Death Among the Stars

Chapter 3: AUCTION

When Saturday came, he was already preparing at 5:00 p.m even if the event will be held at 8:00 p.m. He went out from the bathroom and went to his walk-in closet and wore his hanged tux. He put the pomade in his clean-cut hair and combed it going to one side. He glanced at his watch and found out that it is already 6:00 in the evening. He went out to his unit and went to the basement and went inside the car.

He drove the car to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, where the Expo will be held. When he arrive he gave his keys to the valet and the media is waiting for him. He remained his poker face and walk through the red carpet. Everyone’s got a partner and him? Well…

Colleagues, friends, and acquaintances recognized him immediately. He nodded at them and smiled shortly as a sign of respect. He walked towards the table that’s assigned to him.  Dinner was served and they ate. After eating, the director spoke a little, thanking them for coming.

They gave the director a round of applause. The waiter served him white wine as he stood up. He scanned the paintings around him and his eyes were settled to the painting in his right. He went in there but the problem is that he is not the only one who was captivated by the beauty of the painting. There were many people who was also mesmerized by it.

But he was eager to buy that painting he felt a certain pang of flame that triggered him to buy that painting. When the bidding started, he was the first one who to raise the price.

“10,000!” He exclaimed.
“20,000!” Another bidder said.
“45,000!” another one said
“50,000!” He suddenly shouted, feeling the excitement rush through his veins.
“70,000!” A bidder said.
“90,000!” he fought harder.

“100,000!” the man behind him shouted the price.

Archer looked back at him and he saw him smirking and has a challenging look at him. Archer glared back at the man.
The host was flabbergasted by the price the painting was getting.

“130,000! Is there anyone who would like to go higher?!” The host shouted excitedly, the crowd went noisy talking about how high that is for a painting.

“150,000!” Archer shouted.

The auction went on and on as the people continuously raised prices, until it reached into a seemingly high price for a single painting. It started from 5,000 to 30,000,000! And that last price belonged to Archer!

At last, the moment he bought the painting, the people there shook hands with him, they congratulated him and were amazed with him.

“May I ask where can I find the painter of this painting?” He asked the host.

“Too bad, you can’t have contact with the painter. Luckily, I know who the painter is.” He chuckled menacingly to Archer. He was the one behind him who has that judging look at Archer.

His brows shot up at him and he said strictly at him,

“I didn’t asked you where the painter was, so stop being a hindrance to my way.” He said and turned his back at him.

He walked towards the exit in big steps, he was murmuring curses to the man. As he was walking towards his car, he heard footsteps near him. He looked back and saw the host of the auction, he was panting like crazy catching up to him.

“Sir, I apologize for the behavior of our guest. So in return I would like to give the number of the painter” He said while picking up his phone from his pocket.

Archer’s eyes widened at the sudden generosity of the host for he was expecting that his question won’t be answered a while ago.

“It’s kind of you to make an effort of giving me the phone number of the painter. As exchange, could you also give my number to the painter?” He smiled widely at the host. The host agreed and bid farewell to him.

“No problem, sir! It’s our pleasure to help our guests.” After that, he walked away and went back to the building. As he was walking into his car, a wide grin was seen from his face. He drove his car to his penthouse blissfully.

Once he got to the location, he immediately saw the phone number on his cellphone and unconsciously, he smiled and chuckled genuinely for he was feeling euphoric that he could now know a great person. He texted the painter saying,

“Good evening! My name is Archer Marques and I am the one who bought your mesmerizing painting. I would like to meet you in person. Thank you.” He was having second thoughts if he was going to send it or not so he took a cold bath first to refresh his nerves up and to relax him for a bit before he has the courage to send his little text to the painter.

After that shower, he would constantly check his phone, anticipating the reply that he would receive from that great painter. But he took the risk and sent his text. After sending, he immediately put it on his bedside table. He brushed his hair and let out a loud sigh, he felt relieved and happy. He went to the kitchen to grab a snack and a cold glass of water, while eating his snack his mind was on his phone thinking what would the painter feel about his text, what the painter would say, what the painter would think about him, and a lot more what ifs bothers him.

Archer was staring at nothing when he decided to check back at his phone, so he put back his snack and drank another glass of cold water. Archer went back to his room and before he checked his phone he took a deep breath in, when he was about to grab his phone a new text message popped on his screen, and when he saw that it was the painter his breathing stopped for that moment, he grabbed his phone entered the password, and read the text:

“Good evening, Sir Archer! My name is Renee Ruiz, I am flattered for that comment, that painting was one of my favorite masterpiece that I made, so I am glad you liked it, I also heard that you paid 30,000,000 for my painting, I am speechless for I did not expect that kind of price, and yes I would like to meet in person Sir Archer.” He was in a daze, he was so thrilled for the painters’ reply.

But when he saving the painters name to his contacts, the name felt familiar to him. He thought hard to remember why that name felt familiar, then it snapped, it was his patient from 6 months ago.
He was pleasantly surprised on how much progress his patient was doing. In that case texted her back:

“Thank you, so when would you like to meet up? When are you available? I would like to meet you soon, and would like to have a business cooperation with you” He replied not hinting that he knows her.

“By next week probably” she replied, at this point he was so excited, he didn’t know why.

“Sure, I can fit our meeting on my schedule” he texted back. He plumped to the bed, feeling relieved.