The Royal Contract

She was not surprised since the artwork was worth more than the initial offer. She knew most of these arts would sell by the thousands or even millions. She always had an eye for those with tremendous worth.

Her father used to ask her to buy pieces she believed would eventually increase their value. Then, her father would sell it at a profitable price. It was a few things she had shared an interest in with her father.

Besides their passion for art, her father did not see her as anything else but a commodity he was willing to trade, marrying her off to the highest bidder. But, of course, she would not have that.

Suddenly, people shouted, in awe of the latest bid. Hastily, she woke up from her trance, looking at the man who had raised his number to offer the highest bid so far.

No! No! No! She repeatedly shouted to herself as shock registered on her face. He could not win.

“Anyone else interested in this beautiful painting.” The auctioneer called the attention of everyone, encouraging them to participate, to challenge the current bidder.

.....

Please, someone, anyone, she mumbled to herself. She needed someone to bid for her, anybody else besides that man.

She did not want him to win. Not that she did not want him to own the painting, but she did not want to go out with him. Please, she did not want to be obligated to join him for dinner.

“I see another one at the back.” The announcer pointed to the gentleman, way behind the crowd.

She craned her neck to see who it was, sighing a relief, seeing it was David. At least, she knew that he was only interested in the art and not her. She could also see Rosella sitting beside him, hoping they would win.

However, her ordeal was not over when that man bid again, offering double the amount for the painting. “She could have the painting. I only want the dinner.” Tony finally announced to the crowd, making the ladies around him gasp at his pronouncement.

She was not surprised since this was what she had feared from the start. She had known that Tony would be bidding not for the painting but her company. She would not have any problems with that if only he did not give her the creeps.

However, every time he would look at her. It felt like he was already undressing her with his eyes. Every time he would speak to her. She could sense the hidden sexual innuendos in his words. He was not the kind of man she would like to be left alone in the room, not even for a minute.

“Do we have another bidder?” She heard the auctioneer ask.

But she doubted that anyone else would bid at that price. The painting, although beautiful, was not worth that much. Only a fool would try to outbid Tony, and he knew it, looking at his smug face. He believed he had her whether she liked it or not.

She finally resigned to her faith, feeling that she had no more choice but to accept the inevitable. She could not make any more excuses for this. She just had to find a way to fend off his advances.

Nonetheless, it was not the worse part of her night. She had to admit, she felt disappointed and hurt. She did not even hear Evan bid even once. It was not as if he did not have money to spend. He was just not interested in her.

End of the story.

“Any bidders? Going once...” It was like a countdown for her death sentence before they put her down on lethal injection.

Her heart searched for him, hoping somehow he would save her from her misery. But he was not even in the crowd. Where was he? She had no idea.

She felt like her world was crumbling down before her. Then, her heart broke into a million pieces.

“Going twice...” The auctioneer looked around the crowd, scanning for anyone else who would contest the final sale. But it seemed no one else was interested.

He raised his hand to ram the gavel to a sound block to finalize the auction, but a voice floated in the air, stopping the man in mid-air. Suddenly, everyone turned to the source of the interruption.

“I am sorry to interrupt, but I hope I am just in time.” Of course, she recognized his voice. She would know it anywhere. “But I will double whatever was the last bid.” Now, everyone was whispering.

He walked straight to the center, just below the stage, making his presence known. He looked at the man in charge of the auction, questioning if he would still accept his offer.

“No, I am sorry, but you are too late. The bidding is over.” She heard Tony’s voice booming over the noise of the crowd. “I already won.” He continued, declaring himself the owner of the painting and her date for dinner.

Still, she looked at the auctioneer, hoping against hope that he would nullify Tony’s claim. Finally, she only breathed, releasing the air in her lungs when the man on the podium spoke up.

“I am sorry, Sir. But I have to correct that.” The auctioneer interrupted Tony. “Until my gavel has hit the block, the sale is not yet over. So, at the moment, the bidding is still open for anyone who wishes to bid.”

The auctioneer finally ruled on the situation, opening the bidding again for anyone who wished to make an offer. From the look on Tony’s face, he was not happy about that ruling.

“Mr. Evan Blake had double the amount of the bid.” The auctioneer accepted his bid. “Now, Sir, do you wish to bid again?” The host directed his question to Tony.

Tony looked like he was studying his option, but he shook his head no. He finally accepted defeat. The amount was just too much. He probably thought she was not worth it.

“Any more other bidders?” The auctioneer repeated the process until she heard the gavel sound in the air. “The painting is sold to Mr. Blake. Please claim your prize on the stage.”

She could see the disapproval on Tony’s face. He did not like how he had lost in this fight. But she could not care less how he felt as her eyes only focused on one person at the moment.

She watched him step on the stage, hearing the applauding that was coming from the crowd. But that was not her priority. All she could think about was that Evan had won. Finally, her knight came to her rescue to save the day.