<b>Chapter </b><b>135 </b>
Author’s POV:
Jade smiled, pulling back slightly to look at his face. His expression waspletely serious, eyes steady on hers. It was hard to tell if he was calling her bluff or genuinely offering to help hermit mass murder.
“This wouldn’t be a good ce to detonate anything,” she said, keeping her voice low. “Too many innocent socialites and politicians. Besides, the ballroom’s too open. It would be difficult to ensure the target doesn’t survive the st.”
Ethan’s eyebrow raised slightly at her mention of the target,” but he didn’tment on it. Instead, he pocketed the lighter and leaned back in his seat.
“Always thinking tactically,” he murmured. “I appreciate that about you.”
From the corner of her eye, Jade caught Alexander staring at them with undisguised curiosity. His uncle and she were clearly more familiar with each other than he’d realized, and the way they were huddled together whispering must have seemed strange. Ethan rarely showed this level of interest in anyone, especially not in public.
Warren Mitchell had finished his opening remarks, and the auctioneer took the stage. He was a tall, thin man with a British ent and wire–rimmed sses that caught the light as he moved.
“Ladies and gentlemen, shall we begin? Our first item tonight is a magnificent antique Tiffany flower vase from the Art Nouveau period, circa 1900. We’ll start the bidding at three hundred and fifty thousand dors.”
The bidding began immediately, hands raising around the room. Jade watched the process with mild interest as the price climbed steadily.
“Five hundred thousand,” called a woman in a red dress.
“Six hundred thousand,” countered a gray–haired man near the front.
“Seven hundred thousand.”
“Eight hundred thousand.”
The auctioneer kept pace with practiced efficiency, his gavel hovering in anticipation of the final bid.
“Nine hundred thousand dors. Do I hear one million? One million dors from the gentleman in the third row. Going once, going twice… Sold for one million dors!”
Apuse rippled through the crowd as the first item found its new owner. The auction continued with the second item, a 19th–century European oil painting, starting at six hundred thousand dors. The bids escted quickly again, voices calling out numbers that represented more money than most people would see in a lifetime.
Jade’s attention, however, wasn’t on the artwork or thepetitive bidding. Her gaze had fixed on Warren Mitchell,
11:09 Wed, <b>Sep </b>24
sitting prominently in the front row.
Five items had been auctioned off when <b>the </b>auctioneer announced the sixth offering of the night.
A
“Next, we have an exquisite Cartier ‘Desert Fox‘ series brooch, set with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. The craftsmanship is simply stunning. We’ll start the bidding at three hundred thousand dors.”
??))
<b>92 </b>
Several hands went up immediately. Jade studied the item disyed on therge screens nking the stage. It was beautiful, certainly, but her interest had nothing to do with jewelry.
“Four hundred thousand,” someone called.
“Four–fifty.”
“Five hundred thousand.”
Jade raised her hand. “One million dors.”
The room fell silent for a moment before a low murmur spread through the crowd. Alexander jerked his head toward her, eyes wide with surprise. Connor, sitting beyond him, leaned forward to look at her, his expression calcting.
And Ethan… Ethan was watching her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
“One million dors from the youngdy in the center,” the auctioneer announced, visibly pleased by the dramatic
increase. “Do I hear one million one hundred thousand?”
A hand raised from the back of the room. “One million one hundred thousand.”
“One million five hundred thousand,” Jade called without hesitation.
Ethan leaned closer. “Do you particrly like this piece?” he asked quietly.
Jade ignored him.
“One million seven hundred thousand,” Catherine announced, her voice carrying across the room.
“Two million,” Jade countered immediately.
The murmurs in the room grew louder. This was no longer just an auction; it was bing a spectacle. Jade could see people turning in their seats, trying to identify the two women locked in this bidding war.
“Two million two hundred thousand,” Catherine called, a slight edge creeping into her voice.
Jade smiled faintly. “Two million five hundred thousand.”
–
Catherine was speaking with an older man beside her her father, judging by their simr features. He seemed to be advising restraint, cing a hand on her arm and speaking in urgent whispers.
11:10 <b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>24 </b>
<b>“</b>Catherine, enough,” Jade heard him say. “Don’t make a spectacle. This isn’t the ce.”
But she shook him off, face flushed with determination. “Dad, I recognize her. She’s the one who showed up in an Uber. She’s just trying to embarrass me.”
Her father nced toward their section, frowning slightly.
<b>92 </b>
Catherine, not bothering to look, stood up straighter. “Three million dors,” she announced loudly, staring directly
at Jade.
The crowd gasped. The auctioneer, clearly delighted by this turn of events, turned to Jade expectantly.
Jade paused, letting the tension build. Then she slowly lowered her hand and shook her head slightly.
“Three million dors from Ms. Sullivan,” the auctioneer said. “Going once…”
Ethan reached for his paddle, but Jade caught his wrist, stopping him.
“Going twice…”
“If you want it, the price is irrelevant,” Ethan said quietly.
“I don’t,” she replied. “I was just ying. I never intended to buy it.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “ying?”
“Sold, for three million dors to Ms. Sullivan!” The gavel came down with a decisive crack.
Apuse filled the room – louder than for previous items, the excitement of the bidding war having captivated the audience. But beneath the polite pping, Jade could hear whispers and see knowing nces exchanged between
guests.
“Someone got carried away…”
“…more money than sense…”
“…Sullivan family trying too hard as usual…”
Jade released Ethan’s wrist, aware that she’d been holding it longer than necessary.
“You know her?” Ethan asked, nodding subtly toward Catherine, who was now receiving congrattions from those seated near her, though her expression looked more strained than triumphant.
“No,” Jade looked back at Catherine, who was now staring at her winning bid card with an expression that suggested the reality of spending three million dors on a brooch was finally sinking in.
“Well,” she said, “she certainly paid a premium to win.”
“The Foundation thanks her for her generosity,” Ethan replied with dry humor.
More whispers circted around them:
“Did you know the Sullivan girl is aplete disaster? Her father keeps trying to marry her off to someone with
influence…”
“Haxton would never consider it.”
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“The family’s desperate. Old money running out fast…”
Jade smiled to herself as the next item was announced. Her little improvised n had worked perfectly. She’d drawn
attention to herself in a way that would certainly get back to Warren Mitchell.
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