Fair Warning

"Is there anyone who will challenge Booth#1's bid at ten million dollars?" The auctioneer's powerful voice tried to persuade his audience as if pleading them to bid higher. The adrenaline from the opening bid sent him on overdrive and he was in it to win it tonight.

"Eleven million, here," another voice rang across the hall from a lady sitting by the proxy booth table with hand pressed on her ears as she listened to her boss's instruction through the device. Her name was Natalia. And just like Maxen, she hated losing in the bidding wars too, not after working for Maxen for almost ten years, proxy bidding on his royal highness's behalf.

The guests started to wonder who was behind those two phone calls and why would they bid that much on a weird portrait of a cat.

The proxy bidder for Booth#1, a blonde girl that looked more like a runway model raised her hand again and said, "Fifteen million, sir."

Gasps followed by silence. You can hear a pin drop in the hall. The auctioneer ran a hand over his face. If he could, he would pull his hair out too. But he needed to look dapper in the photos because tonight he made a record: the highest bid recorded for a royal cat portrait. A smug smile painted his face when he looked up to his left then to his right. His friend Emily was right about having a generous bidder in attendance tonight. His little movement didn't go unnoticed by the guests in the hall to who now started to steal glances on the balcony.

Just who were those people?

Seconds after the opening bid was made, up in the left balcony, Maxen sprang out of his chair in disbelief. He looked at Jack's way and gave out an order, "Bid eleven million." Jack whispered in the phone handset and nodded towards Maxen's way. Even with Maxen's back facing him, Jack could feel the domineering aura from his boss. Maxen would definitely split seas and move mountains just to have 'Sir James' in his collection. Feeling his throat go dry from the sudden rise of temperature in the room, he eyed the bar cart in the corner and thought about downing a glass of whiskey. And if the other bidder went all out for the opening bid, one thing was sure… tonight would be a long night for Jack.

Meanwhile in Olivia's booth, a seething with anger Olivia took a sip of her champagne. "How dare they laugh at Sir James's portrait," she said before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. However, her eyes instantly opened when she heard another bid on HER portrait. A corner of her lips lifted into a devious smirk as she thought to herself, 'A competition. That's new.'

"Secretary Gail, let's go home victorious tonight, shall we? Bid fifteen million," Olivia said as she stood up and walked towards the tinted balcony window with the glass of champagne close to her chest. She fixed her gaze on the sea of people below who were whispering to each other in their seats. "Talking about how to reach my good graces tonight, huh?" She murmured to herself. She had an inkling that those people were now devising a plan to make small talk with her. She pivoted on her heel and walked back to her seat.

Behind her, Yana's knees shook and almost gave out. She could not believe what was unfolding before her eyes and to even think that somebody was trying to outbid Olivia too was beyond what her mind could process. Rich people really do have weird kinks.

While the bidding war between Maxen and Olivia continued, Selena stood from her seat and made her way out to the lobby to find someone who would sneak her to the private booths.

"Fifteen point one million dollars."

"Fifteen point three million dollars."

"Sixteen million dollars."

Maxen's proxy bidder went silent for a while along with the rest of the guests who held their breath as they waited for another bid to drop from the sky.

"Sixteen million… seize millions… shestnadtsat' millionov," The auctioneer said in three different languages: Chinese, French, and Russian. His voice deep, almost hypnotic, luring his bidders to bid some more.

"Sir, would you like to go for sixteen point one?" Natalia could hear Maxen and Jack talking on the other end of the line when her attention was stolen by the auctioneer.

"Natalia, the gavel is up," the auctioneer said, calling Natalia by her first name after working with her with other auctions before. The auctioneer called out all other proxy bidders too just in case they'd like to challenge the last bidding price. "Selling at sixteen million! Booth #2, fair warning! The Sir James portrait! Last chance, Natalia. At sixteen million dollars, I'm selling Lot number 7 to booth#1's client. Sold!" The sound of the gavel hitting the podium woke up the rest from their reverie.

Inside Olivia's private booth, the telephone rang and was picked up by Yana. She covered the handset and whispered to Olivia, "Miss, Booth#2 would like to have a word with you." Olivia rolled her eyes before taking the handset from Yana. Seconds later, a corner of her mouth lifted into an alluring smile. The deep rumble of the person's voice on the other line turned her on that she had to take a deep breath and remind herself of the negotiation that was about to happen.

"I can't bid more than you tonight because I'll be in a lot of trouble if I do. However, we can go off the books. I can give you cash. Tax-free. Trace-free," Maxen instantly made an offer, his hands were inside his pocket as he spoke. However, when he heard his competition speak, he pulled out his hands and looked straight across Olivia's booth. He squinted his eyes as if his gaze could pierce the tinted glass windows across him. The soft and sultry voice of Olivia, almost provocative, painted Maxen's face with a devilishly handsome smile. He rubbed his thumb on his lower lip as he listened to her speak.

"Thank you for your offer, good sir. But I will take home 'Sir James' with me tonight. I can take you home with me too… If you want to see him one last time."