Belle left the office earlier than usual to prepare for the charity auction. She went home with Nathalie as the stylist she hired will go there to fix her, then Eric will pick her up afterward.
“You will surely gather all attention with this,” her stylist was referring to the gown Nathalie picked for her.
It’s a V-neck long dress, with an open back and a high leg slit. Nathalie also picked a silver, ankle strap high heels, and a silver purse to go with her dress.
As she is coming as Eric’s +1, she wanted to look presentable. Thompsons are well-known in the business arena, so she wanted to look good next to the young man.
After almost two hours, she was finally ready for the show. This was the auction where her mother’s gift was donated, that was why she was very eager to go.
When her stylist left, Belle sat down on the couch and so did Nathalie. They were busy chatting when the doorbell rang.
“Wow!” Eric exclaimed. He was stunned to see Belle, beautifully dressed. Her hair was fixed in an elegant high bun, giving more exposure to her gorgeous face and slender neck.
The dress she was wearing was not too revealing, but she looked very sexy in it. The slit exposed her long, shapely legs.
“You obviously like what you’re seeing,” Nathalie commented, slapping Eric on his arm to catch his attention. The young man nodded at her, still smiling.
Eric can’t believe that she’s going to the charity auction with the gorgeous woman in front of her. ‘I wonder what Tristan will do if she sees her there,’ he can’t help but think.
“Let’s go?” he asked after offering an arm to Belle.
Belle curtsied before putting a hand on top of Eric’s arm, nodding and giggling. She then turned to Nathalie, “We’ll go ahead.”
Her friend shooed them away, as she was jealous that she can’t come with them. According to Jacob, he can’t take Nathalie as he is going as Tristan’s +1, instead of his assistant.
“What makes you want to attend the auction?” Eric asked as they drive to the venue.
Belle turned to him and smiled, “There’s something I’m interested in.”
“You’re bidding?”
“Yes! And I’m ready to lose everything I have to get it,” she told him with strong conviction.
Eric nodded. Although he wanted to ask what exactly caught her interest, he doesn’t want to pry too much. It’s not good for a man to be too nosy. He will just wait for it later.
The venue was already packed when they got there so Belle tensed up a bit. She initially thought that the host invited just a few people, but it turned out that there are tons of attendees.
She thought it was good since it was for charity, but seeing this many people, she can’t help but feel nervous. Biting on her inner lip, she followed Eric to the red carpet, smiling shyly at the reporters taking pictures of them.
“Nervous?” Eric asked as he noticed that her hand suddenly felt cold. Belle nodded at him before exhaling. “Don’t be, you look really gorgeous tonight. Let them feel nervous because of your presence.”
Belle rolled her eyes at him. Her face was red in embarrassment and that made Eric chuckle. ‘After all this time, she’s still not used to anyone praising her beauty,’ he thought to himself.
The usher led them to their assigned table. Belle immediately sat down as she was already feeling her face heating up after people looked at her and Eric, and started whispering.
“Hey, ease up!” Eric teased but Belle can’t calm her nerves. She felt more nervous when Eric told her that.
Before the two of them can talk again, a dazzling young man stepped into the great hall. All eyes turned to him as he walked toward his seat. The man who looked like a Greek God is none other than Tristan De Clarion.
He was looking at Belle as he passed by her. He was feeling a bit dejected because she bowed down her head after looking at him for a millisecond and she kept it bowed down until she can no longer see him.
“Do you want to go over and greet them?” Eric asked, not knowing that the woman next to her was already cursing at Tristan in her head.
Instead of giving him an answer, she just shook her head and smirked. Fortunately, Eric didn’t insist. They just sat quietly while waiting for the auction to start.
When a waiter stopped by their table with a tray of drinks, Eric turned to Belle, “Red?” he asked and Belle nodded. He picked up two glasses of red wine and thanked the waiter.
Belle accepted the drink he passed on to her, thanking him before sipping from the glass. Again, she fell quiet, staring at the made-up platform in front of them.
When the host showed up on the platform with a mic on hand, Belle sat up straight, still focused on the stage. The host was followed by the auctioneer. After a few words of greetings and thanks, the auction commenced.
The first item was an antique vase, followed by a ring, a few more jewelry items, and lastly, the necklace. This was all Belle has been waiting for the whole night.
As soon as the necklace was placed on the table, Belle grabbed her paddle. Eric turned to her, his forehead creased, “Is that the item you want?”
Belle nodded and smiled. “I have to get that.”
“But wasn’t that donated by Tristan? You should have just asked him for it, maybe he won’t have auctioned it.”
The woman shook her head, “It was a gift from my mother, I have no idea how it ended in his hands, but it’s not supposed to be auctioned.”
The creases on Eric’s forehead deepen. Belle wasn’t even looking at him when she said that. Her eyes were focused on the necklace alone.
Eric turned his head to look at the piece of jewelry. At first glance, you wouldn’t think it’s valuable. It’s just a 24-carat, 24 inches Byzantine rose gold necklace with a pendant attached to it.
However, if you look closely, you will see that it was not just some ordinary gemstone pendant. Attached to the necklace is the rarest black opal, the Aurora Australis.
After the auctioneer explained the value of the item, he hit the gavel to announce the starting bid. “Let’s start this with two hundred million.”
Belle quickly raised her paddle to bid. “Five hundred million,” she announced and all heads turned to her, including Eric, Tristan, and Jacob.
Tristan and Jacob even exchanged glances, wondering why Belle would raise the bid that high. Tristan wanted the necklace too, as he was wondering who donated it under his name. He found it mysterious and wanted to uncover that mystery.
“Five million, five hundred thousand,” Tristan announced. He spoke really loud to catch Belle’s attention, but she didn’t even glance in his direction, he frowned.
“Seven hundred million,” Belle with her paddle up.
The other guests can’t help but look at Belle and Tristan alternately. Everyone wondering how important the necklace is that they are bidding like their lives are on the line for it.
“Eight hundred million,” Tristan announced, slowing the increase of the bid to prolong it. He likes seeing Belle smirk whenever he bids against her, as if annoyed.
Jacob on the side can’t help but shook his head. He knew well that right now, all Tristan wanted to do was to tease Belle. He also knows how cute Belle reacts when she’s annoyed, and his Boss was having a good time because of that.
Belle rolled her eyes before letting out a harsh sigh. In her peripheral vision, she can see Tristan smiling while bidding against her and it’s starting to piss her off.
She grabbed the paddle rashly and raised it, “One billion dollars,” she announced smugly.
Tristan whose head was bowed down to not let anyone else see he was smiling like an idiot suddenly lifted his gaze towards Belle. She has a serious look on her face. It’s as if she’s sending a warning that anyone who tries to outbid her will die in her hands.
Seeing that expression, Tristan slowly put his paddle down on the table. He is admitting defeat. He can tell that Belle was already pissed and he doesn’t want her to despise him.
“One billion! Everyone, we got a billion-dollar bid for the necklace. Anyone else?” The auctioneer asked, eyeing the guests seated in front of him. “I’m ready to close this in three… two… one…” when no one else raised their paddle, he hit the gavel.
A waiter then took the necklace from the table and delivered it to Belle who accepted it with a wide smile. “Thank you,” she told the waiter who nodded at her before leaving.
Belle looked at the necklace in her hand, tears started to well in her eyes. She breathed deeply to push them back, afraid someone will see her teary-eyed.
‘I got it, mom, I got it.’