Chapter 5
Mandy:
I carefully watched the process of the auction. I ruled out loud shouting, I also ruled out an auctioneer who repeats everything rapidly and a funny tone. I'm a bit upset by the last one, I was truly hoping to live it. Every artifact that has been brought out for the past hour seems of no interest to Nick. Not even the large panting they proclaimed to be of Pablo Picasso, I wonder what he's truly after. Everything has been art in a way and some jewelry and pottery: Even poems from the 1800s. Nick doesn't budge, he strictly prohibited me from bidding unless he notifies me otherwise.
"Nick," I whisper, cocking my head to his side, still paying attention forward. "What is it you're after?"
"I'll let you know once I see it." He whispers back.
"At least tell me something." I snap.
"You're terribly afraid of heights."
"Shut up!" I frown sitting straight and ignoring him.
Everyone claps as they confirm the final item of the auction, everyone seems pretty excited for they are whispering and desperately searching the stage for a glimpse of the last artifact. I peek over to Nick: he is starting at the stage like a lion would stare at its prey. I assume this is what he's been waiting for.
"And lastly, tonight we have the pleasure of selling this wonderful grandeur piece, many of you may already know what it is." The lady spoke as two gentlemen roll out a cart with a cape draped over it. "Cleopatra's Usekh...The Usekh or Wesekh is a personal ornament, a type of broad collar or necklace, familiar to many because of its presence in images of the ancient Egyptian elite."
They pull the cape and reveal a beautiful large and thick gold necklace with a row of blue stones. I stare amazed at its beauty… I even wiggled up to the edge of my seat to get a better view.
"The betting will begin at thirty million." I felt my heart skip a beat, I hardly have three thousand saved up in my bank right now, I didn't even know how thirty million looks like and feels like.
Nick leans to me. "Start betting."
"What?!" I felt my soul leave my body.
"That's what I want more than anything, please," He plainly said. "Get it for me before someone else does."
This spoiled man!
People had begun to bet, I also noticed they were mostly female who were betting. Oh… so this is why he brought me… he knew it would be women betting for the necklace. I guess he didn't want to be the only male betting for it. Clever of him to bring me. I raise the paddle and the auctioneer acknowledges me and raises the bet to sixty-five million. My body was running with adrenaline as the number increased; how much is he willing to spend?
"Seventy-seven million!"
I raise my paddle quickly but composed. I focused my attention only on succeeding in what Nick has asked of me.
"Seventy-eight million!"
A lady in red raises her paddle, by the looks of it, it looks like it's just her and me betting for the necklace now.
"Seventy-nine- Eighty million!"
I kept raising my paddle despite being glared down by the lady in red. I felt my body jitter as I glared back making sure she understood I am not backing down, that necklace is mine!
I was shocked to see she lift up her paddle again but this time she spoke. "I bid Ninety million!"
A lot of people gasped and whispers became loud but the Auctioneer quickly quieted everything down. The auctioneer peers me down to see if I would raise, but I felt a sense of defeat. I was sure I was gonna win, yet, this isn't my money to be so rash. I should back down.
"Ninety million going once…"
I can't.
"Going twice…"
My body moves on its own before I knew it I was on my feet holding up the paddle.
"Ninety-seven million!" I shouted proudly.
Embarrassed I repeatedly apologized for my sudden outburst, but I could hear Nick cackling right beside me. I stepped hard on his toes and sat down glaring right at him. He shrugs at my delight, he seems truly ecstatic with my current situation.
"Ninety-seven going once…" The auctioneer looks at the lady in red.
"Ninety-seven going twice…"
Please no one bet!
"Sold to number twenty-four!"
Everyone claps and stares at our direction causing me to feel incredibly awkward for how I just shouted like we were in a rodeo. Nick lightly pats my thigh and smiles at me.
"Great work my little Zaya." He smiled kindly at me.
The Auction is concluded and everyone is just lingering around having drinks and chatting amongst each other. Nick had gone to close the deal and pay off all that money. Thus leaving me in a room full of people I do not know. He's been gone a while, and I've been gulping down champagne trying to soothe my nerves.
"A courageous woman with eccentric taste… color me impressed." A woman's voice from behind startled me. The lady in red who had been going against me back in the auction for the necklace approaches me with a kind smile. She spoke with a slight accent, now that I take a good look at her; she looks much older up close, probably in her early forties. She held two glasses of champagne.
Nervously I grin then gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry for how I handle everything back there… I'm new at all of this."
She offers me one of the champagne which I kindly accept. "There is no need to apologize, it's all part of the fun. I admit I was taken back, but once I saw who sat next to you. It all made sense."
"I'm sorry?" I say truly lost.
Does she know Nick?
She chuckles and slightly waves, "Everyone is talking about it! No one thought Nicholia would ever bring a woman to these types of functions. As a matter of fact, not even when he dated Sophieann did he ever bring her out to this side of his life."
"I'm sorry, but Nick- Nicholia and I aren't dating." I softly said.
"No? Well," Her blue eyes scan me. "Both of you do not know what you're missing."
I lightly laughed. "No, he just brought me so I could get the necklace for him and he wouldn't be ridiculed for buying the said item."
"What's Your name?" She asked.
"Mandy… Mandy Fletcher."
"I like it… My name is Glorianna, but most call me Glow." She gestures me to follow her out to the roof terrace.
"I will let you in a little secret," she says sitting at an empty table. "Sit, sit my dear."
I sat across from her, it's incredibly humid outside. Glow suddenly takes out a cigarette and lights it. She looked at me from the corner of her eyes.
"I know all of the Dragomir children," she blows out a large cloud of smoke. "Specifically, Nicholia, since he's my godson."
My jaw almost fell but I made sure not to overreact… So she's practically family. I guess that's why she kept looking back, I was too focused on winning that I must have overlooked who she was truly looking at.
"I am amazed at your posture given your prevailing attitude… I like you, Mandy, I think you're the only one I can stand in this place." She laughs.
"I'm glad… I find you to be a charming woman." I say back, I automatically want to take that back. What the hell am I saying?
"Drink, drink! You must enjoy the party, Mandy! You look so grim back there I felt bad for the wall behind you." She laughs holding up her glass of Champagne. We click out glasses and she chugs the last bit of her drink. She watched me make sure I do the same. I'm going to get drunk fast since I didn't eat anything before coming. I chugged my drink then smiled at her.
"You make me feel comfortable, Glow," I say as I hiccuped.
"I am glad, I find you to be a very charming woman." She repeated to me with a smile.
"I always prayed for Nicholia… Mandy, dear, I hope you are good to him, as I will pray he'd be good to you." She says cigarette between her two fingers.
Awkwardly I giggle for I don't know what gave her the idea that we could ever be a couple. I'd say we barely make it as friends.
"Glorianna, I have no intention of dating Nick… He's my boss, and I wish for our relationship to strictly stay as such." I say politely. Her eyes go from me to behind me.
"I was wondering where you have whisked away…" Nicks's serious tone caused the hairs on my neck to stand. "Tetya Glorianna, my dolzhny uyti."
She nods and clicks her tongue, "Da da ty vsegda khochesh' uyti"
I stare between them completely puzzled. They're speaking Russian, I always want to learn another language, but I'm always so busy with work I hardly ever get time to do something about it.
"Mandy lets go, you must be hungry," Nick says.
"I'm enjoying her company," I whine. "Do we have to go?" I hiccupped again.
Glow giggles, "We are becoming fast friends Nicholia, sit, sit… Join us for a bit of a gossip, we should get more drinks as well."
"I agree," I giggle. "Sit Nick." I gape up at him smiling up like an idiot.
"I think you've had enough," he snaps at me. "We are leaving." He held his hand out to me.
I frowned then looked at Glow. "It was a pleasure meeting you, I truly hope we see each other soon." I hiccuped then laughed a little.
"I hope so too my dear, I will pray for you." She says placing her hand over mine. She then turns her attention to Nick. "Ty, pozabot'sya o ney. Ona mne pravda nravitsya."
I ignored Nick's outstretched hand and walked back inside the building. Nick followed close behind. Again, little being said to each other. I walked rather slump causing my heels to clank loudly against the pavement. In a matter of seconds, my heel got caught in my dress causing me to stumble but before I could fall Nick had taken a hold of me. His muscular arms held me in place, my butt was brushing against him so I quickly tried to push myself off only to stumble even more. I giggled as he turned me to face him, I was still in his arms but now… I just felt my heart race as I glanced up at him. I couldn't help myself, I tucked away a few of his hair strands that have fallen into his face. He watched me carefully. It felt like a good minute before we continued to walk out close to each other.
Overall, I enjoyed it tonight. Truly mean it.