The car pulled up in front of Blossom Park after a thirty-minute drive. Just as Zara and Zoye were about to step out, Zara glanced forward and said, "Sirius, it might take us a while to finish our tasks. If you have other things to attend to, feel free to get on with them."
Sirius maintained a neutral expression as he replied politely, "I apologize, Miss Luna. However, my duty is to accompany you, and I cannot leave you unattended while you're outside."
Without responding verbally, Zara began typing on her phone.
[I'm going to handle some work. Please ask Sirius to wait outside.]
Moments after sending the message, she received a reply, [You don't want him to come in with you?]
[Are you certain everything is fine and secure inside?] Another message appeared before she could respond.
Zara let out a sigh and replied, [Yeah, nothing's going to happen.]
She was simply going to grab what she needed and would be back shortly. What kind of trouble could she possibly encounter that would be unsafe?
Ethan, seeing her message, sighed as well, feeling uncertain about what to do. He decided to remind her to stay cautious and then texted Sirius, telling him to wait outside and not to follow her in.
When Zara read the message, she glanced at Sirius, who gave her a nod after receiving the directive from his boss.
Zara and Zoye made their way toward the entrance of Blossom Park.
Inside Blossom Park, the auction was taking place on the top floor. It wasn't a fancy or large event; rather, it was a small auction organized by a few minor figures looking to make some quick cash.
They auction off their valuables or whatever they've got on hand. There's really no limit on who can join; anyone with a bit of cash can jump in and take part in the auction.
Zoye led Zara to the private room she had reserved earlier. They both kept it low-key, wearing masks to blend in.
Once they were settled, Zoye winked and said, "Looks like we made it just in time. We'd still be getting ready if I hadn't pushed you a bit."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, Ms. Zoye," Zara replied, rolling her eyes at her friend's smug look.
Typically, the auction house has a bunch of rooms since some bidders prefer to keep their identities under wraps.
The venue features private rooms designed with one-way glass, allowing those inside to view the auction stage while keeping the outside world from seeing in. Only guests within the rooms can look out, ensuring complete privacy for them.
As the auction began, Zara found herself uninterested in the items being presented. She chose to wait patiently for the specific item she had in mind. Zoye, curious, asked, "Luna, are you really not tempted to check out anything else here?"
Zara glanced at her friend, raising an eyebrow with a nonchalant expression. Recognizing Zara's demeanor, Zoye quickly waved her hands in a dismissive manner and said, "Forget I mentioned it."
Zoye understood that if she pressed further, Zara would end up purchasing everything at the auction, and the catch was that Zoye would be the one footing the bill. So, she wisely decided to let it go.
Zoye let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest. If her worries were true, that would be the end of it. It's not that she's broke, but if Zara spends all her cash here, what's she supposed to do with all that stuff?
Even if it just sits outside the house, who's really going to buy things that no one wants? And if she ends up losing all her money, she can't even imagine how she'll get by until her allowance comes in next month.
Meanwhile, in a private room off-limits to everyone else, Ethan was lounging on the couch, dressed in all black with his shirt neatly tucked in. David and Carter stood behind him, keeping an eye on their boss as he scrolled through his phone.
After a bit, a bodyguard slipped in and whispered something to Carter, who leaned down to say, "Boss, everything's set. We've got word that he's already here, and our guys are keeping watch."
Ethan maintained his calm demeanor as he stated, "Make sure to gather every detail from him. Not a single piece of information should slip through." He then picked up the juice in front of him. Carter nodded in agreement and stepped outside to relay some instructions to the bodyguards.
A little while later, Mason strolled into the room. Noticing Ethan still fixated on his laptop, he let out a sigh and remarked, "Why are you so wrapped up in work when you're supposed to be at an auction?"
Without looking up, Ethan replied coolly, "I have more pressing matters to attend to when I get back."
"What could be more pressing? You'll just end up dealing with company issues anyway. And it's not like you'll take the time to hang out with any girl," Mason teased as he settled into a chair and waited as David poured a glass of juice for him from the table.
Carter and David were taken aback by his words, their expressions filled with disbelief as they stared at him in shock.
Mason, noticing their reaction, nearly choked on his drink and exclaimed, "What? Is that really true?"
He turned to Ethan, continuing, "You're actually going to hang out with a girl?"
When Ethan remained silent, Mason pressed on with curiosity, "Is she the one staying at my hotel?"
Still receiving no answer, he chuckled and said, "Even if she's attractive, I can't see her being a good match for you, Ethan. When did your taste change? She doesn't seem to have anything special about her."
As he was about to say more, he suddenly felt a wave of coldness sweep through the room, as if he had been transported to Antarctica.
When he glanced up and noticed Carter and David shake their heads in disbelief with worried faces, he was puzzled about what he had said that was wrong. However, a quick look at the person beside him made it clear that he was in trouble.
Out of nowhere, the icy glare in his eyes sent a shiver down Mason's spine, making him feel like he was freezing all over. Just as he was about to catch his breath, a voice cut through the tension, coldly commanding, "Take Mr. Edward back to his mansion."
Ethan, still exuding that same chilling vibe, shifted his attention back to his laptop and kept working like nothing was amiss.
Mason, on the other hand, was completely lost. He had no idea how he ended up back home, and before he could wrap his head around it, his dad was already prepping him for a trip to Tonga to seal a deal, insisting he wouldn't return until the project was wrapped up.
In the blink of an eye, he found himself at the airport, surrounded by bodyguards who had practically dragged him there, ready to send him off overseas.
Meanwhile, Ethan, the mastermind behind all this chaos, was just going about his business, acting like none of it concerned him. David and Carter exchanged glances, clicking their tongues and shaking their heads in sympathy for Mason.