The hall fell into a hushed silence as a deep, commanding voice boomed,
"Five hundred billion dollars." The sound reverberated through the room, drawing everyone's attention.
He strode confidently into the hall, long legs moving with grace beneath a perfectly tailored dark suit. All eyes were drawn to him, captivated by his presence.
"Who is he?" someone whispered.
"Which company is he from? He must be incredibly rich," came another hushed voice.
Curiosity buzzed through the crowd, but Sophie, struggling to catch even a glimpse, could only see his long legs and broad shoulders. His slick black hair was cut sharply at the neck, giving him an air of wealth and refinement. Frustratingly, his face remained obscured by a wall of men in black suits surrounding him.
"Five hundred billion dollars for Adams Industries," he repeated, his voice sending a shiver down Sophie's spine. Her curiosity spiked, and the need to see his face overwhelmed her. She stood, hoping to get a clearer view.
"Aye girl ,Sit down" she heard a raspy voice snap from behind her.
"Men like him don't notice women dressed like you." The woman self with a smug look on her face ,as she stared at Sophie's choice of clothes with disgust.
Sophie turned, facing an older woman who eyed her with disdain.
And of course she recognized her, she is one of Lucky Smith's mistresses .
As his name goes so is he, he is said to be lucky both in barging business deals and also women.
The older woman leaned forward slightly, adjusting her gown to reveal more cleavage than necessary, her oversized chest spilling out as if to prove to Sophie what she lacks and Sophie's face twisted in disgust on seeing her actions.
"What do you mean by women like me?" She shot back with irritation evident in her voice.
The older woman sneered annoyed at her tone. "I'm just telling you the truth. Rich men like him don't bother with girls who dress like that." She said with a snarl while pointing at Sophie's clothing.
She then moved on to tugging at her dress again, showing off more of her chest as if to make her point clearer.
Sophie turned away from her deeming it pointless and unwilling to argue further.
"Five hundred billion for Adams Industries, sold once , sold twice , and Sold!" The auctioneer's voice echoed through the room.
"The Adams Industries is sold to the Collen's Industries!" He finished finally and stepped down from the stage .
The announcement sent a ripple of murmurs through the crowd.
"He's with Collens Industries? No wonder he looks so refined," someone whispered nearby.
"I heard the old man of the COLLENS INDUSTRIES is hiding his heir , maybe that's him, "
"Of course that's not him , the heir to the COLLENS INDUSTRIES is a beast , have you forgotten his eyes, "
" and even so the heir of the COLLENS INDUSTRIES never reveals his face, and I doubt he would come personally for a small occasion like the auction of the Adam's industries,"
"I heard he killed his parents personally with his hands,"
"Maybe he's the heir. But no, the heir never shows his face," another voice chimed in.
The hall buzzed with speculation.
The COLLENS family—rich, powerful, and wrapped in mystery .
It was no news that the heir of the COLLENS INDUSTRIES is kept hidden by the old master of the COLLENS, at least that was speculated among the people, since no one has ever seen his face .
His face was always hidden by a mask whenever he appeared in the limelight of the public ,a man who was rumored to be as fearsome as he was secretive.
The gossip in the hall grew louder, both fake and true stories of a man who none of them had come close to filled the air .
Sophie's chest tightened as she fully realized what had just happened.
The Adams Industries, her family's legacy, had just been sold and was now in the hands of the most enigmatic family in the country.
Her head pounded painfully and she felt the beginnings of a headache forming alongside her body screaming for rest.
"Oh, Sophie, dear!" A familiar voice cut through her thoughts,a voice she can recognize anywhere .
She turned to face the source of the voice , coming face-to-face with Olivia Rudrick.
Her hourglass figure cladded in a skin-tight short red dress that screamed luxury, her curled blonde hair filled with waves as it flowed down her back .
Her footsteps gentle with a touch of sexiness as she walked towards her leaving the breeze to blow her hair behind her , making her look like an angel just descending from heaven .
Flawless makeup fitted on her face alongside her back and shoes that must have cost a fortune to buy.
She looked and screamed everything elegance, wealth and luxury.
She dressed more like she came for a runway show rather than an auction .
"Sophie, I heard about your father. I'm so sorry for your loss. It must be so hard for you. How are you holding up?" Olivia's voice rang out loud enough for others to hear, drawing sympathetic glances from nearby onlookers. Her face, as always, was a mask of false sincerity that always seemed rather believable to people around her but never to her for she had been fooled way too many times and punished for that .
She knew better than to trust Olivia .
Olivia had made it her prime goal in life to torment her .
She had always found ways to humiliate her in public. And up till this moment she could never figure out why Olivia harbored so much resentment toward her, despite her efforts to apologize for whatever slight she might have caused.
"I'm fine," Sophie said curtly, turning to walk away. But Olivia grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks.
"Wait, Sophie. I know you're not okay," Olivia pressed, her voice dripping with fake concern. "Your father's company was just sold. Do you even have money to eat?" Without waiting for an answer, Olivia reached into her designer bag and pulled out a thick bundle of cash, pressing it into Sophie's hands. "Here, take this. For old times' sake."
Rage bubbled inside her on realizing what Olivia was playing at .
Her patronizing tone and smug smile were unbearable. And without any hesitation, already stressed by the weight of her family loss and the sales of the Adam's industries, Sophie threw the bundle of money back into Olivia's face. The cash scattered across the floor, drawing a more attention than the ones that where already gathered .
Olivia fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she cried, "Sophie, why are you like this? I'm only trying to help! We're all grieving your father's death, but you don't have to act so strong all the time."
The crowd, seeing Olivia's tears, began murmuring. "What a horrible friend," someone whispered.
"Oh what a poor girl, she was just trying to be nice to her friend, " another added
"What an arrogant friend she has disrespecting her friends gentle gift like that."
"Is she not the daughter of the Rudrick's family , 'Olivia Rudrick ' " another questioned.
"Oh yes she is."
"She became more beautiful and kind than she was before."
"She was always a gentle child , no wonder her friend is this rude to her."
"What a shameless and mannerless girl,"
"Please don't talk bad about my friend she is still grieving the loss of my uncle , and also the sake of her Father's company, the 'Adams Industries ' " Olivia said, and the crowd roared.
"Girl you are too good for your own good , stay away from the Adams family, they are all cheat , can you not see what has happened to them , they have finally fallen after all the evil games Robert Adams played" .
"Yes it's true , they are cheat and liars,"the crowd continued as more people crowded them, and Sophie felt like the ground should open and swallow her while Olivia let out a triumphant smirk.
"The Adams girl is the rude one. Poor Olivia was just trying to help," another added.
Her stomach churned as the crowd turned on her, but what had she expected from them, of course she can't expect anything better from the public mostly when Olivia is concerned.
Olivia had successfully done it again—painted herself as the saint and her as the villain in her story .
The whispers grew louder as Olivia flashed her a victorious smirk .
"He's here!" someone shouted. In an instant, reporters and paparazzi rushed toward the entrance.