Unmasking the Heart

Chapter 11: Starlight Necklace

I rushed home, took a quick shower, and then dragged Emily to a salon. She was thrilled since I'd promised to pay for her new hairstyle, so we both decided to treat ourselves. We had our hair and nails done, chatting away and keeping each other company.

I opted for a bright red nail polish with a delicate white leaf design that looked beautiful. We also indulged in a skin treatment, which was both enjoyable and worth the time.

Afterward, we continued to talk and laugh, making our way to a boutique where I picked out the perfect dress for the night. Emily escorted me as I shopped, and once I was ready, I went back to my apartment to wait for Adrain.

When he finally arrived, I greeted him without receiving a compliment or any acknowledgment from him. It was becoming clear that I was just a part of his world, a world where emotions and pleasantries seemed to have no place.

We arrived at the luxurious auction house, greeted by the clinking of champagne glasses and the low hum of polite conversation. The room was filled with wealthy socialites, collectors, and enthusiasts, all eager to bid on the evening's exclusive items.

I couldn't help but feel out of place in my stunning red gown among the sea of designer dresses and tailored suits, but Adrain was completely at ease, his eyes scanning the room with a quiet confidence. His presence commanded attention, while I simply followed along, trying my best to blend in.

We made our way to our designated seats, and the auction began. The charismatic auctioneer, with his silver tongue, took the stage, and the room fell silent. The first few items—a collection of rare artwork and antique furniture—were sold quickly, with bids flying across the room.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: the "Starlight Necklace," a dazzling diamond and sapphire encrusted masterpiece, valued at a staggering 10 million dollars.

As expected, the room erupted into a frenzy of bids. Several wealthy collectors were eager to secure the prized necklace. Adrain remained calm, his gaze fixed on the auctioneer, watching the chaos unfold without batting an eye.

Finally, he gave me the signal to start bidding. My palms were sweaty—I was new to all of this—but I raised my paddle with a firm voice, my bid echoing in the room. "12 million dollars."

The other buyers didn't back down. A man in front of me raised his paddle, "12.5 million dollars."

"13 million dollars," a woman in her thirties chimed in, her voice steady.

"13 million dollars going, any volunteers?" the auctioneer called, his gavel poised. "13 million dollars, one." He paused, then banged the gavel.

"15 million dollars." I raised my paddle again, feeling a little more confident with each bid. Adrain's lack of reaction helped ease my nerves.

"16 million dollars," a woman at the back of the room said, her voice cool. She appeared to be in her fifties, and she wasn't backing down.

I hesitated for a moment, then turned to Adrain, asking softly, "Is the amount too high for just a necklace? Should I keep bidding?"

"I told you, no matter the price, we should get the necklace," Adrain replied, his tone cold and dismissive.

I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the growing pressure, and raised my paddle again. "20 million dollars."

The woman across from me stared at me, her expression unreadable. She didn't acknowledge me but instead shifted her gaze to Adrain. Without a word, she raised her paddle. "30 million dollars."

The murmurs in the room intensified as the price soared higher than expected. The necklace had become a battleground, and I wasn't about to back down.

"50 million dollars," I called, raising my paddle again. The bid felt insane, but I wasn't going to let it slip away. Adrain had said no matter the price, and I intended to follow through.

"55 million dollars," the lady shot back, her voice tight, as if she were barely keeping her composure.

"70 million dollars." I raised my paddle, my voice calm despite the absurdity of the amount. The room was buzzing now, and I could feel the eyes of everyone on me.

The lady was visibly shaken. She looked at me, her face betraying her frustration, but she didn't raise her paddle again. The room fell silent, every person in the room now awaiting the final word.

The auctioneer's smile widened as he looked at me. "Sold!" he exclaimed, banging his gavel down with finality.

I turned to Adrain, unsure if he was satisfied with the price I had paid. My mind raced, wondering if I had pushed the price too high. Could I have stopped at 60 million? Maybe the lady would have backed out then. The enormity of the amount I had just spent on a necklace hit me, and I felt a sudden pang of regret.

We went backstage to finalize the purchase and make the payment. Once everything was settled, we prepared to leave.

As we stepped into the car, the woman who had been bidding against me approached Adrain. They spoke as though they knew each other well.

"I don't think you need a necklace, Adrain," she said, her voice smooth. "It's for women, after all. Why don't I pay you for it, and then you can sell it to me?"

Adrain looked irritated. "As you can see, I came here with someone, and she happens to like the necklace. I'm not selling it, Mrs. Smith."

Mrs. Smith didn't relent. "I sent someone to buy this necklace for me today because it's really important. I heard you were bidding with them, so I came here myself. Can I talk to the girl?"

Adrain's impatience was palpable. "Talking to me is talking to my woman. I'll give you the necklace under one condition." He looked at her coolly.

Mrs. Smith raised an eyebrow. "I knew you didn't buy the necklace for your so-called woman. Everyone knows you're about to marry Anna after that tragedy that befell you. Tell me the condition."

Adrain's face darkened at the mention of the word tragedy, but he didn't flinch. "You know the situation with Reginald. He wants me to marry Anna for Catherine's sake. I don't want to deal with that, so I'm offering you a deal. I'll give you the necklace if you win."

Mrs. Smith's face turned pale. "You want me to sabotage my daughter's marriage... for a necklace?"

It was then that I understood why she had been looking at me so coldly. It seemed my life was about to become even more complicated by my association with these powerful, manipulative people.

Adrain didn't seem to care about Mrs. Smith's reaction. "Fine. You can either take the necklace or sell me your shares in Zee&Bee. You need to choose one."

Mrs. Smith's face flushed red with anger. "I can't sell my shares to you. If I sell my 50% to you, you'll own the company, and I'll be left with nothing. I won't do it!"

Adrain's expression remained cold. "It's your choice. I'll give you 10% of your company back, but if you don't like it, don't bother me again."

Without another word, Adrain got into the car, leaving Mrs. Smith standing there, shaking with rage and frustration.

It seemed the night had only just begun, and I was already caught in a web of intrigue that I hadn't fully understood yet.