Chapter 195 Auction
"Good morning, Natalie!"
Isaac and Wyatt rose to their feet, their smiles tinged with a hint of mischief.
Natalie fully grasped the irony of the situation.
‘Well, it’s not exactly morning anymore…’
Isaac, ever perceptive, caught onto Natalie's thoughts and, with a sly grin, remarked, "Natalie, Wyatt and I had plans to discuss something with Oliver. We were supposed to meet at 8, but who knew he, who’s usually so punctual in rising, hasn’t even left the room. Since you must have just woken up, isn’t it accurate to greet you good morning?”
Natalie could naturally tell Isaac was teasing her.
How could Isaac not know the reason for the couple waking up late? He could not let go of such a good opportunity to tease Natalie, knowing she was easily embarrassed.
Wyatt, standing by, merely smiled, content to witness the exchange.
"He’s inside. You can go in,” Natalie said and bade them farewell before walking to the elevator.
…
The landscape was breathtaking, and with today's excellent lighting, Natalie could not resist capturing a few photos on her phone, each one picturesque enough to serve as wallpaper.
Emily had mentioned to her earlier that, although the fashion industry did not demand as much scrutiny as the entertainment industry, in this digital age, cultivating a fanbase was essential, and the power of social media was undeniable.
Natalie then took a selfie before she uploaded it along with the other photos on Instagram.
It was not long before her fans began to comment.
One user, Cando, stood out to Natalie. She remembered the name from when she first posted photos from the autumn car show. Since then, every time she posted, ‘Cando’ was invariably among the first to praise her.
[Cando: How can Natalie be so beautiful? She’s the best! She’s a goddess!]
However, many mocked Natalie for withdrawing from Top Avenue and scolded Cando for being foolish. However, Cando did not back down and continued to defend her, as though he was her defender!
Curious, Natalie visited Cando's Instagram profile and was taken aback. Eight of the ten most recent posts were about her! She could not help but laugh. Even she, herself, did not post so much.
After liking those posts, Natalie saw an immediate comment.
[Cando: Natalie noticed me! Natalie noticed me!]
This attention left Natalie feeling unnerved. She was not very active in the industry yet, and she wondered how she managed to attract such a devoted fan. While many had praised her, none had shown the fervor of this individual.
Later, as Natalie headed back, she checked her culinary Instagram account, finding numerous messages pressing for new posts on food or recipes. She shared a few snapshots from her recent cooking ventures, explaining her current preoccupations.
Her genuine followers engaged eagerly, speculating on whether she was shifting her culinary focus upon seeing a Western dish, and humorously lamenting her pasta breakfast as ‘pitifully simple’.
That evening, Natalie decided to prepare a traditional Japanese Sukiyaki, documenting the process and the final result on her culinary account on Instagram.
…
After dinner, a staff member brought a list of items up for auction tonight.
Oliver tossed the list on the coffee table, clearly disinterested.
"Oliver, are you going to participate in the auction tonight?” Natalie asked, wanting to prepare if Oliver decided to participate.
"Is there anything you like?” Oliver asked.
"No," Natalie replied, shaking her head. She was merely there to accompany Oliver, with no particular item in mind.
Natalie had just finished tidying up the kitchen when her curiosity led her to skim through the booklet of the items up for auction. An item caught her eye, and she muttered to herself, “Oh, there’s even a design draft up for auction. The designer’s name is… Susan…”
"What did you say?" Oliver suddenly looked up.
"I said..."
Before Natalie could elaborate, Oliver had already grabbed the booklet to have a look. Immediately after that, he said abruptly, “Go and change. We’re attending the auction.”
…
With the clock ticking, Natalie found herself in a rush, with no time to attend to her hair or makeup. She quickly slipped into a formal dress and made her way to the venue. Amidst the throng of impeccably dressed attendees, she felt somewhat out of place and underdressed.
Oliver and Natalie took their seats in the front row, securing a prime spot.
Natalie sensed the curious glances directed at her, a mixture of surprise and scrutiny from the crowd, but she remained indifferent to them. She was more curious about Oliver's sudden insistence on attending, especially considering his initial lack of interest.
The auction showcased a variety of items donated from across the globe, including antiques, artworks, and rare luxury items. With the event being for charity, the affluent young attendees were eager to bid, each vying to outdo the others in generosity.
As the auction progressed, Oliver's indifference was evident. He showed little interest in the offerings, not once raising his bid paddle. That was until Susan's design was presented.
Susan, a designer of moderate fame on the international scene, had recently been embroiled in a plagiarism scandal. Her earlier works, criticized for their lack of originality, had cast a shadow over her talent. Though her company had managed to salvage her reputation, skepticism lingered.
The design draft up for auction, previously criticized for its lack of innovation, was now displayed prominently, sparking whispers among the elite.
"Susan is quite the character, thinking we're oblivious to her controversies abroad. To think she'd offer such subpar work here," a guest remarked, only to be cautioned by her companion to speak lower.
“Susan is not simple, speak softly.”
"So what? The allegations of plagiarism aren't unfounded. The drastic inconsistency in her work quality is suspicious," she continued unabashedly.
Then, the host suddenly announced, "The early design draft by Susan will start with a bid of five million eight hundred thousand dollars!"
A derisive laugh echoed from the back. "At that level, any college student could match her work. It's not even worth ten thousand dollars to me!"
This comment reflected the general disdain for Susan's work among those present, for whom ten thousand dollars was a trivial sum.
Natalie noticed a change in Oliver's demeanor immediately, his expression turning cold. This shift left her feeling uneasy, sensing an undercurrent of tension that seemed about to break the surface.
Suddenly, a bid broke the silence.
A male voice said, "Five million nine hundred thousand dollars!"
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