ups sent pictures of the last two items to be displayed today. I think I will wait until... Wait a minute, are you here for it?" He lifted an eyebrow, his eyes widening as if he were just realizing something. "Are you also waiting for the special items?" The way he looked at me was as if he were seeing me in a new light.
Smiling, I nodded at the question, further causing him to lean back in shock. "Wow, you are good. I didn't even know you were that good. What's your name?" "Nova Anderson," I responded, not expecting him to know who I was because I didn't give him my brand name which was more popular than my name. "Wow!" He exclaimed, looking stunned. "You are that Nova Anderson? I've heard so much about you from Brion Marshall!"
Oh. That must be Brion at work. Smiling politely at him, I focused on the stage just as they brought out the new item, one of which I was waiting eagerly for.
The auctioneer's voice boomed through the room, announcing the next item up for bid-a rare Egyptian bead. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have the most impressive item-a truly one-of-a-kind treasure from Ancient Egypt!" He clapped his hands, his eyes sparkling as he scanned the audience, to know if he had our attention, something he grabbed from the moment they brought it out. "This exquisite bead, crafted from the finest lapis lazuli, is a true marvel of antiquity. It's said to have once adorned the neck of a pharaoh's queen, and its value is truly priceless!" He continued. "Now, for this one, we will use the ancient paddle."
"Works for me." I got the paddle from where they kept mine, smiling as I got ready to use it to fight my mother-in-law.
"It's time to start the bidding," the auctioneer said, rubbing her palms together in glee.
My mother-in-law's eyes lit up, and she raised her paddle with fierce determination. I smiled to myself, knowing I had to have it. The bidding began, and the auctioneer's eyes sparkled with excitement as the numbers climbed higher and higher.
I didn't bid until my mother-in-law placed hers. "$10000!" She yelled.
He leaned forward, his voice grew more animated. "Do I hear $10,000?"
"$20,000!"
"$30,000!"
'$45,000!"
"Do I hear, $45,000? $50,000?"
As the bidding war escalated, I carefully timed my moves, always staying one step ahead of my mother-in-law. The auctioneer's face was a picture of satisfaction, his eyes gleaming with delight as the bids soared past $50,000. He rubbed his hands together. "This is it, ladies and gentlemen, the bidding is getting fierce! Do I hear $75,000? $80,000?"
Finally, the auctioneer slammed down his gavel, "Sold to bidder number 42 - the lovely lady in the back." I felt a thrill of victory as I stood up, my heart racing with excitement. The bead was mine. My dear mother-in-law stopped at $75,000. She seemed to be at the end of her rope.
My mother-in-law's eyes narrowed and her face tightened in frustration. But I just smiled sweetly, knowing I'd won this round. The battle had just begun. There was nothing more delightful than knowing I won with Dashiell's money. It was so damned satisfying.
The next item up for bid was a vibrant painting from Nigeria. My mother-in-law bid aggressively, but I was ready for her. I countered each bid, my heart racing with excitement. She seemed to want the item more than she did the jewellery because of how anxious she sounded as she called out her number, trying to outbid me.
Oh mother-in-law, I'm so waiting for the shock on your face when you realize whose money I used for this. Grinning maniacally, I rubbed my palms in glee, taking the biding to another level.
"You seem to want that item," the man next to me noted.
"More than you can ever know."
The auctioneer's face was a picture of glee, his voice growing hoarse from the excitement. Like the first one, I got the painting because she couldn't go past $200,000. It was such a pity the fun was ending when I had just enjoyed it.
As we left the auction room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. I'd come here to outdo my mother-in-law, and I'd succeeded. But I knew this game was far from over. It just started.
The battle just began