The Siren (18+)

Chapter 19

April and Miguel walked into the grand hall. The decor was similar to that of the day before only the ables were placed in such a way that they were all facing the stage. Next to the circular plates were white paddles with gold numbers inscribed. Today was the final day of the gala and the long awaited auction was set to begin. It was also the day Bradshaw would steal from all the unsuspecting rich people in the building. Everyone stared at the glowing woman who sauntered into the venue. Some scandalized by the sheerness of her dress and others impressed with how well it fit.

Tracey saw the star and excitedly waved her over to join them at her table. This was the table every other guest dreamt of being invited to. The rest of the gang were littered around the hall talking discreetly with some people. It seemed they were finishing off their business conversations before they had to leave in the morning. April walked over to the tanned woman wearing a fuchsia dress. The blonde was slightly tipsy, her loud breathy voice carrying over to the end of the table as she introduced her guests.

April and Miguel greeted everyone at the table and sat down next to the woman. She swept her gaze around the hall and did not see a certain vulture skulking around. Ignoring her disappointment she looked back at the stage. The auctioneer was showing off an ornament of some sort. The ugly thing was made of platinum and gold and rubies and emeralds. It looked god-awful and tacky but people were heatedly throwing numbers around. The bid caller was excitedly chanting ridiculously high numbers and the guests at the table were gasping in awe and clapping at the displays of wealth. Behind her table stood a large man who was red in the face with exertion from having to lift his bidder card. He and a woman wearing a hideous yellow dress were increasing their bids for the ugly paperweight, or whatever the thing actually was. The man looked reluctant when he heard the exorbitant amount the woman in yellow offered, his pride on the line if he lost to a woman. The unattractive woman was already grinning madly at her win. When the man conceded everyone clapped wildly. Here the rich eat each other for show and those with fat pockets always won.

April was glad that she had missed quite a bit of the event and had arrived late because she was not in the mood to sit around and don a fake smile for these rich bastards that often avoided taxes by doing 'charitable deeds.' The auctioneer reminded people who had purchased the artifacts that they were to collect their prizes at the end of the night. He assured them that their belongings would be kept safely in one of their storage rooms and that the proceeds from the event would go to the needy. April would have rolled her eyes if it was appropriate.

The final item that was sold was an original artwork from a famous artist. She hadn't been paying enough attention to learn the time period it was made or the name of the artist. She heard numbers as high as 1.2 million dollars for the piece. The painting was of a pale naked woman at sea dragging down a sailor from his ship.

Her moonlit skin looked fragile against the shattered wood of the boat. Her nakedness was covered by the shredded cotton sail from the shattered ship. Her frail feminine figure was contrasted by her facial expression. Her face was one of violence and seething anger and hunger while the sailor had his eyes sealed serenely. As if accepting his fate. He looked as if he was doomed and ready to succumb to the freeing punishment of the hissing siren. The painting drew her in. She wanted it.

Unfortunately, she knew she couldn't afford it in a fight against these rich people. An attempt of bidding would only embarrass her for when she would eventually have to accept her loss. She could hear the excited murmurs of the guests with some stray disapproving looks being sent her way. She could tell why some of the attendees would want the painting. Their lustful gazes switching from the art to her. She watched as they simultaneously lifted their paddles. The war was between three men in suits, one of them being the birthday pig himself. It was clear that he would win but the poor souls that were competing with him were determined to try and outbid him.