Chapter 154

CHAPTER 154 Jacob wanted everyone from the family gone from the villa by the time the auction started, but no one in his family listened to him anymore. They weren’t directly scolding him, but they weren’t smiling, either.

By the time the auction started, Jacob and his sons were seated next to the auctioneer they had hired, while the rest of the family was standing at the foyer.

What Jacob didn’t like was that both Langdon Campbell and David Bonsbell were also present among the buyers, and they hadn’t said a word to him about their interest in the villa. Had they told him, he would have sold the villa in private instead of doing this humiliating thing, where he had to sell this in front of the people he owed money, including Jane’s dad, Mike.

Like vultures, they waited patiently. Jacob hoped at least Mike would come and talk to him, but he didn’t.

Arlo Campbell was also there, but he was here only to watch. Rebecca wasn’t present in the villa, so he was slightly disappointed. Artur Bonsbell sat not far from Arlo, and he seemed slightly anxious. He wouldn’t have come if his father hadn’t forced him.

The auctioneer greeted everyone and explained the villa’s features as best as possible, but he was known for overselling the property, which was also why Jacob hired him.

The auction soon started.

The base price was set to 100 million dollars.

A slender, stunning woman in the crowd raised the price straight to 150 million dollars, making every head turn toward her, who’s got a polite smile playing on her face. Her dimples made her look cute; she was instantly likable as far as facial features were concerned. “Laurel Bisconsley. The much-adored granddaughter of the billionaire Bisconsley’s family!” “Why’s she so interested in this villa?” “If someone like her is hell-bent on buying this villa, a lot of competitors can only give up.” Laurel, however, didn’t change her expression. (I like the garden here. They nicely block the view of the city, giving the impression that we’re in the middle of a forest. I want to buy something like the Myers’ mansion, but if I can at least buy this villa, I can come on weekends and spend time with Charles or my grandma.) For her, this villa seemed like nothing more than a weekly vacation spot. “We canceled our plans and came here,” Artur raised his voice. “Why aren’t we offered anything to eat or drink?”

His words got on Jacob and Shawn’s nerves, but there was nothing they could do. Jacob told his sons to fetch them from the villa. His sons reluctantly obeyed him at first sight, but they were never intending to return and serve drinks and food to others.

They couldn’t even imagine themselves ever doing such a thing.

Still and all, Artur was amused to see the frustration on the faces of the men from the Sterling family. (I won’t get this much fun in any movie theater.)

A hand raised, hiking the bid from 150 to 160 million dollars. It was from a tall and heavily built man, with a cigar in one hand and a wine bottle in the other.

“Brandon Conreid!” Some were quite surprised, for he was one of the real estate tycoons of the country and the current CEO of Conreid Fortunes.

The auctioneer looked at Laurel straight away. “C’mon, ma’am. Take us to 200.”

His swift, quick persuasion worked like a charm, and she nodded and raised her hand before saying, “200 million dollars.”

“Great,” the auctioneer then kept talking with other bidders, almost taunting them with his speech. “C’mon, sirs, show your strength to the billionaire beauty, and who knows, she might just fall for you.” His words garnered a few laughs. “Don’t laugh, sirs,” the auctioneer continued. “The beautiful pool, the wonderful cinema room, and a perfect tennis grass court where even Roger Federer would love to roll across the court like a relaxed little kitten. You don’t know what you’re missing. Mark my words.

Whoever buys this villa can have a Wimbledon champion in their descendants.” Again, some people laughed. “Don’t laugh among yourselves, sirs. Raise the bar, so Mr. Jacob can also laugh together,” the auctioneer said. A random person raised the bid to 210 million. Brandon raised it to 220, and Laurel immediately upped her bid to 250.

Jacob felt slightly happy that his effort in bringing an auctioneer was paying off. “Don’t miss this magnificent opportunity over this villa built on a hill,” the auctioneer didn’t stop talking. His words kept flowing like an unending stream. “You won’t be able to buy this d anywhere else in this city. The fantastic outdoors is one of a kind.”

David Bonsbell raised his hand.”251.”

“We have 251 from David Bonsbell,” the auctioneer said aloud. “Where have you been?” “Haha, just watching,” David chortled.

The auctioneer’s gaze then shifted to Langdon. “Isn’t the governor interested in this gorgeous villa?”

Langdon, however, didn’t respond, so the auctioneer didn’t dare poke him further. “Ahem, at 551, we have our bid from David Bonsbell,” the auctioneer shouted. “Whoa, it’s 251!” David quickly yelled. “Uh, yes, my apologies,” the auctioneer cleared his throat again and said, “a slight correction. We’re only at 251. It’s an odd number, and a place that ticks every box deserves better. Who’s gonna make the better bid? C’mon guys, I guarantee you that there’s no other place like this that comes at such a price in the market. You are going to walk away from this feeling happy and proud.”

After making a phone call, Laurel raised the price to 275 million dollars. Brandon quickly raised the bid to 280 million, and it irritated Laurel. She raised the bid to 300. The auctioneer’s smile widened, for he reached the minimum price he had promised to Jacob.

Brandon and Laurel competed for a little while until Laurel stopped at 360 million. And then nobody raised the bid for half a minute, even though the auctioneer kept asking.

“This place has everything one can want,” the auctioneer raised his hand half-way into the air. “At 360 million... First.” He brought his hand down and raised his hand again. “At 360 million... Second. C’mon sirs...” he gave a once-over at the crowd, and his gaze stopped on a certain section. “Over to you guys, I haven’t forgotten you. Any bidders out there?”

“You’re stretching it too far,” Artur barked. “End it already.” The auctioneer, however, denied with a polite shaking of the head.

“Sterling villa for 360 million is a steal. I expected much more fierce competition.”

The noise of a running engine grabbed everyone’s attention and made them turn their heads toward the villa’s entrance where a black sports car just stopped ever so smoothly. Seeing the car, Artur Bonsbell stood up from his seat like someone pierced his ass with a needle. “Bugatti la voiture noire?”