Page 60 of Beyond Expectations

I listened as the auctioneer boomed through the mic.

“Commission bid is currently at fifty thousand. Do I hear seventy?”

A gentleman behind us bid.

I watched as Serena looked at him and tutted her disapproval. He had an oversized fur coat on despite it still being late summer. He had a cigar in one hand and a glass of some dark spirit in the other. Next to him stood a woman who looked no older than eighteen. Peroxide blonde hair. Fake tits hung out of her dress as she smirked and batted her eyelashes at every man who looked her way.

“See, this is the thing I hate about these auctions. You have people who love and understand cars that buy works of art like that car. Then you have others who will buy anything with a large price tag. To show off that they can.”

I knew she didn’t mean the statement about myself, but I couldn’t help feeling slightly guilty for having done such things in the past.

“Commission against you, sir, at eighty thousand. Do I see a hundred?”

The man behind us shouted, “Yeah, I got a hundred.”

Everyone was becoming entertained and started paying attention. Finally, the bidding went to a hundred and fifty. And it seemed the gentlemen had admitted defeat. The car finally sold on a commission bid for a hundred and fifty.

Serena turned to me.

“I’m glad someone outbid him. I hope they appreciate it.”

We waited and watched the final two lots be seized up.

As the auction concluded, and we were making our way out of the tent, she said she wanted us to go to the stands by the track as there would be a race of some vintage race cars.

“We’ll go in just a minute. I want to show you something quickly.”

I grabbed her hand and returned to the temporary sales desk they put up.

As we started walking in that direction, the auctioneer spotted me and immediately made his way over.

“Congratulations on your bid, Mr. Chambers. The paperwork is being sorted out as we speak. Do you wish to have the car delivered, or would you like to drive it from here?”

I watched her brow crease in confusion. And couldn’t help but laugh.

“Please be sure they have the ownership papers and registration made out to Serena Parker. As the car is for her.”

I heard as she coughed on the sip of the drink she had just taken.

“Wait, what?”

“Excellent, sir. I’ll have everything drawn up for you at once. I’ll be sure to have everything ready for when you leave.”

The auctioneer shook both our hands and left us.

I turned and saw she still hadn’t moved a muscle.

“So, do you like it?”

“You just spent a hundred and fifty thousand dollars on a car? A car that you want me to have? Why?”

Her eyes were wide with alarm, and I watched as her chest rose and fell faster with each breath.

“Well, first, I thought you’d just say thanks and might feel obliged to show your gratitude somehow. I would greatly accept.”

I laughed as my eyes raked down her body.

“I… I… I don’t understand why?”

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