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Anya stepped into the auction house. The palace was bright with lights and full of people talking and laughing. Waiters walked around with drinks, and the theme was Egyptian—there were men dressed in gold cuffs and cloth wraps, offering drinks to guests. In the middle of the large room was a stage, ready for the auction to begin.
Anya, wearing a black, backless gown, stood beside Dante, who wore a sharp suit that matched. They had come straight from the office.
Earlier, Dante had taken her shopping and made her try on outfit after outfit until he was happy with this one. She shivered as she remembered the way his eyes had followed her every move while she changed—more interested in watching her undress than in how the dresses looked on her.
But then Anya’s feet came to an abrupt halt as her gaze fell on the name of the auction in bold gold letters.
Emperors' Auction.
Her breath caught in shock. ‘Isn't this the auction Uncle and Luca were supposed to attend?’ She shuddered, and panic immediately set in. ‘But I’m already here... there's no way to escape now.’
Before she could even think of a way out, Dante was at her side, gripping her hand firmly and pulling her inside.
"Dante, I don’t need any gifts," she protested, trying to pull away, her voice soft but filled with a desperate plea. "Why don’t we just go back?"
He frowned at her. "That's not going to happen. We're already here. Just look at everything and tell me what you like. If you want it all, I can get it for you. Just make a choice."
"No, I really don't need it. Trust me, please. Let's just go back—"
"Not happening," Dante repeated, his grip tightening on her hand as he led her deeper into the crowded hall.
Anya’s mind raced. ‘Shit. Shit. Shit.’ She gritted her teeth, trying to suppress her panic as they moved forward.
Chapter 14 Just be mine?
As they entered, people around them began to take notice. Dante’s presence was rare, and now seeing him at an auction without his bodyguards made people even more curious. His every step seemed to draw attention, and whispers filled the air, trying to figure out why he was here.
They reached the VIP seating area, and Anya couldn’t help but glance around nervously. A few seats away, she spotted Luca and Danny. Their eyes immediately landed on her, and she quickly widened her eyes, discreetly signaling them to act like they didn't recognize her.
Dante noticed them, he gave Danny a small nod in recognition. Danny returned it.
Thankfully, Dante didn’t seem to notice that Luca and Danny were actually staring at her. He was too focused on the event.
As the auction began, it started with some lower-priced items. The crowd was casually bidding, but as the stakes grew higher, the tension in the room also intensified. Eventually, the prices soared into the millions.
Then, the auction slowed when a ruby ring was presented.
“This ring was designed by the prestigious luxury house Velarne Jewels,” the auctioneer announced, as a ripple of excitement moved through the crowd. “Owning it today means owning a piece that could increase in value tenfold within a year.”
"I should get it. The return on this investment is huge," one bidder whispered.
"It's so expensive. I don't think many people will bid," another murmured. "The starting price is already twenty million dollars."
“That’s gorgeous,” Anya whispered under her breath, staring at the ring in awe.
At once, Dante turned to her.
“You like rubies, don’t you?” he asked, his voice low but steady. "The necklace you were wearing the other day was ruby too."
"Yeah, but—" She started to protest, but he was already raising his hand to place a bid.
“Thirty million,” Dante called out, his voice cutting through the room.
Anya gasped, her heart racing. “No, Dante, that’s too expensive!” She reached for his hand, trying to stop him. “You don’t have to buy it for me.”
"It doesn't matter." He frowned. “This is a birthday gift for you. Won’t you accept it?"
"I can’t accept it." Her voice softened. “Dante, leave it. I don’t need it.”