With each item auctioned, the murmurs in the grand hall grew louder, excitement buzzing like static in the air. Derek leaned closer to Alexander, his expression strained. "Sir, pinpointing Dr. Elena's booth is proving difficult. She's listed as a VIP, and the auction house has outright refused to disclose her location."
Alexander's fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest of his chair, his sharp eyes glinting with thought. "The auction house may have its policies, but everything has a price," he said with a fleeting, ice-cold smirk. Find out who owns this establishment."
Derek quickly relayed the information, barely finishing before Alexander's next command came. "Contact Mr. Murray. Let him know that the business district in North City he's been eyeing for years will be his, provided he facilitates this request."
A ghost of a smile played on Alexander's lips as Derek nodded, stepping away to make the arrangements. Within minutes, Derek returned, triumphant. "Sir, we have the information. Dr. Elena is seated in a private booth on the second floor—accessible only to those with significant influence and wealth."
"Good," Alexander said coolly, leaning back in his chair as though the entire ordeal was beneath him. "Send her an invitation to meet me. Make it clear she would be wise to accept." His voice held an edge, calm yet commanding, as if the outcome had already been decided.
Meanwhile, in a secluded booth on the second floor, another man sat in the shadows. His striking features seemed carved by the gods themselves—sharp, phoenix-like eyes radiating danger and a sense of icy calm.
"Boss, we've confirmed that Dr. Elena is on this floor. We suspect she's here for that ancient herb—Tinospora cordifolia. It's one of the rarest auction items tonight."
A glint of amusement flickered in the man's eyes, his lips curving into a subtle smirk. "Interesting. Let's see if she can get a hold of it without meeting me today," he murmured, his voice smooth yet laced with menace.
Oblivious to the attention surrounding her, Aurora remained focused on her phone, completing yet another lucrative task in silence. Her delicate fingers danced over the screen, her mind sharp and calculating. A sudden knock at the door broke her concentration.
"Come in," she said, her tone indifferent.
A waiter entered, bowing respectfully. "Dr. Elena, a representative from the Brown Group has delivered a message. Their president has requested a meeting with you."
Aurora raised a brow, amusement flickering in her eyes as she leaned back slightly in her chair. She scoffed, "So this is the reason for today's visit, she thought, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her lips. The news of Dr. Elena's resurfacing must have spread far and wide. Why does he want to meet with me? Is she sick? At that thought Luna couldn't help but be amused.
She sifted through the memories of the original Aurora, but nothing stood out as particularly significant. Her brow furrowed, a glimmer of realization striking her. Wait, there is one thing...
Her thoughts flickered to Grandpa Brown, and the fragments of conversation that had surfaced in her mind. He had mentioned that Alexander's mother had been staying at the Brown old estate, recuperating from health issues for several years now. The estate—quiet, abandoned by most of the family, but still maintained out of some sense of obligation. Aurora's lips parted, her gaze momentarily distant. It made sense now.
That was why he was here. His mother.
"So, that's the reason for this little visit," she murmured, her tone dripping with irony. "Reject him. And make it clear I won't entertain such requests again."
The waiter hesitated briefly, sensing her authority, before bowing again. "Understood, Dr. Elena."
As the door clicked shut, Aurora's gaze flicked to the stage as the next item was unveiled. Aurora's eyes sparkled with interest, though her expression remained calm. She had no overwhelming love for jewelry, but limited-edition items intrigued her. A rare diamond pendant amber-hued and shaped like a teardrop was bathed in light. "The Tear of the Phoenix." Seeing the piece of jewelry on display her eyelids dropped and she couldn't help but reveal a mocking smile.
The host's voice rang out. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a once-in-a-lifetime piece. Six hundred years old, it was gifted by a king to his queen as a symbol of eternal love and sacrifice. The starting bid begins at ten million."
Her gaze drifted downward, locking onto a familiar figure. Veronica. The other woman's eyes lit up with unmistakable greed as she clung to Alexander's arm, her excitement thinly veiled.
Aurora's smirk widened. "Ah, Veronica. You've always had a taste for the unattainable. Let's see how badly you want this."
"Twenty-five million!" Veronica's voice rang out, sweet and confident.
Aurora, amused, tapped her screen, raising the bid to thirty-five million without hesitation.
Gasps rippled through the hall. "Thirty-five million already? Who's that bidder?"
Veronica's smile faltered, her confidence waning as she raised her paddle again. "Forty million!"
"Seventy million," Aurora countered, the number flashing on the screen.
Veronica seethed, her grip tightening on her paddle. Her thoughts raced. "Who is this fool? Can't they see I want it? Are they trying to catch my attention?" Thinking that she felt smug inside.
Alexander, sensing her frustration, leaned toward her. "Do you want it?"
Her teary eyes glistened as she whispered, "Mr. Brown, it's okay. I don't want to trouble you."
That was all it took to spark Alexander's pride. He raised his paddle, his voice firm. "Two hundred million."
The crowd gasped, whispers filling the room.
Aurora chuckled, her finger effortlessly pressing the button. "Three hundred million."
Alexander's jaw clenched as he raised his paddle once more. "Five hundred million."
The host began the countdown. "Five hundred million! Going once! Going twice! Sold!"
Applause filled the room, but Alexander's sharp gaze was fixed on the second floor, where the mysterious bidder remained unseen. He felt like being played.
Aurora leaned back, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips. "Congratulations, Alexander. You just paid a fortune for nothing more than pride."
Elsewhere, around a shadowed corner of the grand hall, a figure cloaked in darkness murmured with quiet urgency, his voice low and measured. "Make sure we get our hands on the herb today," he instructed, his words barely rising above the murmurs of the crowd.
The flickering lights of the auction hall cast long shadows across his face, obscuring his features, but his intent was clear. His eyes, gleaming with a cold, calculating light, scanned the room as though anticipating every move. A soft rustle of fabric, a subtle shift in the air—his companion, standing just out of view, nodded in understanding.
"Understood," came the reply, the voice sharp and purposeful.
The figure's lips twisted into a grim smile, his attention returning to the auction, but his mind was elsewhere. Today was crucial. The herb, a rare and coveted prize, was more than just a valuable item—it was the key to something much larger, something that could tilt the balance in ways few could comprehend. And he wasn't about to let it slip away.