Chapter 17
“Boss, why aren’t we going in?” Chase asked.
Ellinor stood still, watching Theo alight from his car and enter the auction house. She frowned, “I saw someone I don’t fancy Let’s wait a bit before we go in.”
Chase followed her gaze, “That looks like Theo from the Blanchet family! Boss, do you know him?”
Ellinor looked displeased, “We’re not exactly pals.”
The auction house had two levels. The ground floor was for regular customers, and the upper floor was for VIPs who preferred privacy. It was filled with private booths, each with its distinct number.
Theo was in booth number 1, and Ellinor was in booth number 7.
After a few ordinary antiques were auctioned off, several oil paintings, the main attractions of the auction, were brought onto the stage. The auctioneer professionally introduced the era and the value of these paintings, before starting the bidding at a million dollars!
“1.5 million!”
“2 million!”
“3 million!”
Eventually, these paintings were won by a mysterious buyer from booth number 1 for a whopping 1.8 million dollars, causing a stir among the spectators!
Inside booth number 7.
Ellinor lazily leaned back on the couch, yawning. So, the weirdo came for the oil paintings.
He had got the paintings now. There was nothing left worth seeing. He should be leaving soon, right?
“Next up, we have a masterpiece by the famous Impressionist artist Lady Lotus, ‘Whispers in the Wind“. The starting bid is half a million dollars!”
Here it was!
“Bidder number 3 bids $600,000!”
“Number 11 bids $700,000!”
“Number 5 bids $750,000!”
Ellinor gave Chase the nod, signaling him to start bidding.
“Number 7 bids a straight one million!”
The audience gasped, this person really knew how to throw money around!
The auctioneer started to count, “One million once! One million twice! One…”
As he was about to finalize, Collin from booth number 1 suddenly raised his paddle.
The auctioneer was taken aback, his tone suddenly filled with excitement, “Bidder number 1 bids two million!”
There was an uproar in the room…
He jumped straight to two million! Was number 1 trying to compete with number 7?
Ellinor frowned, why hadn’t that weirdo left?
Chase wasn’t pleased either, “What’s Mr. Blanchet’s deal? Trying to show off his wealth?”
Ellinor calmly instructed, “Chase, keep going!”
“Yes, boss!”
“Number 7 bids two and a half million, any higher offers?”
“Number 1 bids three million!”
“Number 7 bids four million!”
“Number 1 bids five million!”
“Five million once, five million twice…”
Ellinor’s eyes darkened, the trouble now was that she was running out of funds.
Chase suggested, “Boss, this painting is important to you. We could temporarily use the money set aside for the project!”
Ellinor shook her head, “No, we can’t compromise the company’s financial health because of my personal business. 111 find another way. to get the painting. For today, let him have it!”
Chase was helpless.
The auctioneer slammed his hammer, declaring bidder number 1 as the winner of Whispers in the Wind‘ for five million dollars.
Everyone was stunned. Bidder number 1 spent five million on a painting far beyond its worth!
Ellinor was pondering Although her mother was somewhat famous under the pseudonym Lady Lotus, she wasn’t a mainstream artist, and her work was more niche. Theo paid a high price of five million for Whispers in the Wind‘. Could he have some connection to her mother, or know her personally?
*Hello.” Two female receptionists from the auction house came over with coffee and desserts.
“Ellinor? Is that really you? How do you have the privilege to sit here?” one of them suddenly shouted.
Ellinor looked up, it was Debby. She had been fired from Nexus Industries and was now working as a receptionist at the auction house?
Debby stared at Ellinor in surprise, then glanced at Chase in his designer suit with clear jealousy.
“Ellinor, you’re so lucky! You got me fired, and now you’re living the good life with a rich guy!”
Her voice was shrill and loud, and the entire auction house could hear her.
On the other side. Theo, who had just left booth number 1 and was preparing to leave, stopped in his tracks when he heard the commotion. His cold gaze instantly turned towards booth number 7.
Debby had just started her job yesterday and was still in her probation period. She had been disrespectful to a VIP guest, causing a disturbance and creating a bad impression.
The auction house manager hurriedly escorted Debby out along with security, apologizing profusely to the guest in booth number 7.
Knowing she was about to lose her job, Debby shouted as she was escorted out, “Ellinor, you witch! You got me fired again! One day, you’ll be dumped when men get tired of you!”
He hadn’t misheard. Someone was calling Ellinor. She was here? The person bidding from booth number 7 earlier was her?
Theo turned around and walked towards booth number 7.
Chase had just excused the apologetic auction house manager and was about to close the door when Theo’s large frame appeared in the doorway
“Is Ellinor here?” Theo asked, looking at Chase.
Chase was stunned for a moment before smiling and nodding. “Do you need something from her?”
Theo spoke in a cold voice, “Tell her to come out.”
Without hesitation, Chase turned to the room and said, “Come on out, someone’s looking for you.”
Soon, a girl in a work uniform walked out of booth number 7, looking at Theo quizzically, “Sir, did you need something?”
Theo looked down at the stranger in front of him, furrowing his brows, “You’re Ellinor?”
The receptionist replied, “Sir, I’m Allison. Like the ‘son‘ in ‘Mason“.”
Allison? Theo instantly lost interest.
He looked up at Chase, giving a slight nod, “Sorry for the disturbance.”
With that, Theo turned to leave, Collin following suit.
Watching Theo’s retreating figure, Chase pulled out a VIP shopping card from a well–known brand from his wallet, handing it to the girl called Allison, “You’re doing great. Change your name and you’ll be Allison from now on.”
“Got it, thanks, sir.” The female receptionist happily took the shopping card and politely left.
Chase returned to Room 7, “That guy has left! How the hell did you get to know Theo? Why are you hiding from him?”
Ellinor frowned. “No biggie, just that we got hitched a few days ago.”
Chase had just picked up his coffee to take a sip, when he spit it out.
“What did you just say?!” He was surprised.
Ellinor calmly explained the situation to Chase.
Chase was first shocked, then laughed, “So, on your wedding night, did you get cozy with Mr. Blanchet?”
Ellinor glowered at him, “You looking for trouble?”
Seeing his boss getting angry, Chase quickly made his escape, “I need to hit the john.”
Ellinor also stood up and headed to the restroom.
At the unisex sink, she washed her hands while waiting for Chase to come out. When she looked up at the mirror, Ellinor’s expression suddenly froze.
In the mirror, Theo was standing behind her, hands in his pockets.
She had managed to avoid him once, but not this time.
Theo slowly walked up to her, looking down at her, his eyes full of questions about her identity. “What are you doing here?”
Just then, Chase slowly emerged from the men’s restroom, “Im getting more and more pissed off! Theo can have any famous painting he wants, why does he have to snatch Whispers in the Wind from us! He’s really…”
His words suddenly stopped, as he saw Theo standing in front of Ellinor.
Theo glanced at Chase, then turned to look at Ellinor again. His eyes seemed meaningful and his tone careful, “Hello?”
Chapter 18
