Chapter 983
Because she hadn’t known about this auction in advance, she hadn’t prepared a massive reserve of funds.
The absolute maximum she could pull together was fifteen million dollars.
Besides, the absolute peak market value of that tiara was five million.
She never could have anticipated a competitor instantly jacking the price up to twenty million.
Claire was so fraught with tension that her hands were physically shaking. She tried to call Noreen for help, but kept fumbling and tapping the wrong screen.
By the time she finally got the call to connect, the auctioneer’s hammer struck the podium, officially declaring the item sold to the guest who bid twenty million.
Noreen had no idea what was happening on Claire’s end. When she picked up, she asked casually, “What’s up, honey?”
“Nothing,” Claire said, sounding as though every ounce of life had been drained from her body. “Just wondering if you’ve eaten yet.”
Noreen checked the time.
It was three in the afternoon. Who ate a meal at three in the afternoon?
She immediately realized something was terribly wrong with Claire’s mood and quickly asked, “Did something happen?”
“No, I’m fine. Really.”
She absolutely refused to be a burden to Noreen.
Noreen didn’t press the issue, but the moment she hung up, she immediately dialed Wilbur’s number.
Wilbur wasn’t in the main hall at the moment; he had just finished discussing a potential partnership with a highly renowned collector.
After seeing the man off, he turned to his assistant. “Did The Aquaria Tiara sell?”
“It did,” the assistant confirmed. “And it went for an incredible premium. The buyer dropped twenty million dollars on it.”
Wilbur’s footsteps faltered. He frowned sharply. “Why did the price get pushed that high?”
The assistant looked confused. “Isn’t a high price a good thing?”
A higher price meant a massive commission for the auction house.
As one of the owners, shouldn’t Mr. Wilbur be thrilled?
“What is the buyer’s name?” That was the only thing Wilbur cared about.
The assistant quickly checked the backend system on his tablet. “It was Mr. Quigley from the Quigley Group.”
Wilbur’s expression instantly grew complicated.
Before the auction began, he had caught Felix trying to make amends with Claire.
Now, Felix had dropped a fortune to win The Aquaria Tiara. He was obviously trying to win Claire over.
The road there had been a little
chaotic, but ultimately, the tiara going to end up in her hands,
meaning she got exactly what she wanted
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Deciding not to interfere, Wilbur changed his route and ordered his assistant to bring
the car around from the parking garage.
The assistant hesitated. “We’re leaving already?”
Usually, the boss stayed until the absolute end of every auction event.
Wilbur had barely gotten into the car when Noreen called him.
She didn’t waste time on
pleasantries, immediately voicing her concerns just got off the phone with Claire and she sounds completely devastated. If you’re free, could you please go check on her?”
Devastated?
“I’m on it,” Wilbur agreed without a second of hesitation.
Having just gotten into the car, he shoved the door open and stepped right back out.
Before the assistant could even get into the driver’s seat, he watched his boss sprint frantically back toward the auction hall.
During that same window of time.
Madeline called Felix, asking him if he had managed to win The Aquaria Tiara.
Felix confirmed he had, telling her he would have his assistant pick it up and deliver it to her once the auction ended.
But Madeline pressed him. “Felix,
could you bring it to me right now? I’m waiting right outside the venue, and want to see my birthday present the second I can
Felix frowned. “Why haven’t you gone home yet?”
Right on cue, Madeline sneezed, before saying in a pitifully fragile voice, “I’ve been
waiting for you out here. Felix, it’s so cold.”
“I’ll have my driver take you home.”