Chapter 278: The Sky-High Painting That Shocked Country A
“This banquet tonight is of utmost importance. We can’t let anyone know that a gun was fired here,” Rachel instructed coldly. When she received no response, she turned around to find Molly standing some distance away, looking utterly dazed.
Rachel was annoyed, glaring at Molly. Molly finally snapped out of it and hurriedly followed her with a look of fear on her face.
“I’ll deal with you later,” Rachel said, displeased. “Let me remind you once again, tonight’s banquet must go off without a hitch. There can’t be any mistakes.”
“Yes,” Molly replied, limping along behind her, holding the files for tonight’s schedule.
Rachel glanced towards the head table where Jason and Mr. Grissom were seated, preparing to go over and greet them with a smile. Before she could reach them, a loud “bang” sounded behind her.
Rachel turned around to see a waiter bump into Molly, who already had trouble walking. The impact caused her to stumble and fall against Bryan, landing on her knees as the documents in her hands scattered all over the floor.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” the waiter apologized frantically.
“Are you okay?” Bryan put down his auction paddle and bent over to help Molly up. Molly, sitting awkwardly on the floor, looked up and met Bryan’s gaze.
Both of them were startled.
Bryan hadn’t expected to run into Molly, his ex-girlfriend, here. He was taken aback.
Molly, seeing Bryan, felt as though all her past came rushing back. Thinking about her current situation, she felt overwhelmed by a surge of emotion, and tears began to fall from her eyes.
Bryan was stunned, not knowing what to say. She had deceived him so many times that he had moved on, but seeing her pale face now, he couldn’t help feeling some discomfort.
“Bryan, place your bid!” Tiffany, seeing Carrie had made another bid, grabbed Bryan’s arm in a panic. Bryan didn’t have a chance to look at Molly again as he was pulled back into the bidding war.
Rachel, watching, glared at Molly, who quickly wiped her tears, picked up the scattered documents, and got to her feet.
“3. 5 billion,” Carrie bid once again.
Tiffany couldn’t take it anymore. She snatched the microphone from Bryan, stood up, and smiled as she looked in Carrie’s direction. “Miss Carrie, we’re talking about 3 billion here, not 300. Are you sure you can afford it?”
Rachel had just sat down when she heard Tiffany’s words, feeling a headache coming on.
They had planned to pretend to be friendly tonight, to calm public opinion before dealing with Carrie, who was a minor character. But it seemed Tiffany had forgotten all of that.
Carrie, still seated, smiled faintly, a cold edge to her expression. Holding the microphone, she replied, “Miss Tiffany, there’s no need for concern. According to the rules, if I overestimate myself and can’t pay, I’ll owe a penalty, and the painting will naturally go to you.”
Go to her as a backup? Tiffany’s face darkened as she sneered, “I’m worried you might go bankrupt and still not be able to afford it.”
“Yes, I might end up bankrupt, but I really like this painting. How about you let me have it, Bryan?” Carrie said.
Like it? Carrie was only bidding because she knew Tiffany liked it. It wasn’t enough for her to outshine Tiffany in the acting world; now she dared to try and embarrass her in such a setting? A commoner? She was dreaming!
“Well, it’s unfortunate, but I like this painting too,” Tiffany responded coldly, determined to win. She sat down heavily and gave Bryan a look.
Bryan sighed lightly. Everyone knew that for someone like Carrie, even having a billion was a stretch. Now that the price had reached this level, there was no way she could afford it.
This absurd bidding war didn’t need to continue.
But Tiffany was provoked by the idea of being the backup bidder. Even though she knew Carrie was trying to get under her skin, she couldn’t let it go.
She cared too much about her pride to allow herself to be spoken to in that way by a commoner.
“4 billion,” Bryan bid again.
The auction for this item had been going on for a long time. Carrie seemed eager to end it quickly, raising her paddle decisively and increasing the bid even more, “4. 5 billion.”
The entire room was in an uproar.
Jason and Mr. Grissom both frowned.
Bryan looked at Tiffany and whispered, “She can’t afford it. She’s trying to provoke you. Just ignore her.”
Tiffany knew that even as a wealthy heiress, a painting had its limits. She couldn’t justify spending a fortune on a small painting just out of spite.
Tiffany was about to give up, thinking it would be satisfying to see Carrie embarrassed when she couldn’t pay later. But then she noticed Carrie sitting there confidently, even casually sending a message on her phone, completely unbothered by the idea of not being able to pay.
Something was off. Carrie wouldn’t risk the embarrassment of not being able to pay unless she had something up her sleeve.
“I get it. She’s popular with the older men. Rumor has it someone offered 5 billion to keep her,” Tiffany said bitterly to Bryan. “She’s probably planning to let herself be kept. If you bid 6 billion, I guarantee she won’t go any higher.”
If Carrie actually won the painting, Tiffany would be humiliated.
Bryan looked at Tiffany as if she were insane. “6 billion? 6 billion for a painting?”
Was this to help the artist?
Tiffany had come tonight to make a splash, but Carrie’s antics had ruined her mood. Now Bryan was hesitating, making her lash out, “What, Bryan, you think I’m not worth 6 billion for a gift?”
That’s 6 billion, not 6 million or 60 million.
Bryan felt that Tiffany had lost all sense, twisting the situation to suit her argument. He refused to raise the paddle again.
The auctioneer on stage was about to bring down the gavel.
Everyone was watching Bryan, waiting to see if he would spend an astronomical sum for his lady.
Tiffany glared at Bryan, her face growing darker by the second. Fine, if he wouldn’t buy it, she would.
Bryan watched as Tiffany reached for her own paddle, only to receive a warning glare from Jason. The situation had escalated to this point; if he didn’t go through with it, the engagement might be off.
Reluctantly, Bryan raised the paddle before Tiffany could, calling out the astronomical bid, “6 billion.”
The entire room wasn’t just in an uproar-they were in shock.
The surrounding young ladies gasped in surprise, looking at Tiffany with envy.
Tiffany finally felt satisfied, turning her gaze toward Carrie.
Sure enough, Carrie’s face turned sour as she lowered her paddle, refusing to bid further.NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.
Tiffany felt even more vindicated.
Good thing she was smart enough to see through Carrie’s bottom line.