Chapter 69
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The crowd broke into murmurs.
There had been three bids in a row, each precise and decisive. The last bid was the boldest, jumping from 120 thousand dollars to 150 thousand dollars. This showed how determined Elena was to win the tanzanite gemstone.
“What’s going on? Is Bidder 823 aware of who they’re up against? Why is she so persistent?”
“Of course she knows. Elena came with Jimmy tonight. Ferrell Group is hosting the gala. Jimmy definitely knows.”
“You’re right. What on earth is going on?”
“Who knows? Howard’s date may be the one holding the paddle, but every bid from 823 is a challenge toward Howard himself.”
“The tanzanite is merely worth 100 thousand dollars. Anything over 120 thousand dollars isn’t worth it. There must be a reason she raised the bid straight to 150 thousand dollars.”
“I have no idea. Do you think Bidder 888 will raise again?”
“If it were Howard himself, definitely. He has the money to push it as far as he likes. But it’s Alyssa holding the paddle this time. That’s a different story.”
“Isn’t Howard afraid she’ll embarrass him?”
“You don’t get it. He can go both ways. He has the power to push until the end. If he backs down, people will just say the other bidder must have had a strong reason for wanting it, and stepping aside will make him look gracious.”
“People would actually see it that way?”
“Why not? Everyone here knows Howard can afford to go all the way. If he doesn’t, no one will question his wealth. They’ll just say he was generous.”
“Still, it feels like a slap in the face that he can’t take a 100–thousand–dollar tanzanite.”
“He could always buy it and gift it to the other bidder. That way, he wins on all fronts.”
“You’re smart. You should be in the business yourself.”
The crowd discussed fervently, but no one could be certain.
All eyes turned back to the second floor. On the surface, everyone in the seats looked calm, but beneath the stillness, currents were shifting.
Megan looked at Jimmy with worry. “Is this going to cause you any trouble?”
Chapter 69
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Jimmy smiled. “You’re bidding with your own paddle. What does that have to do with me?”
Megan smiled, and her gaze dropped to the table where two paddles lay side by side–one under Elena’s name and another under Jimmy’s.
They were both invited, so they both had their individual paddle. But going head–to–head with Howard so openly was bound to stir waves.
“Don’t worry. This is nothing I can’t handle,” Jimmy reassured her, catching the hesitation in her eyes.
Then, he added quietly, “Go ahead and bid. I’ll cover the funds.”
Megan looked at Jimmy gratefully. “Thank you.”
Money wasn’t the issue here. She was more worried that Howard would step in.
So far, this was nothing more than Alyssa’s whim. But Alyssa was caught in a corner now.
It pained her to raise the 150 thousand dollars, especially with no way to know if Elena would keep going.
If she stopped, it would look like a loss for both her and Howard.
As she wavered, Howard tapped the table lightly.
“Go on,” he said firmly.
Alyssa didn’t heed right away. Instead, she looked at Howard with concern. “Howard, this isn’t necessary. The price is already past its value.”
She lowered her voice and added, “Besides, I don’t have much money left.”
Howard looked at the tanzanite calmly. In his mind, it already belonged to him.
“You don’t have to worry about the money,” he said, implying that he would pay for it.
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