Daring Move

Chapter Five

Jane's Point of view

As the words echoed in the hall, One million eight hundred thousand for a late bid? My eyes widened, and I stumbled backward. I turned to see who had outbid Mr. Dennis and saved me from him. The calm man who had followed Mr. Dennis to the party looked extremely simple but had an aura that exuded wealth. I couldn't help but leap for joy. I was happier to follow him than to follow Mr. Dennis, but what could be the reason he outbid Mr. Dennis, who seemed to be a close friend?

I didn’t know what he had in store for me or how my life would continue with my bidder. My throat tightened, and I fought back tears, but they eventually flowed freely from my eyelids.

Gaps filled the house, and murmurs grew at the amount of money the mysterious man had offered. He seemed confident in outbidding Mr. Dennis, likely due to his daunting personality. Most argued about the new bidder's audacity in outbidding the almighty Mr. Dennis.

"You have won the bid then. Any other opposition?" the auctioneer asked the crowd as silence filled the hall. He sent me to a dimly lit room, offering me a seat to wait for my bidder.

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Austin's Point of View

I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed tightly over my chest, with my lips curled slightly—a faint smirk barely masking the contempt in my eyes as I watched David stake bids just to win, so he could use the poor girl as a tool for sex. I was so unsettled, and I couldn’t help but find a way out. When Dennis won the bid, I felt the tears of the poor girl and just wanted to help her at all costs. Something attracted her to me, and I just wanted to set her free within my capacity.

The reason for saving her is a huge problem, and what I'm eventually going to do with her is another problem of its own. The more I looked at her as a mere object of caricature, the more it hurt me, seeing her tears. Something about her drew me in, igniting a desire to set her free.

"One million eight hundred thousand dollars for a late bid?" I asked the auctioneer. Of course, they gasped at the huge amount of money I called.

"He seems new here, but Mr. Dennis will surely do something to get back at him," I heard people close to me murmur. They already knew who Dennis was. I thought it was high time I dared him to see his reaction, giving a mischievous grin.

"Hey man, you didn’t tell me you were going to bid," Dennis walked up to me, tense muscles and furrowed brows showing anger written all over him.

"I was just trying out new things, you know. No hard feelings, right?" I replied, feigning nonchalance.

"That's cool, man. I’ll be on my way now," Dennis quickly walked out, leaving me with the auctioneer. I smiled as I glanced at the door through which he left.

Dennis is really something. Let’s see what happens, I thought to myself.

"Congratulations, sir. You have successfully secured a stake bid. Here are the documents to sign to claim full ownership with proof of payment."

"Here she is," the auctioneer pointed.

I walked into the private room, the air thick in tension and saw her facing the other side. Her profile made me smile, but I quickly covered it up with a straight face.

Before I could get to her, she got up, kneeling and weeping profusely.

"Please let me go, sir! I can do anything for you. Clean in your company, wash anything you ask, but just let me be free!" she cried loudly, wrapping her hands around my legs.

"You know you can’t pay one million eight hundred thousand dollars at once, huh?" I asked, looking her straight in the eyes.

"Where am I going to get that money from, sir?" she pleaded, tears flowing from her eyes.

"You’ll have to pay me back, but that’s a huge amount of money," she said. "I didn’t force anyone to bid on me, and now I’m going to pay?"

She’s really confident, even in her circumstances, I thought to myself, giving her a smirk.

My eyes locked with hers as I held her hands tightly, making her stand up from kneeling.

"Wipe the tears away. I did this just to save you."

"Where is your friend you came with?" she asked, looking outside the room.

"Oh, Dennis? I guess he’s probably on his way home."

"Did you have issues with him because of me? I heard about him before the bid—that he’s not someone to mess with," she asked, detecting a hint of fear.

"I caused all of this," she said as tears streamed down her face, her shoulders shaking with sobs. I couldn’t help but feel pity. "I’m so sorry," her voice cracked.

"Nothing will happen," I said, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Let’s proceed to sign the documents already," I said, placing the papers and pen on the table.

I watched her pull at her hair and clothes while signing the documents.

"Getting along with your bidder already?" a man, who looked like he had brought her to the auction house, asked, walking in.

I watched as Jane’s red face swelled up.

"You are an awful thing. I regret you ever being my father," she spat at him. She flinched when her father raised his hand. I took a step forward, positioning myself between them, bringing his hand down.

"She’s now mine, and I suppose I know what to do with her. Our contract ends here," I said, grabbing Jane’s hand as we walked out of the room.

The atmosphere in the hall shifted abruptly as disturbing noises of people rushing back inside filled the air.

"Get back inside! Every one of you!" a voice shouted.

My stomach tightened as I suspected nothing good was on the way.

"That must be Dennis. Come with me, Jane."