Louisa's POV
"You don't have to pay me back. Money means nothing to me." He took another sip of champagne and said, "But I'm going to charge you for the interest rate. So you have to be the model of my art project for the rest of your life and you won't get paid."
I bit my lips and didn't know what he was going to do with me in his so-called art project.
But at the same time, I knew I had to take his offer, otherwise, I would never be able to get the money to save Darren.
"OK," I said in a low voice.
"Don't answer too quickly, because there's another string attached." Alpha Zackery smirked. "Once you've purchased him, you have to set him free. You can't keep him as a pet. He's even more lethal than a python. I won't allow you to hang out with someone like him. It's definitely out of question."
I bit my lips again.
I knew he wouldn't take no for an answer, so it was really an offer that I couldn't refuse.
I didn't think twice and said, "OK. I promise that I'll set him free as soon as I've purchased him."
"Good." He smiled with great satisfaction. "Now that we've got that out of the way, we can start to enjoy the auction. I notice that you're wearing the Ring on your neck. Do you want anything to go with it? Some jewelry, maybe?"
I lowered my head. I remembered what Lucas had told me this afternoon -
"I'll buy you a lot of overpriced jewelry in the fucking auction, so you can dance with me beautifully at tomorrow's Grand Ball."
Being unnoticed in the past two decades, I felt a bit overwhelmed when two men offered to buy me expensive jewelry in one day. Even though, well, one of them was an asshole and was just saying it half-heartedly.
"I don't want jewelry." I shook my head and said. "I don't wear them. Men use necklaces and rings to chain women up, so they can't run away from them."
"Well, that's a very interesting way to put it. It's a bit cynical, but it's true." Alpha Zackery pinched my cheek and said. "You're really different from other girls, are you? I have never met a girl who doesn't like diamonds."
I took a glance downstairs. The auctioneer has just done presenting a set of accessories made of emeralds and diamonds.
"Do you want to have a go at action?" Alpha Zackery said, handing me a gold plate with a handle.
"What's this?" I lifted and checked. There's a number on the plate, which was made by some sparkling black gem-
ONE.
At the same time, I heard the auctioneer's voice, "200 thousand from the second floor, ladies and gentlemen."
Alpha Zackery smiled, "That's a paddle. You raise it to place your bidding, so the auctioneer will acknowledge you."
"Did I just... accidentally raise it?" I was shocked.
"Yes," Alpha Zackery smiled at me with admiration.
Then, I heard the auctioneer's voice of excitement, "200 thousand, once. 200 thousand, twice. 200 thousand, the third time. And it's sold. Ladies and gentlemen, 200 thousand Krons is the hammer price for this property of a distinguished Southern collector. The lot was knocked down at a whopping 200 thousand Krons."
"And you've just cost me 200 thousand Krons without premium for this set of jewelry." Alpha Zackery said.
"What?!" I almost dropped the paddle on the floor. "But I was just playing with it... We should talk to that guy over there that it was a mistake!"
Alpha Zackery grinned and stopped me and said, "It's OK. It's a little bit overpriced, but it's your first bidding experience and I don't want to ruin it. The emerald color complements your eye color."
I looked downstairs. Everyone was clapping their hands while looking up at us.
I saw Lucas staring at me with anger. At that time, I suddenly remembered what he had told me -
"Do not let him fucking bid for anything. You've heard me?"
I looked at him viciously while flipping the paddle in my hands.
Suddenly, I got a good idea.
I took off the Ring from my neck with him staring at me.
As soon as I put it on the table, I heard Lucas' voice in my mind.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?! Are you still fucking drunk or something? What did I tell you? You're supposed to distract him from the fucking auction!"
"What are you going to do? Bite me?" I looked at him with tightened lips.
"You fucking shameless s..." His voice suddenly turned silent in my mind.
"What? Finish your sentence. Call me a slut. Whatever, I don't care." I said to him in my mind.
Lucas sounded desperate, "Don't you ever dare to raise that fucking paddle again! That's a fucking gold paddle in your hand! It has a different bidding increment. Every time it's raised, it costs him a fucking 100 thousand Krons! And when people see this paddle being raised, it means that fucking gigolo has an eye on the lot. So nobody dares to offer a higher price! Stop messing around, I warn you. Your father's at my hand and I'll torture him so badly if you dare to spoil my night..."
"You look bothered," Alpha Zackery looked at me and said. "Who's bothering you?"
I put the Ring back on my neck to block Lucas' exasperated voice.
"It's nothing," I said and picked up the paddle. "Bidding is great fun but I guess it's too much for me. Can we get away from this place? I need some fresh air."
"I'm afraid we have to linger here for a bit longer," Alpha Zackery said while going through an auction catalog. "There's something I would like to buy and that's what I came here for tonight."
"What's that?" I asked.
"Here. Take a look at it yourself. Isn't that amazing?" He said and pointed something at the catalog for me.
I took a deep breath when I saw the image printed on the catalog.
That can't be it...