Chapter 58


    #58 “It’s Time to Put on A Little Act.


    As the auction began, the atmosphere in the room grew tense with anticipation. Bidders, investors, and


    business people filled the space, all eyeing the valuable assets up for grabs.


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    Sophia leaned toward Benjamin and softly asked, “The next two are fine to bid, but I remind you not to


    go above $ 500,000 because after that you will be at a loss.”


    Benjamin’s eyes wandered over the event program, and he pointed to a 19th -century painting, a glint


    of interest in his eyes. “How about I give that 19th- century painting a try?” he suggested,


    contemting the artwork.


    Sophia yfully pped his hand, giving him a mock stern look. “We agreed, no extra bids,” she


    scolded him.


    This made them bothugh softly. Meanwhile, Alexander, sitting nearby, couldn’t help but overhear


    their conversation. Irritation flickered across his face as he noted Sophia’s warm interaction with


    Benjamin. She had never been so nice and weing to him and it was driving him crazy.


    As the bidding progressed, Benjamin sessfully secured a smaller asset package, prompting a


    satisfied smile from Sophia. The bidding for other assets intensified, with various participants vying for


    control.


    Megan, seated a few rows away from Sophia, emerged as a strong contender in the auction. She


    managed to acquire two high-value asset packages, raising Sophia’s curiosity. Megan’s choices were


    all high-stake assets with potential legalplications, suggesting she had the confidence and skill to


    navigate the legal gray areas involved.


    Sophia couldn’t help but observe Megan’s strategic moves. She leaned toward Benjamin once more


    and whispered, “Did you see that? Megan just snagged two significant assets with potential legal risks.


    She must have quite the legal team backing her.”


    Benjamin nodded, impressed by Megan’s bold acquisitions. “You’re right, Sophia. But are you sure she


    is having that kind of support? You’re the bestwyer in town, and I doubt anyone else could justify the


    risk. I have a feeling her work isn’t that clean.”


    As the auction continued, Sophia noticed that Alexander remained surprisingly passive during the first


    half, not bidding on any assets. She couldn’t help but wonder what his strategy might be, as it seemed


    unlikely that he would sit out the entire auction.


    In the quiet moments between bids, she and Benjamin exchanged nces, silently acknowledging the


    unusual situation. Sophia’s focus was on the auction, but she couldn’t entirely ignore Alexander’s


    presence beside her. His subtle movements, his asional whispers with Megan, and even the faint


    scent of his cologne seemed to linger in her awareness.


    Feeling a mix of annoyance and curiosity, she tried her best to concentrate on the bidding process,


    determined not to let Alexander’s proximity distract her from their goal.


    The auction went into a brief intermission, Alexander seized the opportunity to approach Sophia once


    more, with Megan at his side. They made their way towards her, their footsteps echoing in the grand


    hall. Sophia, who had been engaged in conversation with Benjamin about their future bids, looked up to


    see Alexander and Megan approaching.


    “Hello, Sophia, I hope you can give me some of your time” Alexander began, “1 believe it’s time to clear


    the air. Megan genuinely wanted to apologize to you, Sophia. We tried to contact you half a month ago,


    but it seems we had no sess.”


    Sophia, keen on avoiding any further confrontation, decided to ept Megan’s apology gracefully. She


    offered a polite smile and said, “Thank you, Megan. Let’s really focus on the auction now.” With that,


    she gently backed away from them.


    Megan, putting on her best act, extended her hand towards Sophia stopping her worm from moving


    away. “Absolutely, Sophia. I didn’t mean to hurt you personally, nor to offend you. I sincerely apologize


    for the inconvenience caused. If I can do something to get even, I’m ready. ”


    Sophia epted Megan’s handshake, but as their eyes locked for a moment, she couldn’t help but


    sense an underlying tension beneath Megan’s veneer of cordiality. Megan’s smile seemed forced, her


    gaze slightly too intense, leaving Sophia with an uneasy feeling.


    Alexander, unaware of the subtle undercurrents between the two women, breathed a sigh of relief.


    “No need, Megan,” Sophia replied. ” Let’s leave it in the past.”


    As the second part of the auction was about to begin, all the attendees returned to their respective


    tables. Sophia was determined to maintain her focus on the proceedings, doing her best to ignore the


    presence of Alexander and Megan, who were seated on either side of her.


    Despite her attempts to remainposed, something about Megan didn’t sit right with Sophia. It wasn’t


    just her bidding strategy, which had already raised some doubts, but also the lingering unease


    stemming from the scandal that Megan had orchestrated.


    Sophia was aware that Megan had apologized to her, but that couldn’t erase all her actions up until


    now.


    Megan on the other hand wasn’t done with her n. She hade with a definite purpose, and she


    would not leave until she had fulfilled it.


    She excused herself and left the table. Her assistant followed her without saying a word. Megan


    continued to howl until she reached a quiet corridor away from the ears of the others.


    Megan and her assistant walked purposefully down the dimly lit corridor, their steps echoing softly in


    the empty space.


    “What’s the n, boss?” Megan’s assistant finally broke the silence. Megan turned to her, and outlined


    her n, “We’re going to ensure that Sophia doesn’t return to the auction.”


    The assistant raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “And how do you intend to do that?” A sly grin tugged at


    Megan’s lips. “Oh, Sarah, my dear. It’s time to put on a little act.”


    Sarah, Megan’s assistant, nodded in understanding. “I’m all ears, boss. What’s the act?”


    Megan leaned in closer, her voice a hushed whisper. “We’re going to orchestrate a little wardrobe


    malfunction for Sophia. Nothing too serious, just enough to keep her upied and away from the


    auction for a while.”


    Sarah’s eyes lit up with mischief. “I like it. How can I help?”


    “I want you to spill something on top of her, apologize, and offer to help her clean her dress in the toilet.


    When you leave, lock her in the toilet just long enough to drop the auction, then you can let her go.”


    “Consider it done,” her assistant replied with a wide smile. Megan and her assistant, Sarah, returned to


    the table. They settled back into their seats, and Sarah executed Megan’s n with calcted


    precision. She feigned clumsiness, spilling a cup of coffee onto Sophia’s skirt. Sophia gasped in shock


    as the hot liquid sshed onto her clothes.


    “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry!” Sarah eximed, her voice filled with fake remorse. Sophia made an


    effort to collect herself, though her growing frustration was evident as her cherished Chanel vintage


    had been dirtied. “It’s fine, idents happen,” she said, attempting to brush off the situation.


    Sarah insisted on helping Sophia clean up in the restroom, and Sophia reluctantly agreed. As they left


    the table, Megan couldn’t hide her malicious satisfaction.


    With Sophia and Sarah out of sight, Megan turned her attention to Benjamin and Alexander.


    “Gentlemen, I hope you’re ready for the second half of the auction. It’s about to get very interesting.”


    Alexander raised an eyebrow suspiciously as Megan shared her cryptic remark. “Of course, that’s what


    we came for,” he replied, his voiceced with a touch of intrigue, and took a sip of his champagne. The


    bubbles tickled his pte, but his mind was focused on the uing auction.


    Benjamin, on the other hand, seemed preupied. He looked around nervously for any sign of Sophia,


    his gaze darting between the tables filled with eager bidders. She was taking a lot of time with Megan’s


    assistant and he didn’t like that. The soft hum of conversations and the asional clinking of sses


    filled the air, creating an atmosphere of anticipation.


    Megan’s mind churned with devious thoughts as she plotted to hinder her twopetitors, Benjamin


    and Alexander, in the second half of the auction. She doesn’t mind throwing obstacles in their path,


    especially after the difort they have caused her. Megan had always been a vengeful woman, quick


    to seek revenge on anyone who crossed her or made her ufortable.


    A wicked satisfaction simmered within her when Sophia left the table. She knew that this auction was


    more than just a business opportunity; it was a chance to settle scores and assert her dominance in the


    business world.


    Much to Meghan’s terrible surprise Sophia returned to the table with a wide grin. It seemed that her


    initial n to inconvenience Sophia had failed.


    However, her focus quickly shifted to concern for her missing assistant. Megan’s anxiety began to rise


    as she noticed that her assistant had not returned with Sophia.


    With a forced smile, Megan asked. “Oh Sophia, wasn’t my assistant with you?”


    Internally, Megan was growing increasingly anxious. She could not afford to lose her assistant at this


    crucial moment in the auction. Worried, she began to scan the area, searching for someone who could


    go to the restroom and find her assistant.


    “She was, but apparently, she needs more time to return,” Sophia replied, staring at her while sipping


    her champagne.