Chapter 13
Malcolm gritted his teeth and tossed up his card. “Thirty five mil.”
He’d barely sit down when Finn dropped another six and a half million like it was pocket change.
Eloise, freaking out that the purple diamond might slip away, grabbed his arm with a puppy dog pout. “Malcolm, everyone’s staring, You can’t let some nobody steal The Aurora.”
Malcolm was ready to tap out, but her words hit him hard. He glanced at the VIP crowd–yep, all eyes on him, including some familiar faces.
If he couldn’t snag this diamond, he’d be a walking punchline.
So, he sucked it up and kept bidding
What drove him up the wall was that no matter how high he went, the mystery player upstairs one–upped him by three million. Every Freaking Time
By the end. The Aurora’s price had exploded to a hundred million
Way past what any diamond was worth. Pure madness
Arya, eating up the chaos from the sidelines, pulled out her phone and snapped a pic. She opened a dusty old chat app and pinged a contact with chubby pig avatar. [Hey, The Aurora’s your work, yeah?|
Her phone lit up instantly.
Leo: [No way, Arya: You’re back!
Leo: (When you swinging by, girl?]
Leo: [Five years! Where you been?
Leo: You at the Estello Auction?
Arya grinned and shot back: [Yup, I’m here. Your Aurora just hit a hundred mil. Nice one.
The reply was lightning–fast: [Arya, I’d be nowhere without you. This? All you.]
Meanwhile, Malcolm was sweating like crazy, his forehead practically a Slip N Slide.
His last bid–ninety–five mil–had cleaned him out. Another round, and he’d be eating ramen for lite.
He leaned close to Eloise, voice smooth as honey. “Babe, that guy upstairs is obsessed with The Aurora, Let’s let him have it. I’ll get Leo to make you something even hotter, promise.”
Eloise was crazy about that diamond, but she was no fool. She shrugged, “if it means that much to them, let ‘em have it. I’m chill”
Her easygoing vibe made Malcolm’s heart skip. He felt like a king again
The auctioneer’s voice boomed.“Hundred mil, going once!
“Hundred mil, going twicel
“Sold!”
The gavel slammed, and the room lit up with whispers, guests dishing dirt.
“Who’s the big shot in the VIP booth? Dropping that kinda cash on a diamond ring?”
1/3
Chapter 13
“God, I’m so jealous of his girl. A one–hundred million dollar purple diamond? That’s some romance–novel–level love.”
“Didn’t Mr. Finn Barnett from the Barnett family roll back into town last night? Gotta be him.
“Nah, you’re way off. He doesn’t do auctions.”
“For real, I heard he’s almost thirty and still single. No lady in his life”
“You know what they say–hotter the guy, worse he is in bed. Maybe Mr. Damell’s, like, not cutting it
Arya caught that last jab, and her mind flashed to him—tall, ripped, pure masculine beat,
*Not cutting it? Ha. The guy’s a beast,’ she thought. ‘Hours of scorching, body rocking passion without a hitch. Freaking unreal
If he wasn’t her ex’s uncle, she’d be down for a fling. He was just that hot.
Snapping out of her steamy thoughts, Arya watched the host swagger back, holding a red velvet box like it was gold.
He said, “Alright, people, here’s the big one! The Miracle Pill K, Professor Jeff’s final masterpiece. This thing doesn’t just boost blood flow–it fixes wrecked brain nerves. A total game–changer
“Starting bid’s 1.5 million, no limit. Let’s see those paddles!”
Arya didn’t flinch. She raised her paddle, face cool as ever. “Thirty million!”
The crowd gasped, heads snapping her way like she’d just set off fireworks. “Thirty mil right outta the gate? This girl’s got bank!”
Hørbid shut everyone down. Sure, Miracle Pill K was a desaver for brain injuries, and some folks figured they’d grab it cheap as a backup.
But thirty million? Game over
Eloise, still pissed about losing the Aurora diamond, perked up at Arya’s smooth, confident voice.
She glanced over and nearly choked. There, in the VIP section, sat a total knockout–gorgeous face, killer body, and an untouchable vibe.
“Who the hell is that?‘ Eloise thought
Before she could figure it out, Malcolm jumped up beside her, paddle high. “Forty million!”
Eloise spun toward him, stunned. “Malcolm, what’s your deal? Why bid on that?”
Malcolm’s jaw clenched. “No reason. Just can’t stand her guts.”
He was still stinging from earlier, when that same woman had whooped his ass outside the ladies‘ room. No way was he letting her snag w
wanted.
He couldn’t touch that purple diamond, but a pill? He believed he could swing that..
Arya shot Malcolma look, a smirk curling her lips. Wanna play, huh? Let’s see who’s got the cash.
She was about to crush him with a hundred sixty million when a paddle shot up from the VIP booth. “Three hundred thirty million!”
Dead silence. The room froze
No auction had ever hit a number that wild Everyone figured the VIP was either insane or had money to burn.
Malcolm sank into his chair, white as a sheet. Jesus, I’m up against a psycho
“You okay, Malcolm?” Eloise asked, eyeing his sweaty face.
Malcolm swiped his forehead and forced a grin. “Well, Eloise, you hungry? Let’s bounce and grab a candlelit dinner.
Eloise wasn’t thrilled to ditch, but she knew guys hated clingy types.
“Sure. Let’s go, “she said.
Arya didn’t even glance as Malcolm and Eloise slipped out. Her icy gaze stayed locked on the VIP booth, eyes narrowing.
She didn’t raise her paddle.
She knew the jerk up there would just keep topping her, no matter what.
“Screw it, she thought. Why waste my time when I can just take it?‘ A sneaky plan was already brewing.
