Tina couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Whitney’s appearance.
“If you don’t want to wear black, whatever. But what I wear isn’t your problem,” Whitney snapped, irritation flaring up.
With a cold glare aimed at Tina, Whitney strode into the auction room, projecting an air of indifference.
Once inside, Laura quickly sent a text to her nephew, Travis Boone.
Laura: [You in 806 yet?]
Travis: [Yeah, I’m here. Just waiting for your word, Aunt Laura.]
A sly smile crept onto Laura’s lips, brimming with confidence.
But just then, a man who commanded attention entered the auction hall.
“Mom, look!” Tina exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Laura inhaled sharply. “No one said he’d be here.”
She cursed under her breath, *If I’d known, I could’ve made sure Tina dressed up today.*
Without a plan in mind, Laura wasn’t about to take any risks. She shot Tina a look that communicated urgency. “Tina, don’t rush. The timing has to be right.”
Tina sighed, looking deflated. “Alright.”
Whitney, however, remained fixated on the auctioneer, her heart racing with anticipation.
Finally, the auctioneer pulled out the bracelet she had been waiting for. “Starting bid, 30 thousand dollars.”
Since she was here with Laura, the Moore family would be footing the bill. *Is it really too much to ask my dad to cough up some cash for a bracelet for Grandma?* Whitney thought, determination bubbling within her.
She raised her paddle for the first time. “Alright, the lady over there bids 45,000 dollars,” the auctioneer announced.
But someone else was eyeing the bracelet too. “60,000 dollars, going once.”
Whitney raised her paddle again, her heart pounding.
“75,000 dollars, going once,” the auctioneer called, excitement building in the room.
The other bidder wasn’t backing down. “This gentleman raises it to 160,000 dollars. 160,000 dollars, going once.”
“Mom, aren’t you going to stop her? She’s spending 160,000 dollars on a stupid bracelet for a dead person. Is she out of her mind?” Tina snapped, her frustration boiling over.
Laura’s eyes darted toward a diamond necklace she had been eyeing. If Whitney continued to bid on the bracelet, the price could easily skyrocket to 300 thousand dollars, jeopardizing her chance at the necklace.
The Moore family was not wealthy; they couldn’t just toss money around at auctions like this.
Whitney, however, was unfazed by Laura’s thoughts. Since Laura had dragged her here, Whitney was resolute in her quest to acquire that bracelet, no matter the cost.
“Alright, the lady bumps it up to 180,000 dollars. 180,000, going once,” the auctioneer shouted, his voice rising with excitement.
“300 thousand dollars. The gentleman bids 300 thousand. Anyone else want to jump in? 300 thousand, going once,” the auctioneer called, stirring the crowd into a frenzy.
Laura grabbed Whitney’s wrist just as she was about to raise her paddle again. “Whit, your dad didn’t give us that kind of budget. 300 thousand dollars is way too much. Let’s just wait for the next one, okay?”
“1.5 million.” The man in the front row raised his paddle, his voice calm and steady.
“1.5 million? Mr. Klein Harris just dropped 1.5 million,” the auctioneer declared, his voice booming through the hall.
It was Klein.
As soon as Klein made his move, the entire room fell silent. No one dared to raise their paddle after that.
1.5 million dollars was far beyond Whitney’s reach; she knew she didn’t stand a chance at that price.
“1.5 million, third and final call. Sold!” the auctioneer shouted triumphantly.
“Congratulations, Mr. Harris. This lot is yours,” he announced.
Whitney picked up the glass of water beside her, taking a small sip, irritation simmering just beneath the surface.
Klein had promised her he would give her anything she desired. *Am I really about to use that promise to get a bracelet?* Whitney thought, frowning as she contemplated her choices.
Laura observed Whitney as she took a sip of water, then smiled, sending a message to her contact.
Laura: [It’s done. In five minutes, take her away.]
Whitney finished her water, still feeling parched. She set the glass down and stood. “I’m heading out.”
She walked toward the exit, hoping to clear her mind with some cold water from the restroom. Just as she left the auction hall and turned toward the restroom, her legs suddenly felt weak.
*Something’s off,* Whitney thought, her senses sharpening.
Her instincts kicked in. *That water was definitely spiked!* Whitney’s heart raced as the realization hit her.
She had slipped up. Usually, she checked her glass before taking a sip, but in her dismay over losing the bracelet, she had let her guard down.
Whitney bit down hard on her tongue, forcing herself to remain alert as she stumbled into the restroom and locked the door behind her.
Her vision blurred, and she fumbled for her phone, desperate to send a message. *Damn it, no signal,* she cursed silently, frustration mounting as she realized she couldn’t reach anyone.
*Should I call 911?* Panic surged as her thoughts spiraled out of control.
Just as she hesitated, the doorknob rattled from the other side.
*Someone got in,* Whitney realized, her heart racing.
She reached for the dagger she always kept in her bag, ever since that time she had threatened Tina with it.
Gripping the dagger tightly, she prepared herself as the footsteps drew nearer.
She mentally reviewed the rules of self-defense, trying to keep calm. *Just go for his arm. That’s enough. If I go overboard, it’s excessive force. I just need to hit the right spot,* Whitney reminded herself, her heart pounding in her chest.
Just as she was ready to defend herself, a loud bang echoed outside, followed by a man’s anguished scream.
*What the hell is going on?* Whitney thought, confusion and fear gripping her.
Hastened footsteps stopped right outside the bathroom door. “It’s me, Klein. Open up. Let me get you out of here,” Klein called urgently.
Whitney finally lowered her guard, the dagger clattering to the floor.
She twisted the doorknob, her cheeks flushing with relief. “Klein, you’re here. You came for me,” Whitney breathed, her voice trembling with gratitude.
Klein’s expression was a mix of concern and urgency. “What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?” His brow furrowed with worry as he touched her forehead, only to find his palm slick with sweat. “Do you have a fever?”
Whitney shook her head, her breathing uneven. “We need to get to the hospital. Klein, I think someone drugged me.”
Klein’s breath hitched, his eyes turning icy with determination.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he swept Whitney into his arms. “You’re safe now. I’m here. Nothing’s going to happen to you. Let’s get you to the hospital.”
*Why is it that every time I’m in danger, he just appears out of nowhere? How does he always know when I need him most?* Whitney thought, her heart racing as she felt a mix of fear and gratitude.
Whitney felt as if her mind were enveloped in a thick fog, the world around her blurring into a haze of confusion. A relentless heat coursed through her, igniting an uncomfortable restlessness that compelled her to tug at her clothes, desperate for some relief.
Suddenly, she felt warm hands encircle hers, the gentle pressure of his palms squeezing her delicate fingers with a reassuring grip. “Whitney,” a familiar voice called out softly.
“Mm,” she murmured, a frown creasing her brow as annoyance bubbled up within her. “Let go… It’s burning.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.