Chapter 246 She Made Xavier See Her in a New Light
Xavier pressed Grace against the mirror and kissed her for a while.
When they finally stepped outside, Grace's face was bright red.
She looked around, relieved no one had noticed them.
Xavier let her hold his arm. "There's a small auction later. If you see anything you like, just tell me."
"Isn't this Mr. Peterson's birthday party? Is there an auction too?" Grace asked.
"Yeah, it's a charity auction. The money raised goes to charity. He likes to look like a philanthropist," Xavier explained.
Grace stayed quiet.
She didn't really care about the auction items. Even if she did, she'd rather buy them herself than have Xavier do it. She didn't want to feel like she was being kept.
Being with Xavier wasn't about material things for her. If anything, she was attracted to his looks and skills.
There were things she needed to clarify with Xavier. She just wanted to enjoy the moment.
"Xavier, I..." Grace started, but Jared walked over.
"Mr. Montgomery, there you are." Jared patted Xavier's shoulder. "The auction's about to start. Aren't you going to show some support?"
Xavier replied, "I was just heading there."
"Great. If you see anything you like, don't hesitate. Thanks in advance for your generosity," Jared said.
Xavier nodded. "Of course."
Grace frowned. Jared's words seemed off.
Was he trying to get Xavier to drive up the auction prices? Jared would get the credit for being generous, but it was other people's money. What a schemer!
If Xavier was going to spend money, why not just donate it directly?
"Let's go," Xavier said, taking Grace's hand.
The yacht had five levels. The first and second floors were for the party, the fourth and fifth for resting, and the third for the auction.
Despite being a small auction, it was set up grandly because of the prominent guests.
With Xavier's status, they had front-row seats.
They each had a tablet with detailed info about the auction items, except for the final mysterious one.
Xavier asked Grace to see if she liked anything. She shook her head.
"Trying to save me money?" Xavier joked.
Grace knew he wasn't short on cash. He could easily spend millions.
"I feel money shouldn't matter between us, Xavier. Do you think..." Grace started, but the auctioneer began the proceedings.
"What?" Xavier asked, not hearing her.
"Nothing. I just wanted to say if I see something I like, I'll bid for it myself. You don't need to spend money on me," Grace said.
Xavier glanced at Grace. He thought, 'Was she upset? Did she misunderstand something?'
He wanted to buy her something, not to compensate her, but because it made him happy.
But with the auction starting, he kept quiet.
Behind them, Madison sat next to Daniel, eyes gleaming as she browsed the items. "These are all so beautiful."
She wanted everything, and they were definitely pricey.
Madison pointed at something. "I want this one."
Daniel stroked her hand. "We'll see. I'll bid if I can."
"Okay, I love you the most," Madison whispered, making Daniel smile.
The auction began with an antique vase, rumored to belong to a king.
The starting bid was five million dollars, which quickly rose to tens of millions.
"What do you think of this vase?" Xavier asked.
Grace shook her head. "It doesn't seem very old. It's finely crafted but not worth that much. It's definitely not a king's vase. Ten million is the max it should go. Now it's at twenty million, which is way overpriced."
Xavier looked at her with admiration. He thought she only knew about perfumes.
"You know about these things too?" Xavier asked.
"Just a bit," Grace replied.
"How do you know it's not a king's vase?" Xavier asked.
Grace explained, "The process for making ceramic vases back then was very meticulous, even more so than modern techniques. It involved five steps: selecting materials, designing the shape, making the vase body, designing the decorations, firing, and final touches. Each step was strictly controlled. This vase, although it looks exquisite, is actually quite rough. It couldn't have been used by a king."
"Different periods had different techniques for coloring and decorating ceramics. The combination of color and glaze would vary, and changes in firing techniques would result in different final appearances. This vase is just average, neither the worst nor the best."
Grace's explanation made Xavier see her in a new light.
He thought he knew her well, but it seemed there was much more to learn. For instance, he had no idea she was into antiques. She played it down, saying she only knew a little, but being able to spot quality and craftsmanship right off the bat is something even normal antique fans struggle with.
He wondered if she only knew about ceramic vases or if she understood other antiques too.
Those present here weren't short on money, and the auction prices quickly soared.
Xavier didn't bid this time.
The vase eventually sold for forty million dollars.
The subsequent items also fetched impressive prices, and Jared, sitting nearby, looked very pleased.
Madison was stunned. It was her first time at such a high-society event, watching people spend so much money on seemingly useless items without hesitation.
Once again captivated by the allure of wealth, she resolved to join this elite class at any cost.
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