𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 18+

Chapter III

C H A P T E R 3 : THE AUCTION BEGINS

Sofie Malone-

The air in the mansion suddenly felt thick, almost suffocating as I stood there, still processing the fact that he was standing right in front of me.

Rafael DeLuca.

The man who had sent a shiver through my spine with nothing more than a glance. How was it possible for someone to look that... commanding? I tried to shake off the feeling, the heavy pressure in my chest that seemed to have settled in ever since he spoke.

I cleared my throat awkwardly. "Sorry," I mumbled, looking up at him—or more accurately, up. He was easily a foot taller than me, towering with an intimidating grace that made the sharp heels I was wearing feel like nothing.

Rafael offered a small smile, the kind that was both polite and knowing. Damn it, I thought, I must have looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

"I didn't mean to startle you," he said smoothly, his deep voice sending another wave of warmth rushing through me. "It's just... not every day you see someone so consumed by a painting as you are."

I blinked, realizing that I hadn't been looking at him at all. My eyes had been fixed on a small, yet powerful piece of art hanging behind him—an oil painting of a storm crashing against jagged rocks. It was violent, beautiful, and for some reason, it had captivated me the moment I saw it.

"Ah, right," I stammered, trying to play it off. "I was just admiring the art."

He followed my gaze, his brow raising slightly, as though he too saw something deeper in that stormy scene. For a brief moment, the distance between us seemed to shrink, the crowd around us fading into the background. It was just him and me and the art.

Rafael broke the silence first. "Good eye. I like to think this one speaks to those who can truly appreciate chaos."

I couldn't help but laugh. "I suppose that's me, then," I said with a nervous smile. "I don't mind a little chaos."

His gaze softened, his lips twitching upward in an almost imperceptible smile. "I'll keep that in mind."

Before I could say anything else, a woman nearby cleared her throat, snapping both of us out of our strange moment. Rafael looked over his shoulder, and I followed his gaze to see one of the event's organizers ushering guests toward the center of the room.

"The auction is about to begin," she called out, her voice loud enough to carry over the murmurs of the crowd.

"Shall we?" Rafael asked, gesturing toward the gathering. His tone was courteous, though there was something in his eyes that made my heart beat a little faster. I nodded, trying to act casual despite the heat creeping up my neck.

We walked together toward the center of the room, where an elegant podium had been set up, and more staff members began to bring out the items that would be auctioned off. One by one, the pieces of art, rare jewelry, and antiques were paraded in front of the crowd, their prices starting at numbers so high I almost choked on the air.

As the auctioneer began to speak, his voice a rapid-fire blur, I felt a wave of unease. This was what I was here for, after all—this was where the real action would happen. It wasn't just about buying art; it was about who was buying it. Who could afford to spend millions, and why they needed these pieces in the first place.

I had my reasons for being here, too. My reasons weren't as noble or innocent as admiring art.

Rafael moved to stand beside me, his presence pulling me into his orbit once more. I could feel the tension between us now, not like before when I was simply caught in the current of his attention. No, now it was different. He was watching me with that same quiet intensity, as though he could see through my facade.

I took a deep breath, feeling his proximity like a weight pressing against my chest.

"So," I said, turning toward him, trying to act like I wasn't about to combust. "Are you here to add another piece to your collection, Mr. DeLuca?" I tried to keep the conversation casual, but his name alone held a certain weight that made me nervous.

His lips curled slightly as if he were amused. "Something like that," he replied, his tone smooth and confident. "I have a few personal acquisitions to make tonight. And you?" His gaze flickered over me, subtle but unmistakable.

I had to stop myself from squirming. "I'm just here for a... more personal investment." I hoped my words didn't sound as awkward as they felt.

A knowing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Ah, I see. We all have our motivations, don't we?"

Before I could respond, the first piece of the auction was revealed—a rare, diamond-studded necklace, glistening under the chandelier light. The auctioneer announced the starting bid, and the crowd buzzed in excitement.

Rafael's attention shifted to the item, his posture suddenly more focused. He was completely absorbed in the bidding, his eyes narrowing with sharp calculation as the price quickly rose. I could feel his presence even without looking at him. There was a certain power to the way he commanded a room, even in the midst of something as trivial as an auction.

The bidding war intensified, and I caught sight of a few familiar faces in the crowd—powerful people, businessmen, celebrities—each of them throwing out exorbitant amounts of money with a single word or nod.

But then, something unexpected happened. Rafael raised his hand.

The auctioneer paused, his eyes flicking over to Rafael with clear recognition. "Ah, Mr. DeLuca," he said, his voice dripping with respect. "We have a bid from Mr. DeLuca. Do I hear another?"

The room seemed to hold its breath.

Rafael didn't flinch, didn't look away. He simply held up his hand once more, and the bid skyrocketed. A few moments passed before the auctioneer, almost in disbelief, slammed his gavel down.

"Sold! To Mr. Rafael DeLuca, for thirty million dollars."

I blinked. Thirty million dollars. I'd barely had time to process that number before I realized what had just happened. Rafael had just bought a necklace that could feed an entire country for a year.

He turned to me, his smile widening just a fraction. "A worthy addition to my collection," he said with a casual shrug, as if thirty million was pocket change. "But enough about me. What about you?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could form the words, the auctioneer's voice cut through the air again.

"Next up," he announced, "we have a rare painting by an undiscovered artist."

My heart skipped a beat. This was it. The moment I'd been waiting for.

Now, it was my turn.

Rafael's gaze flickered to the painting, then back to me. "Your turn, I believe," he said, his voice lower now, more serious.

I turned toward the stage, my mind racing. There was no turning back now. This wasn't just an auction anymore. This was the game. And I was in it. 

* * * 

Hey everyone, hope you guys liked the chapter, I am not sure if this chapter ended up a bit more different or more professional, I have no idea, but it took a lot of editing, and honestly, I feel like the chapter could have been better, but I like it. Oh aaand, there should be another chapter for Elysian soon, so just a heads up.