Chapter 8 Run away from Me
Like a heavy anchor, Gia dragged her eyes from Matt to the person who had held up his card. Somewhere beside her Carla gasped. Daniel held Gia's eyes from the audience.
"Ten thousand dollars!" The auctioneer's hand moved towards Daniel. "Can I have ten thousand five hun-"
"Fifteen," Luca held up his card just as Manny did.
"Fifteen thousand dollars," The auctioneer turned towards Luca. "Can I get f-"
"Sixteen," Daniel held up his card.
Gia was frozen in horror. Her hands were too cold and her toes were freezing. Her chest ached from the amount of pressure building up inside of herself as she watched Daisy stare back at her with the same horrified expression. Luca pulled out his phone and began to tap on the screen as he held up his card.
"Seventeen," he said, not looking up from the screen.
"Eighteen," Daniel held up his card before the auctioneer could utter a word.
"Nineteen," Manny held up his card just as three other men who worked for Luca walked into the ballroom with cards of their own.
Gia's head began to spin as the heat from the spotlight intensified. She thought she was losing her mind when she saw the hint of a smirk on Daniel's face.
"Nineteen thousand dollars, can I have twenty thousand dollars?" The auctioneer turned towards Daniel.
Gia shook her head slightly as Daniel held her gaze.
"Nineteen thousand, going once," the auctioneer announced, waiting for another bid. Gia's eyes shifted to her brother who was watching her like a hawk.
"Nineteen thousand going twice," the man raised his gavel to lock it down.
"Twenty five thousand," Daniel raised his card.
A wave of murmur erupted in the ballroom. Gia wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
"Twenty five thousand dollars!" The auctioneer laughed with joy as if he would be getting any of that money. "Can I get twenty six thousand dollars?"
"Twenty seven," Aaron, another one of Luca's men, raised his card.
"Twenty eight," Daniel bid.
"Twenty nine," Lorenzo, Luca's bodyguard, raised his card.
"Thirty thousand," Daniel leaned back in his chair. He looked amused. Gia wanted to throw something at him.
"Thirty one," Manny raised his card.
"Thirty two," Daniel held up his card with a smile on his lips.
By then everyone's eyes and ears in the ballroom were captive to the war. Daisy sat on the edge of her seat, gripping Eric's hand as hard as she could. Luca's jaw worked as he stared ahead, occasionally making eye contact with either Gia or Carla.
"Thirty three," Aaron held up his card.
Luca's men had strict instructions to keep bidding until one of them won the auction. Gia knew Luca would never let Daniel win, even if it meant giving away millions of dollars. She was frightened by the look of determination in her brother's eyes and the mischievousness in Daniel's.
"Thirty four," Daniel held up his card.
"Thirty five," Lorenzo bid.
"Thirty six," Daniel said, earning a chuckle from a few people around the room who found the whole thing to be a bit comical.
YOU ARE READING
Reputation's Play (Book 1)
Romance"The less you know about the family business, the safer you will be." The small coastal town of adel Mare had three simple rules for the notoriously difficult families that reside there. Protect your countrymen against foreign threats, never spill...
