One Night With A Mysterious Billionaire (The Heiress's Revenge)-Chapter 61: The auction

I looked at Lena more carefully. Her smile was brighter than it had been the day I first met her. Her laughter came easily now, genuine and unrestrained. Whatever Sylvia had said must have been hilarious because she threw her head back as she laughed.

Liam’s words echoed in my mind as I watched her.

In love? At peace?

Before I could dwell further on the thought, the auctioneer’s voice boomed through the hall, breaking my reverie.

"Welcome to today’s auction!"

The room shifted instantly. Conversations quieted, attention redirected to the stage.

But even as the show began, my eyes remained on Lena. At the center of the room stood a raised mahogany podium, illuminated by a single focused beam of light.

A collective breath was drawn. As Lena was lost in the display going on at the podium.

"Remember you can get anything you want baby," Raymond said to Lena." remember your boyfriend is very rich and we are introducing officially to high society today, so let’s start with a bang. " Raymond said and

"Anything right?" She simply understood what Raymond wanted but she still had to confirm. So she asked him

"Yes, anything," he replied "don’t hold back in spending money, and remember why we are here today." Lena smiled and nodded and turned her attention back to the podium.

"How sweet," Damon muttered and Liam chuckled

Raymond ignores them and lazily sip his wine as he watches Lena’s every move..

A man dressed in a black tuxedo, stood at the podium. Mr Lancaster Simson,his hair neatly styled to the back. With a gavel on one hand and a catalog on another one..

The smile on Lena’s face broadened as she looked at her mentor on the stage. Raymond’s eyes focused entirely on Lena. Damon and Liam sipped their wine as they observed what was going on.

Ladies and gentlemen," the auctioneer began, his voice smooth yet commanding, carrying easily across the hushed room. "Welcome to the Silverbird Auction. Tonight, we present not only objects of value, but pieces of legacy."

Soft murmurs rippled through the seated guests as attendants in white gloves carefully unveiled the first masterpiece.

Mounted on an easel beneath protective glass was a painting by the legendary designer and visual artist De Luca. Known globally for merging human emotion with fine art, De Luca’s works were rare, most locked away in private European collections.

"This," simson continued, gesturing elegantly toward the canvas, "is Eternal Silhouette, of a woman caught between two worlds, completed in 1987 during the De Luca intricate design period." where he embedded codes and hidden notes in his paintings. There is a saying that if you look closely the painting can come to life. "

Everyone gasped

"The painting was a dramatic interplay of shadow and a faceless feminine figure stood draped in flowing ink-black fabric, her silhouette outlined with delicate strokes of metallic gold. Behind her, fragmented architectural sketches, arches, corset patterns, handwritten notes, floated like memories embedded into the background. The brushwork was bold yet intimate, every stroke intentional.

The inspiration behind this painting is about a woman who found her strength when everyone told her to remain hidden, in the shadow, behind a man. A woman whose voice was not supposed to be heard.

.

"Note the layered technique," the auctioneer explained, flipping through the catalog. "Oil and crushed mineral pigment on Italian linen canvas. Observe the stitching patterns subtly painted into the folds of the gown, an homage to De Luca’s early political days in Florence. This piece bridges human emotions and fine art, craftsmanship and imagination."

This is fine art at its best, the ability to capture human emotions in a painting is magical.

A screen beside the podium displayed close-up images, highlighting the intricate textures and faint signatures hidden within the artwork. Lena listened with rapt attention, she was always a lover of designs so she found this painting fascinating and it looks like it is speaking to her and since Raymond told her not to hold back she decided to let go.

"We begin the bidding at five hundred thousand dollars."

A paddle lifted almost immediately.

"Five hundred thousand. Do I see five fifty?"

Another paddle rose.

"six hundred and fifty thousand. Lena raised her paddle.

"Eight hundred" another voice came from the vip close to theirs, Lena looked and smiled..she realized it was Cynthia. Her plans were finally paying off.

The tempo of his voice sharpened, rhythmic and precise. "nine hundred thousand at the center. Nine fifty to my left. Two million. Thank you, sir."

The numbers climbed swiftly, tension tightening like a drawn bowstring.

"two million, fifty thousand...two million two hundred thousand, two million nine hundred and fifty..."

Silence hovered.

"three million," a calm voice called from the back belonging to Lena came

A wave of whispers spread across the hall.

"Three million dollars. Fair warning... once... twice..."

The gavel struck.

"Sold for one million dollars!"

Applause filled the hall as attendants

"This" Simson said reverently, "is the De Luca Nocturna Sapphire Necklace. Designed personally by De Luca in collaboration with master jewelers of Milan. Only one was ever made." It is said it has eyes of its own in the dark. And the hall gasped

He gestured again, and an assistant displayed a leather-bound book inside a glass case.

"And accompanying this extraordinary piece, De Luca’s original design manual."

The room leaned in.

The manual was bound in dark indigo leather, edges gilded in gold. Inside were hand-drawn sketches of the necklace’s evolution, from rough graphite outlines to detailed gemstone placements. Margins were filled with notes in Vittori’s elegant script:

’The sapphire must resemble the night sky just before rain.’

’Diamonds should not overpower; they must whisper around the center stone.’

The manual included fabric swatches, metal samples, early design variations, and even rejected concepts. It was not merely documentation, it was insight into a genius mind at work.

"This manual," simsom explained, "provides authentication, provenance, and a rare glimpse into De Luca’s creative process. It transforms this necklace from a luxury item into a historical artifact, it takes you into the artist’s mind and brain. "

The necklace sparkled as though aware of its own importance.

"We begin bidding at seven million dollars for the necklace and original design manual together."

Hands lifted without hesitation.

"eight million, Nine hundred." Lena raised her paddle, her interest piqued not because of the necklace but because of the design book

The tension rose faster than before.

"ten million dollars." Cynthia’s voice came from another vip section ." Lena countered

Simson’s voice quickened, excitement threading through each syllable. Ten million five hundred thousand at the front. Do I hear one point six?"

A woman in emerald silk raised her paddle without blinking, in the vip section, she looked at Lena viciously, which shows how she was hell bent on Lena not getting the design book. Lena sighed

"thirteen million six dollars . Lena rose her paddle again. Thank you, madam. Thirteen point seven?"

A pause.

A man near the aisle slowly lifted his paddle.

"Thirteen million seven hundred thousand."

The crowd stirred.

"thirteen, point eight?"

"Fair warning... at thirteen million seven hundred thousand... once..."

"thirteen million eight hundred thousand!" Cynthia raised her paddle again. Her face all smiles

Lena looked at Raymond and he nodded at her

urging her to continue Damon, Liam and Sylvia were merely spectators.

Twenty million dollars " Lena said with her paddle held high, a smile plastered on her face as she looked at Cynthia who couldn’t raise her paddle again. Her anger rose and Lena was all smiles.

Silence stretched thin.

The hall erupted in whispers.

"twenty million dollars going once... going twice..."

The gavel came down sharply.

"Sold! For tweny million dollars!"

Applause thundered across the grand hall, rolling beneath the crystal chandeliers like distant waves. Cameras flashed in quick succession, capturing every glittering moment.

The victorious bidder allowed herself a small, satisfied smile as she smugly looked at the vip section next to her, basking in the win. Raymond look at her in surprise, he wondered if he was the one enjoying the fall of Cynthia or his kitten.

the necklace was brought to the VIP section and Lena insist it be secured around her neck for display, removing the old one she wore to the party. and the original design manual was carefully transferred into her possession.

Tonight is going to be a long night for some one. She smiled. Raymond simply give into her whims, watching her every move lazily and with rapt interest.

Words spread across the hall and soon everyone was talking about Lena and her boldness. The fall of Cynthia is imminent. Some people spoke hushly, some speculated that soon the social circle will have a new queen

The remaining items were presented one after another, each more extravagant than the last. Rare diamonds, antique brooches, custom pieces crafted by master jewelers, yet Lena showed no interest in any of them. She had never been one to obsess over diamonds or glittering stones.

While others leaned forward in anticipation, she leaned back with indifference, her attention fully devoted to her conversation with Sylvia. Their soft murmurs and occasional smiles contrasted sharply with the charged atmosphere of the auction floor.

Not far away, Damon and Liam watched Raymond and Lena closely. Their gazes were sharp, calculating. Since the auction began, Raymond and Lena had exchanged subtle glances, brief eye contact, almost unnoticeable nods. It was too coordinated to be accidental. Too deliberate to ignore.

They certainly had not missed the triumphant smile that passed between them when Cynthia had unknowingly made a fool of herself.

"Spill it. What is going on?" Damon demanded, lowering his voice but not the intensity behind it.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Raymond replied smoothly, feigning innocence as he adjusted his cufflinks.

Liam stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "We know something is going on. So tell us now, before we force it out of you."

Raymond merely smiled, calm and unreadable, as the next item was announced to the crowd.

Damon and Liam looked at him, their eyes darting between him and Lena, wondering what their plan was