Tabitha's POV
In the past couple of days, Joanna had been noticeably more excited. She was never a fan of skincare, yet now, she even started putting on face masks.
Obviously, her Prince Charming meant the world to her.
Anyone in this house could tell she looked so forward to the upcoming short meet-up.
Finally, it was the big day. She looked thrilled but also kinda fidgety.
"Tabitha, this outfit looks a bit cheugy, doesn't it? Will he think of me as a hillbilly?"
I wanted to lend her some of my clothes, but even the cheapest ones cost at least tens of thousands of dollars.
Since they might develop a romantic relationship, I hoped Joanna would show her true self so things wouldn't get complicated between them.
"Not at all! If he really likes you, even if you're wearing a potato sack, he'll still think you look amazing. Chill, girl. Just take it easy and go pick him up confidently. You don't have to be stressed out," I reassured her.
Then I added, pointing at myself, "C'mon, you gotta learn from me. I don't care about how I look at all."
Today, I was wearing a simple white dress. My hair was tied up in a messy bun, and I had no jewelry or makeup on.
Joanna sized me up before muttering to herself, "OK. I'll stay calm. It's just a guy. No biggie."
But the next second, she became nervous again. "But it's Austin Pierce! The guy I've had a crush on for years! I still remember the day I first met him..."
As she said that, she cupped her face and started swooning like she always did.
I sighed, "A hopeless case indeed."
On our way to Treasure Building where the auction would be held, Joanna kept rambling in my ear about how awesome Austin was and how handsome he looked when she first met him.
I felt like I could write a whole teen romance novel, seriously.
When we pulled into the underground parking lot of Treasure Building, she finally changed the subject. "Tabitha, you sure you don't want me to go with you?"
I shook my head. "Nah. Go have fun on your date with your dear Austin. Seize the moment. Good luck!"
I hopped out of the car and gave her an encouraging gesture before heading up to the elevator with the pack guards.
Once inside, I stood in the corner while the four guards standing in front of me, blocking me completely. No one could see me, let alone find out who I was.
Derek had booked a private room for me, which perfectly shielded me from everyone's gaze, further guaranteeing my privacy.
All I had to do was sit tight and wait for the necklace set to be presented.
As soon as I sat down, Spike Lane, the captain of the pack guards, knocked on the door.
After he came in, he replaced the pastries on the table with the ones he had brought from home specifically for me.
"Tabitha, just have these if you're hungry," he told me.
I nodded at him, replying, "Thanks."
He had been guarding my safety for six months now, and he rarely showed up, just like a shadow by my side. I didn't expect he would be so meticulous.
"No worries. I'll be outside. Just call me if you need anything," he said.
Even though he stood at 1.9 meters with a solid build, he walked out and closed the door so quietly that I hardly heard a sound.
Sipping on some lemonade, I scanned the bustling crowd below in boredom.
It was quite lively today, with a mix of people gathering downstairs.
In addition to famous artworks, there were also some shady collectibles.
Since they weren't announced beforehand, they drew in many private collectors and dealers.
Before the auction started, I heard someone arguing outside the door. "Miss Gutierrez wants this room. How much money do you want? Name your price."
Spike replied, his voice steady, "Sorry. Not gonna happen."
"What? Are you kidding? Move, lowly lackey. I don't wanna waste my breath talking to you. Who's inside? Come out! You don't wanna mess with Miss Gutierrez."
"I've told you, not gonna happen. And I'll still say the same even if the president's here."
Right after he said so, I heard a loud slap.
Then an arrogant female voice sounded. "What about now, loser?
"You! Kick the door open! I'm running out of patience!"