THE AUCTION

The whole thing was happening so fast and it made Anna dizzy.

“Let me quickly go wash my hands” Ann snapped out of it, breaking the silence.

Daniel who had brought out his phone and was staring at it said;

“Excuse me. I have to take this call”

“Go ahead” Anita told him and he hurriedly walked out, after Anna, leaving just Anita and Samuel.

Anita removed her hand from Samuel’s arm and stared at Daniel’s retreating figure, while Samuel continued staring at her, a pleasant smile on hos face.

Anna got to the restroom, and washed her face, breathing deeply.

“What do you think? Don’t we look better together?” She replayed the incident in her head again.

She took one deep breathe and marched out of the restroom and on her way, she bumped into Daniel.

“Me Daniel” she called, surprised.

“Is something wrong?” She asked on noticing his countenance.

“My grandmother fainted” he replied huskily.

“ I have to get going”.

“What?! Should I get Anita to come too?” Anna asked, filled with panic.

Daniel scratched his forehead.

“Why would you ask her?”

“Well, it’s about your grandmother. Anita should…since you two are having marriage talks, she’ll be your family” she rasped.

“Family?” Daniel chuckled.

“Oh, right. I forgot to thank you” she said, making him look at her face again.

“You took great care of my husband. Thank you so much”

“Are you their spokesperson? Why are you thanking me and talking to me in their behalf?” He chided.

“That’s…because we’re family” Anna stuttered.

“Do you think they feel the same? About you?”

“Mr Daniel” Anna called in a serious tone.

“You’re crossing the line” she told him.

Daniel took few steps making her shift back a little and covered the distance between them.

“And Ms Anna , you’re too naive” he said.

She took three steps backward, creating another Diana’s between them.

Daniel grabbed her hand, pulling her close to him as she shook in fear.

“Answer me, Ms Anna. Are you really that dense? Or, are you pretending to be dense?”

“I don’t know what you mean” Anna said, as say steuggled to free her hand from his grip.

“Please, let go of my hand” she cried, breathing heavily.

Daniel took one long look at her and freed her hand.

“I’m sorry. I made a mistake. We won’t be seeing eachother again. Take care” he apologized and walked away.

Anna stood there, caressing her wrist as she watched his retreating figure.

She almost lost balance but quickly held the wall for support.

She walked back to what showroom to find her sister and Samuel talking and laughing heartily.

Anita even placed her head on Samuel’s shoulder while he said something to her which made her laugh.

“Answer me, Ms Anna. Are you really that dense? Or, are you just pretending to be dense?” she recalled those words immediately.

Her heart broke the more she stared at the and her teary eyes could only prevent tears from falling.

With those words echoing in her head repeatedly, she walked closer and closer to them.

They were so engrossed in whatever they were discussing that they didn’t notice her walking towards them.

“Anna, can we talk??” One of her openers friend widely appeared in front of her and said.

*

*

“Ms Anna” the same man she had spoke to while in her parents home, call her- Mr Kim.

Her mother’s friend had taken her to the store where artworks were kept.

“She’s just taking a look” Anna told him.

“Mother has supposed to guide her, but she’s not around” she explained to him.

“Is that all right?” she asked.

He adjusted his glasses and nodded.

“Her husband owns CHEEKERS company after all” Mr Kim replied, nodding.

“Oh! And the thing I asked you for?” He asked.

“Right! I left it in the car. Can I pass ir on to you later?” Anna said.

“See you later then”

“Okay” she responded and he walked out.

Anna raised her head do see the man with her mother’s friend inspecting the paintings.

“You cannot touch the painting” she roared with panic, walking closer to them.

“Help me check for any scratches “ the purple dressed lady chuckled nervously, facing the man.

“Goodness! You mother has such a great eye for paintings. I’ll be broke at this rate” she cajoled Anna to a corner and said.

Anna smiled broadly.

While Anna’s attention was divided, she gave the man a wink and he nodded in response. M

**************************

Back at the auction hall, guests were seated and paintings covered were displayed on the stage.

“Thank you for coming to the Donalds Galledy charity Auction” Anita took the podium and welcomed.

“Five percent of the profits from today will be donated to the Donalds Foundation to help the underprivileged “ she announced and it was followed by a warm round of applause.

Everyone was present; her mother, her sister Anna, and Samuel.

Her mother smiled lively at her from where she was seated.

“With that, shall we begin?”

“I’m sure many of you are here for this piece. This is an undisclosed piece of Sun James. He walked on it in the 1980s during his stay in the UK. It has been kept in pristine condition. Although. The artist has shown glimpses of it through his photos taken in the UK, no one has seen the actual piece yet”

“The bid starts at two million dollars, in increment of 10,000 dollars”

Immediately, calls started coming in.

“Two million and ten thousand dollars” a lady from the audience raised her flag.

“Two million and twenty thousand dollars” another raised.

“Two million and thirty thousand dollars. Two millions and sixty thousand dollars. Any bids for three million? are we getting any calls” Anita turned to Ruth who was close by and asked.

Ruth in turn asked the workers in charge of the phone calls.

“Three million” someone from the audience raised.

“All right. We’ve got a bid for three million. There and a half million and ten thousand dollars. Three and a half million and eighty thousand dollars. Three and a half million and ninety thousand dollars” Anita went on and on.

“Three point eight million and seventy thousand dollars. All right, it’s at 3,870,000. Any more offers? Shall we end the bid?” She asked and looked around, waiting for a while.

“All right. 3,870,000, calling once. Calling twice. Calling thrice…” As she rises her baton to end the bid, a voice stoooed her.

“I’ll raise it” the purple dressed lady, her mothers friend yelled from the audience.

Anita and everyone else froze.

“Four million” the audience started whispering.

“My, it’s at 4,000,000” Anita exclaimed.

“Four million calling once. Calling twice. Calling thrice” with that, she hit the baton.

“Sold”

“This is the highest price that a Sun James piece has fetched. Congratulations “ she beamed.

A round of applause followed, all turning to look at the last bidder.

She got up and marched to the podium with a void expression her face.

The man from earlier behind her.

Mrs Donalds got up immediately and ran after her.

“Madam. We’ll deliver the painting after the auction” Mrs Donalds said, beaming.

The lady stared at her angrily, and suddenly slapped her across the face, earning a loud gasp from the crowd.

Silence fell on everyone.

What the hell was going on? Why the slap??.

TBC