Chapter 228 Historical Records
The crowd at the Brighter Futures Ball was a who's who of the rich and powerful, each one a big shot in their own right. Getting an invite to this shindig was like a badge of honor in Golden Valley's social scene. But even among these high rollers, there was a clear pecking order.
"71 million," Caius said, cool as a cucumber. For a guy like him, that kind of money was pocket change. He kept his cool, not giving anything away.
Emrys, on the other hand, felt a bead of sweat slide down his face. He had to admit, Caius had a quiet kind of power. "75 million," he shot back, eyes locked on Caius.
Rumor had it, Caius's fortune was as big as the entire Rivera Family's. Emrys knew he was outgunned. In a head-to-head, he'd lose.
"76 million," Caius said, still calm as ever.
"77 million," Emrys gritted out, realizing he needed a new game plan. He signaled his assistant with a subtle nod. "Go talk to Mr. Clark," he whispered. "See if he'll let me have the seal."
Emrys wasn't dumb. He'd capped himself at 80 million. Anything more would be financial suicide. There were plenty of other treasures out there. This seal, while cool, wasn't worth blowing his fortune on.
Maybe, he thought, he could turn this around. If he could get Caius to back off, he'd not only get the seal but also make a powerful ally.
The assistant, keeping a poker face, approached Caius and passed on Emrys's message.
Caius listened, a tiny smile playing on his lips. "So, Mr. Rivera really wants this piece, huh?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Yes, sir," the assistant replied smoothly. "He'd be very grateful for your generosity."
"Tell Mr. Rivera," Caius said, leaning back, "that I'm not particularly attached to this artifact. I just wanted to support the cause. But if Mr. Rivera is so keen, I'll step back if he bids 80 million."
"Thank you, Mr. Clark," the assistant said, bowing slightly. "Your generosity is truly remarkable."
"One more thing," Caius added as the assistant turned to leave. "Tell Mr. Rivera I'd love to have dinner with him sometime. I've always admired his father's business smarts."
"I'll let him know, sir," the assistant assured him, heading back to Emrys.
Caius allowed himself a small smile. At his level, money was just a tool. Goodwill, though? That was priceless. And if he could get it without spending a dime, even better.
Emrys listened to his assistant's report with a mix of relief and grudging respect. "Caius is a sharp one," he muttered to himself. "He gets that real power is in building relationships, not just stacking cash."
He glanced across the room at Erin and the other mainlanders, a thoughtful look on his face. If Caius was this savvy, he could only imagine the kind of clout these folks had. He'd need to be careful and strategic if he wanted to make his mark in this new arena.
"80 million," Emrys said, his voice steady and confident. As promised, Caius stayed silent.
The auctioneer, practically buzzing with excitement, struggled to keep his cool. He never dreamed the seal would go for such a crazy amount. His commission alone would be life-changing.
"Mr. Rivera from Twilight Town has bid $80 million!" The auctioneer looked around and asked, "Anyone else want to bid?"
No response. Those who wanted the seal had already made their moves.
The auctioneer continued, "Now, this seal belongs to Mr. Rivera. And this $80 million transaction is a new record for our Brighter Futures Ball charity auction!"
"And this $80 million will be managed by the charity to help kids who have dropped out of school. Let's give a big round of applause to Mr. Darkmoon and Miss Link! Thank you for your huge contribution to our country's charitable causes!" The auctioneer's voice boomed.
The room erupted in applause. Kaelen's face was flushed with pride. He felt a great sense of honor and believed Willow would feel the same.
"Every year, the Brighter Futures Ball picks a charity star, usually the biggest donor. Willow, my surprise for you is to give you the title of charity star!" Kaelen looked at Willow with deep affection. "I believe that the $80 million donation from this seal won't be topped for the next two or three years. This honor will always be with you!"
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