Chapter 311
Even as Jasper’s adrenaline surged, he knew full well that this jade bracelet had already been driven far past its true value.
The auctioneer’s smile was starting to look almost twisted, barely managing to keep from grinning ear to ear with unbridled delight.
After all, their commission was tied directly to the final hammer price of each item. While every piece here started out expensive enough, if bidding stayed close to the reserve price, their cut remained modest. The higher the bids soared above market, the fatter their paycheck. The more reckless the bidders, the happier the auction staff became.
Seeing Jasper hesitate, Stella leaned forward with a gentle, teasing lilt. “Mr. Wilkinson, if you’re not going to bid again, does that mean this bracelet is mine?”
The auctioneer, catching on immediately, raised his gavel and called out, “Eight million—do I have any higher offers?”
“Eight million, once.”
If Stella hadn’t spoken up, Jasper might have stayed calm. But her words lit a fire
in him; his eyes flashed with irritation. Instantly, he lifted his paddle. “Nine million.”
Stella offered him a small, knowing smile and didn’t bid further.
The auctioneer called for more offers, but when none came, he beamed. “Nine million, sold!”
Jasper’s face froze as he glanced sharply at Stella. Why had she suddenly dropped out?
Meeting his gaze, Stella gave a helpless little shrug. “You’re far more generous than I am, Mr. Wilkinson. That was my limit-I just can’t compete.”
Jasper felt a twinge of unease, but he couldn’t help shooting back with a sneer. “If you can’t afford to play, maybe you shouldn’t be here. This isn’t a place for people out of their league.”
Stella didn’t seem the least bit ruffled. She just smiled faintly and let it go.
Rachel, watching carefully, narrowed her eyes as she pieced things together.
Haynes leaned in, his tone low and warning. “Jasper, stop bidding against Stella. She’s provoking you on purpose.”
Jasper was impulsive, but not entirely oblivious. He could sense something was off, but pride kept him from admitting it. He scoffed, “She’s provoking me? Who says I can’t provoke her right back? Just watch-when the bidding gets high enough, I’ll drop out and let her look like a fool.”
Haynes started to protest, but the next round was already underway.
This time, the item up for auction was an antique mural.
Sure enough, Stella raised her paddle to bid.
Having been outmaneuvered twice already, Jasper’s lips curled into a cold,
determined grin. She wasn’t the only one who could run up the price.
When bidding hit two million, Jasper jumped straight to four. Stella answered with five, and Jasper-without missing a beat-shot up to eight million.
Then, just as before, Stella stopped bidding.
Jasper was stunned.
He’d justified the first few purchases as gifts for Rachel, but this mural? Rachel didn’t even try to hide her disinterest. “Jasper, this thing isn’t worth more than three million,” she murmured.
So now he’d shelled out eight million for a piece he didn’t care about and couldn’t appreciate. Was he just the world’s biggest sucker?
A staff member approached, beaming, and presented the mural to Jasper with exaggerated reverence. Jasper could only grit his teeth and accept the painting. Rachel leaned in, whispering a suggestion. “Jasper, maybe next time we only bid twice, and if it goes for more than double its value, we let it go.”
Jasper glared at Stella, resentment simmering. He couldn’t stand not getting the better of her.
“Fine,” he muttered. “This time, we’ll do it your way.”
The bidding began again, this time for an antique vase.
Jasper flexed his fingers, determined to finally turn the tables on Stella.
But as the auction unfolded, something even more unexpected happened.