1. The Auction

"....100 million going once" The auctioneer announced with his hands raised on the podium where he stood behind the diamond jewellery in a glass box.

The seats in the hall were filled with audiences and bidders who had telephones to their ears, communicating silently.

One of the bidders said quickly, "120 million"

He clenched tight to the telephone he was holding praying silently that no one bids further.

The auction was ongoing for minutes already and no bidder was ready to give up yet. It was a no-reserve auction with a bidding commission of 1 million from the very beginning of the programme.

The auctioneer cocked his brows and looked around raising his hammer, "Kenneth bids for 120 million, anyone to counter that? Someone 150 million" He paused and continued.

"120 million going once..."

He was interrupted by a husk voice, "200 million"

The auctioneer, audience and bidders turned to see the mystery man at the dark corner of the hall but were yet to see his face.

Whoever this man was, he was definitely a joker who was bidding continuously without thinking twice or communicating.

The auctioneer wasn't concerned and so the bidders couldn't protest.

Now, he did it again. 200 million? Was he joking? He was the main factor in raising the price of the precious red star diamond to this bid. Clearly, he had no budget and was only here for jokes, and the auctioneer was not saying a damn thing about this clown.

A tall brunette lady in a blue T-shirt took a deep breath and wiped the sweat on her forehead, "I bid for 250 million and that's it"

She was unstable and pissed that the bid was been raised to this extent.

250 million was final and she was confident that no one in the auction hall should be able to challenge that.

The auctioneer was shocked, "Wow! That's great Meredith, 250 million is final I guess, any higher bidder, 250--"

The husk voice interrupted him again and it sounded a little angered this time, "500 million, counter and we might have to move to a billion"

He sounded confident in the darkness where he stayed and as usual, all eyes turned in his direction.

There was murmuring all over the hall at the time and the bidders couldn't take the insult of the hidden clown anymore.

"That man is a fraud"

"He is a liar and a clown, why let him here?"

"Is this some plot to raise the bid and ensure competition?"

"He's clearly not thinking"

"Kick the clown out, he's not here to bid but to make jokes"

The auctioneer sighed seeing and hearing the commotion, "Enough..." He was careful not to raise his voice and silence ensured instantly.

The mystery man wasn't thinking twice before mentioning figures and with the way he spoke, he was ready to battle for the highest bid.

He just threatened to raise the bid to a billion and that was enough for the bidders to protest.

The seat of the mystery man creaked as he got to his feet and stepped out of the darkness into the light where his identity was revealed.

He was of average height in his silk-trimmed Giorgio Armani tuxedo and had his Rolex GMT-master II Ice reflect the lights on the faces of those who stared.

His icy blue eyes glared innocence and his full lips were quite irresistible not neglecting his pointed nose which added spice to his fine look.

His soft lips parted ways and instead of the usual husk voice, this time came a calm one, "If you would bid with no delay, I have an issue of urgency to attend to"

They recognized him immediately. Who would not? He was not a clown as they believed him to be.

This was the almighty, super-rich, Antonio Luca. The most popular billionaire in all of Thorn Hill city and beyond, the famous CEO of Ocean View Hotel.

Noise filled the auction hall as the audience quickly brought out their devices to take pictures and videos leaving the auctioneer in confusion.

He couldn't believe his eyes and that got him thinking about how he got in unnoticed and was even participating in the auction when--

He said quickly, "I didn't see your name on the registration list, Mr Antonio, but it's such an honour to have you here"

For such a billionaire to be at the auction, he wouldn't leave without the lot and he's proved that already.

No one would be able to contest again knowing whom they were facing. The mighty Antonio Luca.

Luca answered calmly, "My assistant registered on my behalf and I do the bidding"

A young curvaceous lady in a red ball gown appeared from behind him and stood confidently with her brows cocked at the auctioneer.

He swallowed his saliva realizing she was with Luca and recalled registering her.

Antonio Luca probably wanted to keep things on the low but now he's forced to reveal himself to the people who were still taking pictures.

Even the female bidders forget their reasons for being there and wished for him to be their dream man.

Luca's assistant said sharply to the auctioneer, "My boss is a busy man, can we end this already?"

He took a deep breath to compose himself and then asked, "Anyone to bid higher? 500 million going once..... Going twice...."

It was of course useless to ask, no one was crazy to stand against the powerful Luca of Thorn Hill. He wanted the jewellery and would get it at all costs, no doubt.

"Going thrice... Gone. Mr Antonio is the highest bidder for the red star diamond and..."

Antonio Luca was not listening anymore because his eyes were fixed on a young man in a red suit with two bodyguards in black around him.

He was one of the bidders and currently punching the air angrily for the loss to Luca.

He knew full well that he could not contend against him and accepted the loss.

Angrily, he found his way out of the place with his bodyguard and that was what Luca waited for the entire time. The real reason he was at the auction. His name was Kenneth D'Angelo and he was the target.

He tilt his head to Enid, his assistant and whispered calmly, "Claim the red star and wear it around Sonia, I promised to get her something beautiful"

Enid was his secretary at Ocean View Hotel but he preferred to call her his assistant because she was trusted and reliable among the other workers under him.

She panicked, "Sonia? "

His husk voice responded, "Do we have a problem?"

Was she questioning his order or--

Enid apologized immediately, "No boss, forgive my madness"

She hurried to the podium leaving him to walk away too.

The crowd tried to press towards him but the security in the hall did well to stop them.

Antonio Luca found his way into the elevator which immediately took him down and he connected his earpiece to the right ear and cleared his throat.

He spoke comfortably, "Mr Mayor, target in motion, anything new?"

Luca took rubber gloves from inside his tuxedo and wore them.

He then pulled out a Glock G19 and attached a silencer to the weapon with a cold look.

A masculine voice sounded from the earpiece directly into his ear," Good one, Luca, do the usual and remind The Red Ghosts to detest greediness"

The elevator stopped at the underground parking lot and he wore a silk mask that revealed only his eyes and mouth before proceeding out with the weapon raised.

He said calmly to the person at the other end of the call, "I'm in, inform your guys to mess with the cameras"

Kenneth D'Angelo located his Bentley with the two guards behind him at the parking lot.

He was still angry that he lost and didn't get the diamond that he desired the most but there was nothing he could do since the powerful billionaire of Thorn hill was involved.

His guard made to open the door when something sharp penetrated his head and he dropped.

The other pulled a G18 pistol from his holster but it was late already as a bullet broke through his skull splashing blood on the face of Kenneth who was shocked to the bones.

He tried to run when masked Luca emerged from behind a pillar and fired into his right leg.

Kenneth cried in pain and fell to the ground struggling to get away.

Luca approached and retrieved Kenneth's phone, and went through his recent calls.

He called the contact saved 'Father' and waited for the call to the received before speaking.

"Hello Mr D'Angelo, your son says hi"

Luca pressed the bullet wound in his leg and he cried painfully.

The receiver panicked, "What do you want? Name your price"

Luca answered coldly, "You should have thought of the price before sniffing where you shouldn't"

"What are you talking about?"

He squat resting the pistol on his lap and told D'Angelo, "You sell your product in a territory that is not yours, back off or I will find you and deposit a golden bullet in your greedy old brain"

With this Luca threw the phone up and fired it at the ground with a bullet.

That was when Kenneth saw his Rolex and recognized it.

He stammered for fear, "Antonio Luca"

Without hesitation, Luca forced the silencer of his pistol into his mouth and fired twice before retreating.

He said coldly, "See more and speak less"

The man communicating with him via the earpiece spoke quickly, "Luca, what the hell was that?"

Luca responded calmly, "I made him swallow a bullet moving at a high velocity"

"You mean you killed him? That was not the plan"

"Don't question my professionalism Mr Mayor, we're done here"

He detached the silencer and arranged the weapon inside his suit, and then removed his gloves.

The man at the other end said to him, "I'm not, I just need to make sure it doesn't trace back to me as the mayor of Thorn Hill"

That was right. Luca Antonio was working for the mayor of the city and that was a story for another day.

Luca said coldly, "Old men, you kill but fear to be killed"

"I believe my rival would stay away from my territory now, my product will sell again and I'll own the market, and God helps any greedy bastard who challenges me again. Have the night to yourself Luca, I'll wire the 300 million before midnight"

Luca answered, "Anytime Mr Mayor and always remember, the day you sell me to the cops, I'll transport you and your family to hell, for free "

He hung the call and sighed.

And that was the life of Luca Antonio, the two-faced man.

He found his way outside the building to find a lone female reporter waiting around his Rolls-Royce phantom with the cameraman behind her.

She quickly approached him with her mic and asked, "Mr Antonio, can I ask a couple of questions about your appearance at the auction?"

Luca whispered exotically to her, "500 million for the night, what do you say?"

She froze and her eyes widened.

"What?"

He shrugged, "Goodbye, Miss Kimberly"

Luca recognized her as one of the reporters who often chased him around after a meeting at his office and he truly loved her shape.

She couldn't believe her ears. This wasn't about the money but the mighty Luca Antonio wanted to take her to his glass villa.

Reporter Kimberly turned quickly to the camera person and handed over the mic to him, "Goodnight, Mike"

Luca took her by the hand into his rolls-Royce and they barely fit in when they pressed lips tightly.

She wrapped her hands around his neck and he grabbed her backside with his firm hands.

The reporter tried to remove his suit but he grabbed her wrist tightly and gave her a dead stare.

His weapons were perfectly tucked inside and he couldn't let her find them because that would result in putting a bullet in her head.

Luca removed his suit carefully and tucked it hidden.

She was still trying to understand his mood change when he pushed her down the seat and helped her with her top.

Kimberly puts her hands behind her and unhooked her bra which he pushed away gently.

Without hesitation, he buried his head between her chest and she chuckled loudly.

A round of sex in the vehicle not caring that the chauffeur was there and probably watching.

Jack, Luca's chauffeur had seen a lot of things happen in that car and it wasn't something new again.

Neither party was tired yet as another round happened when they arrived at the glass villa which she didn't care to notice the environment.

Luca was her main focus and no one would believe her the next day, but who cares?

Luca turned to see reporter Kimberly fast asleep under the sheet on the giant-sized bed in his bedroom and resting his head on the cotton pillow.

She must have been exhausted from the body colliding exercise and needed rest.

He never planned to spend the night with her and what he said back there was meant to be a joke but as they say 'Opportunity comes but once'

Anyways, he needed to let some steam off and she appeared to be available.

Luca sighed heavily when a bright light from outside illuminated his room almost blinding his eyes.

'Bam!' a loud bang followed and the light died immediately letting his eyes adjust to the darkness.

He rolled out of the bed and hurried to the glass wall to see what was happening.

There was nothing except that he saw something fall straightway from the sky and land in his pool causing a big splash.

"What the hell!"

He looked back to see Kimberly and she was still sleeping peacefully.

Luca wasn't sure if he was supposed to grab his gun from the cabinet and he finally resulted not to.

He stepped out through the open door that lead to the pool area and moved carefully.

What he saw was something that shocked him to his bones.

The entire pool was frozen and at the centre was a naked lady laying there unconscious with her eyes widely opened.

He got closer and that was when he noticed her red hair emitting intense flames and her icy eyes were just something he could not ignore.

But most importantly, the diamond necklace around her neck was something he could recognize from a distance. It was the exact type and had the mafia marking.

It belonged to his mother who was murdered by an unknown assassin during a business trip.

He had vowed to find and end them but had nothing to trace the perpetrator to date.

Who was this mysterious lady who had arrived from the sky with his mother's necklace around her neck?