The hushed anticipation of the crowd intensified as a uniformed man carefully wheeled forward a small, exquisitely crafted glass case. He positioned it beside Britney, the auctioneer, then stepped discreetly to the side.
"Isn't that just a piece of paper inside?" a voice murmured through the audience.
"No, it appears to be some sort of document," another responded, their brow furrowed in curiosity.
"Yes... but what exactly is it?" a third voice questioned, the collective gaze of the room fixed intently on the enigmatic glass enclosure.
"Attention, everyone!" Britney announced, her voice ringing with excitement as she gestured towards the case. "What we have here is a document!"
She paused for dramatic effect, then continued, her voice rising with each item.
"A document containing ownership of ten distinct and highly profitable companies! We're talking about an established electronic company, a prominent building company, a thriving construction firm, a well-regarded shipping enterprise, a lucrative estate agency, another robust shipping company, a leading telecom provider, a successful automobile manufacturer, and to top it all off, your very own private airport, complete with a personal jet! And finally," she concluded with a flourish, "a magnificent villa situated in the most exclusive district of Cordelia!"
"....."
"....?!!!!"
A stunned silence descended upon the hall. The sheer magnitude of the offering hung heavy in the air, the implications of Britney's words still echoing in their minds.
Ten thriving companies, a private plane, and a luxurious villa in the city's most coveted location – all bundled into a single document. It was an unprecedented opportunity.
Britney beamed at their stunned reactions. "This document," she emphasized, "bears the signatures of all the current owners! Upon purchase, you simply affix your own signature, and every single asset transfers to your complete ownership, automatically!"
"Incredible!" someone finally exclaimed, breaking the silence.
"This is what makes the Sky Auction legendary!" another voice declared enthusiastically.
"And this is just the first item on the list! Imagine what else awaits us!" a woman added, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"I can barely contain my excitement to start bidding!" a man nearby echoed.
The collective energy in the room had shifted from quiet curiosity to palpable excitement.
"Too bad we are barred from participating," Boris muttered to his peers, a hint of regret in his voice. "We can only hope our children possess the foresight and resources to acquire this. It would significantly bolster our business empires." The other three heads of families nodded in agreement.
'All these contenders are mere distractions. This entire package rightfully belongs to my family,' James, Adrian, and Chloe thought in unison, their competitive instincts ignited. Meanwhile, Christopher leaned back in his seat, a barely concealed yawn escaping his lips.
Noticing his apparent disinterest, Chloe turned to him with a gentle smile. "Feeling weary, Christopher?" she inquired softly.
Christopher's gaze flickered towards her, momentarily drawn to the alluring curve of her cleavage. He took a slow, deliberate breath and shook his head.
"Alright... but if you do find yourself needing rest, my shoulder is here for you to lean on," she offered with surprising warmth.
'What in the world is going on with this girl?! I was under the impression she harbored animosity towards the previous occupant of this body!' Christopher mused, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. Aloud, he simply stated:
"I don't believe that will be necessary," before turning his attention back to Britney, who was now preparing to announce the starting bid.
"The initial bid for this extraordinary collection is... one hundred million!" she declared, her voice ringing through the hall.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The sheer starting price was enough to make some attendees blanch.
"Truly exceptional opportunities rarely come cheap," someone murmured philosophically.
"One hundred and ten million!" a voice called out from the back row.
A wave of heads turned to identify the bidder, a woman seated alone, her expression inscrutable.
"Who is that woman?" someone whispered.
"I have no idea," came the hushed reply. "But she certainly possesses considerable wealth."
"Nonsense! I refuse to be outbid by a woman so early in the auction!" a man declared, raising his bidding paddle with determination. "One hundred and twenty million!"
"One hundred and fifty million!" Gabi's confident voice cut through the air, drawing another collective turn of heads.
"Unbelievable," someone muttered. "We can't possibly compete with her."
"Two hundred million," Murphy stated calmly, her voice carrying an air of quiet authority.
"Two hundred and fifty million!" Gabi countered swiftly.
"Three hundred million!" Murphy's bid was firm and unwavering.
"They are escalating by a full fifty million with each bid!" a woman exclaimed in astonishment.
"This is proving far more engaging than I anticipated," Britney murmured under her breath, a glint of excitement in her eyes.
"Five hundred million!"
Every head, including Christopher's, swiveled towards James, who lowered his paddle with a triumphant smirk.
"Having trouble keeping up?" he taunted the other bidders.
"Six hundred million!" Murphy's voice remained steady.
"...?!!!!!"
James' triumphant expression faltered. He glanced over his shoulder at Murphy, whose gaze remained fixed downwards, her features unreadable.
'Who is that woman?!' he wondered, a seed of doubt beginning to sprout.
"Seven hundred million!" Chloe announced with a confident smile.
"Incredible! That's the heiress of the Borodino family! Truly a force to be reckoned with financially!" murmurs of admiration rippled through the room.
"Eight hundred million!" James countered, refusing to be intimidated.
Adrian watched the escalating bids with a sigh. 'I don't even possess that kind of capital on hand... I suppose I will have to sit this one out. But what about Christopher? Well, at least I am not the only one unable to participate at this level,' he mused.
"One billion!"
A collective gasp swept through the hall.
"Did I... did I hear that correctly?!" someone stammered.
Every eye turned towards Murphy, who slowly lowered her bidding paddle.
"Did she just bid one billion?" Ethan asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Who is that woman?! Is she perhaps a foreign investor?" Boris wondered aloud, his gaze fixed on Murphy.
"Such immense wealth... I am genuinely impressed," Kelvin added, his expression thoughtful.
"This?!" James clenched his fists, his earlier confidence evaporating.
'I don't have anything close to that amount remaining. What am I supposed to do?!' panic began to set in.
"Oh, I concede," Chloe said with a graceful smile.
Adonis leaned forward and whispered urgently to Christopher, "Come on, brother... place a bid! This could be incredibly beneficial for our family. The Vanir family are constantly seeking opportunities to undermine us, and even Master Alex seems intent on creating obstacles. Acquiring these ten companies would provide us with an immense advantage!"
"What are you doing?!" Katherine hissed, grabbing his arm and pulling him back into his seat. "Stop bothering elder brother! If he doesn't wish to bid, no one has the right to pressure him!" she scolded.
'That's rather amusing, considering I should be the one reprimanding you,' Adonis thought, a wry smile playing on his lips.
"Alright... enough of this childish back-and-forth," Christopher declared, his voice cutting through the lingering tension. "If one desires something, one simply aims for the most decisive move."
Every heir in their vicinity turned towards Christopher as he casually raised his bidding paddle into the air.
"Two billion," he stated, his voice calm and matter-of-fact.
"....!!!!"
"....?!"
".....????"
A profound silence descended once more, heavier than before. Not only those in his immediate rows, but even his father, the heads of the major families, his two siblings, Advika, Alex, Amara, and even Britney, the seasoned host, were utterly dumbfounded.
Murphy slowly raised her head, her gaze fixed on Christopher's back. A faint smile touched her lips as she deliberately placed her bidding paddle down.
"Two billion?!" James stammered, his eyes practically bulging from their sockets. "Do you even possess such an astronomical sum?!"
"What would you know?" Christopher retorted, rolling his eyes dismissively.
"Two and a half billion!"
Christopher and everyone else froze, their heads snapping towards the source of the new bid. A stunning woman with long, flowing silver hair, clad in an exquisitely expensive gown, stood out in the crowd. Her piercing gray eyes were locked on Christopher, and a distinct sneer curled her lips.
'What?! Chaya?! How in the hell is she in Cordelia?! I distinctly recall Michael stating that he would be bringing her!' Christopher thought, utterly flabbergasted.