Caitlin raised her paddle again.
<b>“</b>Number 7dy bids 2.5 billion!” the auctioneer announced loudly.
<b>“</b><b>2.55 </b>billion<b>!</b><b>” </b>
Zora shot her a defiant look. She wasn’t here to lose. With a powerful backer and fresh investment behind XEG, she finally had the capital <b>to </bpete head–to–head with Caitlin.
She had her eyes on Plot 1 for XEG’s expansion, determined to crush Caitlin with her own strength in the business world.
“2.6 billion!”
A new voice joined the fray. Sitting slightly behind Caitlin, a man raised his paddle.
She turned to see it was Abel. Dressed sharply, he nodded and smiled at her like a gentleman<b>. </b>Caitlin returned a slight nod<b>, </b>then calmly raised her paddle again.
“3 billion<b>.</b><b>” </b>
No point in incremental bidding. Caitlin wasn’t here to waste time–and certainly not short on cash. Anyone trying to outbid her on price was asking for
humiliation.
The bid jumped to 3 billion, already far exceeding market value. The crowd turned to stare at Caitlin.
Zora’s eyes zed. She raised her paddle again.
“3.05 billion!”
More gasps followed. Zora had long forgotten her mother’s advice not to go head–to–head with Caitlin. She was set on crashing into that wall, no matter
the cost.
“3.5 billion!”
Caitlin’s paddle went up again. Her eyes locked with Zora’s–daring her to continue.
Several real estate moguls joined in briefly, pushing it to 3.6, 3.7, 3.8 billion. Then Zora threw down the gauntlet:
“4 billion!”
Now the plot had gone into extreme overvaluation. Even the wealthiest bidders backed off. A wave of exmations swept through the room, All eyes were now on Caitlin and Zora.
Zora stared straight at Caitlin, daring her to raise the paddle again. She figured if Caitlin went as high as 5 billion, she’d bow out–leaving Caitlin to waste a fortune and suffer a major loss.
But Caitlin sat motionless.
The auctioneer started looking around the room.
“Any higher bids? Going once… going twice… going three times–sold!”
“Congrattions! Miss Harris, bidder number 12, wins the rights to Plot 1<b>!</b><b>” </b>
Apuse followed.
€13:<b>06 </b>SON LUO
Zora was a <b>bit </b>surprised that Caitlin hadn’t followed through but then her face lit up <b>with </b>smug satisfaction.
Finally<b>, </b>she’d stolen the spotlight from Caitlin. Finally, she’d won!
<b>As </b><b>the </b>crowd trickled out of Auction Room 1, Caitlin and Zora crossed paths again.
“Well? I got Plot 1! Looks like you couldn’t beat me this time!”
Zora’s smile stretched triumphantly across her face.
“Congrattions, Miss Harris. That was a bold win.”
Caitlin responded with a polite, chilly smile, then walked away without a second nce.
Zora blinked. Something didn’t feel right. Since when did Caitlin ever act this gracious in defeat?
What game was she ying?
Suddenly uneasy, Zora instructed her team to finalize the contract before Caitlin had a chance to change anything,
Outside the auction hall, Abel caught up with Caitlin.
“Didn’t expect to see you here, Caitlin. You were aiming for Plot 1 too<b>, </b>right? Why didn’t you push further? You could’ve easily won.”
Caitlin stopped and looked at him.
“I could’ve, but I’m not dumb enough to overpay by double.”
Her meaning was clear–she’d done her homework. Plot 1 was a good piece ofnd, but at a 100% premium, the ROI would tank.
“Smart as always. You really know how to y the long game.”
Abel looked at her with admiration. He understood that winning over a woman like Caitlin would take more than wealth–it would take strategy and patience.
Just then, a staffer rushed past and identally bumped into Caitlin’s back, causing her to lose her bnce. Abel quickly caught her.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
She steadied herself, ncing briefly at the man who’d bumped into her, unaware of the glint <b>of </b>calction in Abel’s eyes–or the hidden camera shuttering from a corner.
Momentster, the transaction results appeared on the digital board in the lobby. Abel nced up and froze.
Plot 3…
Winner: Caitlin.
“You… when did you win Plot 3?” he asked, stunned.
“Just now.”
Caitlin answered tly.
Zora’s team arrived just in time to see the results. Their team name beside Plot 1. Caitlin’s beside Plot 3.
Seeing Caitlin’s name next to Plot 3 made Zora’s brain short–circuit for a second.
“You… you bought Plot 37”
“Since you got Plot 1, I had to settle for second–best.”
Caitlin replied indifferently.
Though Plot 3 was a little farther from the city center, its area wasparable to Plot 1–and Caitlin had only paid I billion.
Zora had dropped 4 billion.
Suddenly it clicked.
“You nned this! You never intended to buy Plot 1, did you?! You used me as a decoy while <i>you </i>quietly snagged Plot 3 for a fraction of the price!”
Her voice rose with fury.
She thought Caitlin had gone into Auction Room 1 to fight over Plot 1–but it was all a ruse. Meanwhile, her team had quietly snapped up the real prize for a bargain.
Zora felt like spitting blood. This woman didn’t follow
“Miss Harris, have you been reading too many novels?”
any script!
Caitlin’s lips curved coldly, her eyes gleaming with disdain.
“You’re not even going to deny it! You deliberately drove the price up to 4 billion just to trap me into wasting my money!”
Zora’s perfect face was flushed with rage.
“I trapped you?”
Caitlin’s gaze turned sharp.
“Did I force you to bid 4 billion? You made the call. I just stopped. That’s not a trap–that’s your own ego.
“You crash into a tree and me the tree for being in your way<i>? </i>Trip over your own feet and curse the ground for being uneven? How does that make sense?”
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