Chapter 130 - Double the Pot (2/2)
”Worth it if the girl that you're making jealous would pull my hair once this dance is over.”
Dipping her, their eyes met for a brief second when Olivia scanned the room, smiling upon seeing Maxen in a corner.
Her brows furrowed, and he mirrored the same. ”Something wrong on my face?”
”What?” He shook his head. ”No, you're perfect.”
”Oh. Ok. Well, with the way that you're looking at me, it's either I have dirt on my face or the girl you're trying to impress is looking at you right now.”
”Yes, she is.” Konstantin gulped. His beading with sweat temples amused Olivia, piquing her interest on who that lady was.
”Remember that one time it was raining and you swoop under my umbrella asking me if I have an extra one?” Olivia asked.
”I mean, who brings two umbrellas?” His c.h.e.s.t rumbled. How could he forget the memory that replayed a million times in his head for years?
”Now that I think about it, you must have wanted to share umbrellas with someone. You sneaky arse. You should have told me. I would have brought you to her.”
”It's fine. It was a beautiful memory I won't trade with anything else.”
Seething on his spot was Maxen, his jaw ticked as three more songs played and a few more men danced with his baby. He sent daggers to the emcee who sent him another thumbs up. Rolling his tongue over his teeth, the emcee froze in his spot. He lifted his thumbs up, slicing it over his neck, finally getting the message that was sent across.
Soon, the dance hall was empty, and the guests were back to their seats. One by one, pieces of art ranging from paintings to jewelry were sold.
”And now…” the emcee's voice dipped low, the vibrato in his tone sent a rush of adrenaline to everyone in the room. ”The highlight of the night, a piece from Xandra. Her last one sold for sixteen million dollars. Let's see how this one will fare tonight. All proceeds will go to her chosen charity, House of Chamenos.”
Rolling out from the backstage, a covered masterpiece took center stage. And when the emcee pulled the linen, a painting of a mother offering the world to her infant made the whole room silent, a pin drop could be heard from the outside. The background was too dark, the mother's face was distorted into a swirl, and the only light colors in the portrait was the innocence of the infant.
A corner of Olivia's lips curled down when something tight tugged on her heartstrings. A part of her told her brain that she needed to own that painting. She glanced across the table when she felt her purse vibrate, smiling at the person she knew would send her a message.
[Maxen: Need some fresh air?]
Reading Maxen's text message, the curl on her mouth morphed into a small smile, her fingers danced on the phone screen.
[Olivia: You're the one who will be needing that later. *wink*]
A smirk painted her lips. She eagerly anticipated Maxen's reaction who bit his lips as he scratched the skin atop his eyebrows.
[Maxen: Make sure you don't tap out when I start kissing that s.e.xy mouth.]
The two were busy exchanging messages, letting others bid on the piece that they should be watching out for.
Beside Olivia, Oliver elbowed his sister. He was distracted at how inattentive she was the entire time. Wasn't she supposed to be charging bids at that moment?
From the one million opening bid, it doubled. Then it tripled. And god knows how much money was burning inside the room. It's for charity, anyway. Or that's what their excuse was. Everyone knew it was a piss fight between the billionaires inside the room, itching to prove their worth with how much money they could spend in a night.
The emcee went around the hall, entertaining the guests, firing jokes here and there, begging some to double the pot.
Soon enough, another silence befell the room when Henry Lin bid for fifteen million dollars.
”Is there anyone who will challenge fifteen million dollars?” The emcee's powerful voice reverberated in the room, pleading the guests to bid higher.
Lifting his pad, Konstantin countered, ”Sixteen million dollars.” Gasps and whispered filled the room but what took their breaths away was the bid that sealed the night.
”Twenty million dollars, sir.”