Page 24 of Pursued By My Grumpy Fiancé
“What’s her problem?” I ask as Landon leads me in Albert’s direction.
“I don’t know. She’s not usually that bad,” he says.
“Is she not usually that bad, or is your company usually of her caliber, so you don’t have to think about it?” I challenge.
He glances at me and raises an eyebrow.
“Albert!” Landon says as we finally approach.
“Landon! Good to see you again!” He pats Landon on the back, then turns his attention to me.
He holds his hand out for mine. “Charming as ever to be in the presence of someone as beautiful as you, Ms. Dunn.”
I smile as he brings my hand to his lips.
“Why, thank you, Albert. It’s very good to see you again.”
Landon looks at me, and there’s an odd look on his face, like he’s bothered by something.
“Attention. Can I get everyone’s attention please?” Mr. Langley says from the stage. The room quiets as everyone turns to him. “We are ready to begin the auction. So, if the jewelry pieces can please make their way to the stage, we can begin the bidding process.”
Attendants dressed in black start passing out paddles to the crowd. Landon nods to me, and I start walking towards the stage. I take deep breaths the whole way there so that I don’t throw up everywhere on stage. I’m joined by five other women, which I find surprising. I always assumed there would be a lot more items in auctions.
“Right. So, as everyone knows, the proceeds for this auction will go to one of Eleanor Gould’s charities. This one will be donating money and resources to orphans in need around the world. We are so lucky to have a generous woman like Mrs. Gould helping to tackle global issues.”
A polite applause builds in the room, but some people don’t join in. Mrs. Renalteux is notably one of them.
“We have six lovely pieces going up for auction tonight. We will start with our lowest bidding item for the evening, a Chaumet diamond bracelet. The retail price for this item is seventy-six thousand dollars. Bidding starts at thirty thousand.”
My jaw drops at the amount. Thirty thousand dollars? And that’s the lowest bidding item. I look down at the piece hanging around my neck. How much does this thing cost?
“Sold, for seventy-thousand dollars, to the woman in the fur.”
Mrs. Renalteux smiles and and fans herself with her paddle.
I get the sense that this isn’t about the charity for her, but that it’s about the money. Showing off how much money she has, that is.
“Our next item, modeled by the lovely Ms. Galloway, is a stunning, white gold, eighteen carat Yeprem necklace. This piece retails for one hundred and forty thousand dollars. Bidding starts at seventy thousand.”
I tune out the bidding as I think about how much the price shot up for just one piece. The number of paddles shooting into the air puts into perspective exactly how little money this actually is to these people.
“Sold, for one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, to Mrs. Maureen Clousten.”
I take a peek at the necklace as I tune back into the auction. It’s ugly as sin, a hard metal yellow gold in a swirling pattern. Every surface of the necklace is encrusted in yellow gold. I guess money can’t buy taste.
“Our final piece, modeled by the future Mrs. Gould, is an absolutely timeless eighteen carat, white gold Mappin and Webb. The retail price is six hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Bidding starts at five hundred thousand dollars.”
My jaw drops as I realize that I’m wearing over half a million dollars of diamonds around my neck. I recover quickly and stare out amongst the crowd. Paddles are flying, each person desperate to be the one that bids on the most expensive piece in the auction.
A man in a striped suit raises his paddle. “Seven hundred thousand dollars.”
The crowd quiets. This is the first piece that will be sold for above retail price.
Mrs. Renalteux raises her paddle.
“Seven hundred and thirty thousand dollars.”
“Eight hundred thousand.” The striped man goes for it again.
