Chapter 316
“Damn it! That obnoxious woman actually dares to challenge us?” Jasper’s face twisted with annoyance as he ground his teeth. “Haynie, keep raising the bid! I refuse to believe she can outmatch you!”
Stella’s voice was calm but clear. “My budget is eighty million. If Mr. O’Brien bids higher than that, the necklace is his. But if his budget falls short, he shouldn’t bother competing with me.”
She glanced at Haynes and offered a soft, almost teasing smile.
“Either way, you won’t win against me.”
“Eighty million?!” Jasper nearly burst out laughing. His tone was thick with ridicule. “Stella, you must be dreaming. With your shabby finances, could you even cough up eighty thousand on your own if it weren’t for a man backing you?”
Stella’s eyes flickered as she looked at him. “Since you’re so impressive, Mr.
Wilkinson, why don’t you bid the eighty million yourself?”
Jasper opened his mouth but faltered, lost for words.
Eighty million was no small sum.
There was no way he’d put on a show at that price.
But he couldn’t believe Stella had that kind of money, either.
Suddenly, he jabbed a finger at her, as if a lightbulb had gone off. “Oh, I get it! You’re trying to trick us, just like before-drive the price up and then drop out at the last second to leave us with the bill. Is that it?!”
He practically jumped in place, triumphant. “Stella, you really are shameless!”
Stella feigned surprise. “Mr. Wilkinson, you should watch what you say. Anyone can eat a meal as they please, but you can’t just run your mouth. We’re all here playing by the same rules. Where’s the deception in that?”
“I bid high on what I consider worthwhile, and if something exceeds my limit, I simply stop. By your logic, does that mean anyone who ever drops out of a bidding war with you is acting in bad faith? And besides…”
A sly smile played across her lips. “I’ve won more tonight than you have, haven’t 1?”
Jasper blurted out, “You can afford all that? Please, you’re just living off some man’s money!”
Neville’s languid voice drifted through the room. “Mr. Wilkinson, not every woman needs a man to buy things for her.”
“Everything Star has won tonight, she paid for herself. I had nothing to do with it. So perhaps you shouldn’t be so quick to assume the worst about others- especially women.”
“The women you look down on might just be wealthier and more capable than you.”
Neville’s words instantly won over many of the women in the room, while any remaining goodwill for Jasper evaporated.
Whispers broke out in the crowd. “Isn’t that guy’s last name Wilkinson? With an attitude like that, I need to warn my friends-never marry into the Wilkinson family.”
“My mother is the real head of our group. If this guy can’t respect women, there’s no way we’re working with his family. I’ll call her right after this.”
“My sister has a date set up with the Wilkinson son next week. I need to tell her to run for the hills-if he’s anything like this, their whole family must be awful.”
People began to gesture toward Jasper, their conversation full of disdain.
His face shifted through a whole palette of colors as he tried to defend himself. “You’ve got it all wrong, that’s not what I meant “
He knew full well: if his profit-driven old man heard that Jasper had just ruined the Wilkinson Group’s reputation with a few careless words, he’d probably break his legs.
But no one was listening. Every gaze that met his was either scornful or mocking. Even those who realized Jasper was just mouthing off didn’t bother to defend him, instead exchanging looks of amused derision.
What an idiot.
Anyone who worked with someone this foolish would end up looking just as bad.
Rachel’s voice was gentle as she turned to Stella. “Ms. Cameron, can you really afford that necklace?”