Chapter 9
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re moving on to the next item on the list,” the auctioneer announced, his voice steady despite the lingering murmurs from the previous chaos.
Ethan moved back to his seat, fuming. The earlier debacle had left his reputation in shreds, but before he could even begin to process what had happened, the spotlight shifted again.
“And now,” the auctioneer continued with a dramatic pause, “we present… this exquisite antique statue, the original masterpiece, authenticated and verified.”
The curtains parted, and there it was—the statue.
Ethan’s breath caught. His eyes darted to Celeste, who looked equally stunned.
“What the—” Celeste’s voice faltered.
Ethan leaned forward, his gaze narrowing as he took in the details. It was identical to the statue he’d brought, yet somehow different. The polished surface gleamed under the light, the craftsmanship even more striking than he remembered.
“That’s impossible,” Ethan muttered. “How is this here? I… I brought the original!”
Celeste grabbed his arm, her nails digging into his skin. “Ethan, say something! Stop this!”
But before Ethan could rise from his seat, two security guards appeared by his side.
“Mr. Hart,” one of them said firmly. “Please remain seated until the auction concludes. Any disruptions will result in your removal from the premises.”
Ethan clenched his fists but sank back into his chair. His jaw tightened as he watched the statue being presented to the audience.
The auctioneer raised his gavel. “Bidding starts at five hundred thousand dollars.”
The room erupted into action, hands shooting up as bidders eagerly jumped into the fray.
“Six hundred thousand!”
“Seven hundred!”
“Eight hundred!”
The numbers climbed rapidly, and Ethan’s panic grew with each passing second.
“This can’t be happening,” Ethan muttered under his breath.
Celeste, beside him, was on the verge of tears. “Ethan, that’s the real one! How did they get it?!”
“I don’t know!” he snapped, his voice a harsh whisper. “Someone must have switched it!”
The bidding continued unabated, soaring past ten million dollars in mere minutes.
“Twenty million!” a voice called from the middle of the room.
“Thirty!”
“Forty!”
Ethan’s gaze darted around the room until it landed on a man seated directly beside him. He had been so consumed with his own frustration that he hadn’t noticed the man before.
Dressed in a sleek, custom-tailored suit, the man exuded an air of quiet confidence. His every movement was deliberate, his presence commanding without being ostentatious.
“Fifty million,” the man said again calmly, his voice cutting through the din like a blade.
The room fell silent.
Fifty million dollars.
The auctioneer paused, his gavel raised. “Fifty million dollars! Going once… going twice…”
“Sold!”
The gavel came down with a decisive thud, and applause rippled through the crowd.
Ethan stared at the man in disbelief. “Who… who is that?” he muttered.
The man turned his head slightly, his piercing gaze meeting Ethan’s for the briefest moment before he stood and made his way toward the exit.
As the man passed, Ethan caught a glimpse of the intricate embroidery on his cuff—an unmistakable mark of wealth and influence.
“Ethan,” Celeste whispered frantically. “What do we do now?”
Before he could respond, the auctioneer’s voice echoed again.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve received confirmation that this statue is indeed the original artifact, certified by leading experts.”
Gasps and murmurs filled the room once more.
Ethan’s stomach twisted. “No… no, this can’t be happening.”
#Paywall
The auctioneer continued. “Unfortunately, the earlier item brought forward was a counterfeit. Security has been informed and will address the situation accordingly.”
Two guards appeared again, this time standing directly in front of Ethan and Celeste.
“Mr. Hart, Ms. Monroe,” one of them said sternly. “We need you to leave the premises immediately.”
“What?” Ethan exclaimed, his face flushing with anger. “You think I brought a fake statue here on purpose? This is ridiculous!”
The guard didn’t flinch. “Sir, please cooperate, or we will have to escort you out by force.”
Celeste clung to Ethan’s arm, her voice a frantic whisper. “Ethan, do something! Don’t let them humiliate us like this!”
But Ethan knew he had no choice. Gritting his teeth, he stood and allowed the guards to lead him toward the exit.
