Chapter 58

#58 “It’s Time to Put on A Little Act.

As the auction began, the atmosphere in the room grew tense with anticipation. Bidders, investors, and business people filled the space, all eyeing the valuable assets up for grabs.

Sophia leaned toward Benjamin and softly asked, “The next two are fine to bid, but I remind you not to go above $ 500,000 because after that you will be at a loss.”

Benjamin’s eyes wandered over the event program, and he pointed to a 19th -century painting, a glint of interest in his eyes. “How about I give that 19th- century painting a try?” he suggested, contemplating the artwork.

Sophia playfully slapped his hand, giving him a mock stern look. “We agreed, no extra bids,” she scolded him.

This made them both laugh softly. Meanwhile, Alexander, sitting nearby, couldn’t help but overhear their conversation. Irritation flickered across his face as he noted Sophia’s warm interaction with Benjamin. She had never been so nice and welcoming to him and it was driving him crazy.

As the bidding progressed, Benjamin successfully secured a smaller asset package, prompting a satisfied smile from Sophia. The bidding for other assets intensified, with various participants vying for control.

Megan, seated a few rows away from Sophia, emerged as a strong contender in the auction. She managed to acquire two high-value asset packages, raising Sophia’s curiosity. Megan’s choices were all high-stake assets with potential legal complications, suggesting she had the confidence and skill to navigate the legal gray areas involved.

Sophia couldn’t help but observe Megan’s strategic moves. She leaned toward Benjamin once more and whispered, “Did you see that? Megan just snagged two significant assets with potential legal risks.

She must have quite the legal team backing her.”

Benjamin nodded, impressed by Megan’s bold acquisitions. “You’re right, Sophia. But are you sure she is having that kind of support? You’re the best lawyer in town, and I doubt anyone else could justify the risk. I have a feeling her work isn’t that clean.”

As the auction continued, Sophia noticed that Alexander remained surprisingly passive during the first half, not bidding on any assets. She couldn’t help but wonder what his strategy might be, as it seemed unlikely that he would sit out the entire auction.

In the quiet moments between bids, she and Benjamin exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the unusual situation. Sophia’s focus was on the auction, but she couldn’t entirely ignore Alexander’s presence beside her. His subtle movements, his occasional whispers with Megan, and even the faint scent of his cologne seemed to linger in her awareness.

Feeling a mix of annoyance and curiosity, she tried her best to concentrate on the bidding process, determined not to let Alexander’s proximity distract her from their goal.

The auction went into a brief intermission, Alexander seized the opportunity to approach Sophia once more, with Megan at his side. They made their way towards her, their footsteps echoing in the grand hall. Sophia, who had been engaged in conversation with Benjamin about their future bids, looked up to see Alexander and Megan approaching.

“Hello, Sophia, I hope you can give me some of your time” Alexander began, “1 believe it’s time to clear the air. Megan genuinely wanted to apologize to you, Sophia. We tried to contact you half a month ago, but it seems we had no success.”

Sophia, keen on avoiding any further confrontation, decided to accept Megan’s apology gracefully. She offered a polite smile and said, “Thank you, Megan. Let’s really focus on the auction now.” With that, she gently backed away from them.

Megan, putting on her best act, extended her hand towards Sophia stopping her worm from moving away. “Absolutely, Sophia. I didn’t mean to hurt you personally, nor to offend you. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused. If I can do something to get even, I’m ready. ”

Sophia accepted Megan’s handshake, but as their eyes locked for a moment, she couldn’t help but sense an underlying tension beneath Megan’s veneer of cordiality. Megan’s smile seemed forced, her gaze slightly too intense, leaving Sophia with an uneasy feeling.

Alexander, unaware of the subtle undercurrents between the two women, breathed a sigh of relief.

“No need, Megan,” Sophia replied. ” Let’s leave it in the past.”

As the second part of the auction was about to begin, all the attendees returned to their respective tables. Sophia was determined to maintain her focus on the proceedings, doing her best to ignore the presence of Alexander and Megan, who were seated on either side of her.

Despite her attempts to remain composed, something about Megan didn’t sit right with Sophia. It wasn’t just her bidding strategy, which had already raised some doubts, but also the lingering unease stemming from the scandal that Megan had orchestrated.

Sophia was aware that Megan had apologized to her, but that couldn’t erase all her actions up until now.

Megan on the other hand wasn’t done with her plan. She had come with a definite purpose, and she would not leave until she had fulfilled it.

She excused herself and left the table. Her assistant followed her without saying a word. Megan continued to howl until she reached a quiet corridor away from the ears of the others.

Megan and her assistant walked purposefully down the dimly lit corridor, their steps echoing softly in the empty space.

“What’s the plan, boss?” Megan’s assistant finally broke the silence. Megan turned to her, and outlined her plan, “We’re going to ensure that Sophia doesn’t return to the auction.”

The assistant raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “And how do you intend to do that?” A sly grin tugged at Megan’s lips. “Oh, Sarah, my dear. It’s time to put on a little act.”

Sarah, Megan’s assistant, nodded in understanding. “I’m all ears, boss. What’s the act?”

Megan leaned in closer, her voice a hushed whisper. “We’re going to orchestrate a little wardrobe malfunction for Sophia. Nothing too serious, just enough to keep her occupied and away from the auction for a while.”

Sarah’s eyes lit up with mischief. “I like it. How can I help?”

“I want you to spill something on top of her, apologize, and offer to help her clean her dress in the toilet.

When you leave, lock her in the toilet just long enough to drop the auction, then you can let her go.”

“Consider it done,” her assistant replied with a wide smile. Megan and her assistant, Sarah, returned to the table. They settled back into their seats, and Sarah executed Megan’s plan with calculated precision. She feigned clumsiness, spilling a cup of coffee onto Sophia’s skirt. Sophia gasped in shock as the hot liquid splashed onto her clothes.

“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry!” Sarah exclaimed, her voice filled with fake remorse. Sophia made an effort to collect herself, though her growing frustration was evident as her cherished Chanel vintage had been dirtied. “It’s fine, accidents happen,” she said, attempting to brush off the situation.

Sarah insisted on helping Sophia clean up in the restroom, and Sophia reluctantly agreed. As they left the table, Megan couldn’t hide her malicious satisfaction.

With Sophia and Sarah out of sight, Megan turned her attention to Benjamin and Alexander.

“Gentlemen, I hope you’re ready for the second half of the auction. It’s about to get very interesting.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow suspiciously as Megan shared her cryptic remark. “Of course, that’s what we came for,” he replied, his voice laced with a touch of intrigue, and took a sip of his champagne. The bubbles tickled his palate, but his mind was focused on the upcoming auction.

Benjamin, on the other hand, seemed preoccupied. He looked around nervously for any sign of Sophia, his gaze darting between the tables filled with eager bidders. She was taking a lot of time with Megan’s assistant and he didn’t like that. The soft hum of conversations and the occasional clinking of glasses filled the air, creating an atmosphere of anticipation.

Megan’s mind churned with devious thoughts as she plotted to hinder her two competitors, Benjamin and Alexander, in the second half of the auction. She doesn’t mind throwing obstacles in their path, especially after the discomfort they have caused her. Megan had always been a vengeful woman, quick to seek revenge on anyone who crossed her or made her uncomfortable.

A wicked satisfaction simmered within her when Sophia left the table. She knew that this auction was more than just a business opportunity; it was a chance to settle scores and assert her dominance in the business world.

Much to Meghan’s terrible surprise Sophia returned to the table with a wide grin. It seemed that her initial plan to inconvenience Sophia had failed.

However, her focus quickly shifted to concern for her missing assistant. Megan’s anxiety began to rise as she noticed that her assistant had not returned with Sophia.

With a forced smile, Megan asked. “Oh Sophia, wasn’t my assistant with you?”

Internally, Megan was growing increasingly anxious. She could not afford to lose her assistant at this crucial moment in the auction. Worried, she began to scan the area, searching for someone who could go to the restroom and find her assistant.

“She was, but apparently, she needs more time to return,” Sophia replied, staring at her while sipping her champagne.