Wife by Day, Boss by Night

One hundred and twenty million!" Before Natalie could ask why, Gracia, seated not far away, Immediately raised her paddle.

*Two hundred million, Brian said, locking eyes with Natalie, his voice steady.

The auction bail erupted into murmurs.

Brien, known for his calculated investments, was making headlines by splurging on a woman. Unheard of! He was willing to bid two hundred million, a figure unheard of anywhere else, for a diamond that wasn't even ten carats and far from the finest!

Those in attendance felt their trip was worthwhile. They were witnessing a spectacle!

Gracia's complexion turned ashen as she stared at the exchange between Natalie and Brian.

"We need to keep bidding," the Howard family's butler whispered, his brow furrowed with concern.

Davis had sent them to secure this South African diamond, and they weren't about to return empty-handed!

"Two hundred and twenty million," Gracia raised her paddle again.

The tension in the room was apparent. Nobody spoke. They all waited anxiously

for the final moment. Who would take home the diamond?

"Three hundred million," Brian said after a pause, his tone deliberate.

That was madness!

The room once again burst into animated discussions.

"Four hundred million!" Gracia continued. Her face was ghostly pale as she raised her paddle.

Natalie knew the diamond was worth maybe tens of millions at best.

It was an outrageous waste even for the Howards, who treated money like paper.

She subtly pinched Brian to signal him to stop this foolishness.

"I don't like it," she whispered, shaking her head earnestly, "I mean it. No kidding."

"I know," Brian replied with a slight smirk.

The auctioneer was already announcing, "Four hundred million for the second

time! Four hundred million for the third time! Sold!"

The gavel struck, and the room fell silent again.

Against all odds, Gracia had won the bid.

The crowd was somewhat disappointed as they had expected to see Brian duke it out with Gracia to pamper Natalie. No one anticipated that Brian would back down at the climax.

But Natalie sighed in relief. She might have keeled over if Brian had spent four hundred billion on that diamond for her.

Brian remained silent, cold, and composed as he listened to the other's bid on the coming items. It seemed the earlier incident hadn't affected him in the slightest.

Gracia put a brave face in the front row, though her palms and soles were sweaty.

Yet, she ultimately won over Natalie! She got what Natalie wanted! Not just the diamond, but also the man, Brian! Next, she planned to snatch Brian from Natalie!

11

Including the Golconda diamond that had captivated Natalle earlier, the thine friest distends Viele Roma to be showcased last.

Nearly all ten guests had their eyes set on these three itens.

One of the diamonds was a pigeon blood gem from the 16th century, nearly thefty carats. It and in 15.9-carat Golconda were the evening's crown jewels.

The bidding for the second-to-last

diamond heated the room

ongem

more, closing at nearly six hundred million.

When the pigeon blood diamond was up for auction, Brian said again, "FiftyThis is from NôvelDrama.Org.

million"

At that moment, Natalie seemed to grasp Brian's game. He was gauging the maximum the quests were willing to spend. True to his reputation, he was a strategy master, playing

ximum ve

everyone in the room like a chese

game.

"Sixty million," someone from the second row quickly countered with a higher bid.