"Ladies and gentlemen," He began with a serious voice. "It appears our bidder for the bracelet could not pay. Therefore, as per the rules, she is hereby fined one thousand dollars."
Daniella felt the weight of the room's eyes upon her, and the murmurs of the crowd grew louder. Her face was flushed with embarrassment.
She could hear someone whisper. "I'm sure she can't even pay for the penalty fee."
Deep down, Daniella knew that the person was saying the truth. The fact was that she didn't even have the money for the penalty fee, let alone fifty thousand dollars for the bracelet.
"Isn't her fiance supposed to be wealthy? Maybe he had gone broke." Another person added.
Desmond began to feel embarrassed. Daniella was about to ruin his image in front of everyone. He knew how bad it would be if he don't react. He stood a chance of loosing investors if he doesn't act. They would think he had gone bankrupt. He had warned her earlier but she choose to drag his feet out.
To avoid future shame and embarrassment, and to also protect his image,he got up from his seat and walked over to the host.
"Excuse me." He spoke up. "I will cover the payment."
The host raised an eyebrow. "Payment for what?The bracelet or the penalty fee?"
"The bracelet. I will pay it for her." He replied.
"Alright, how are you making the payment?" The host asked.
"I have my card here." Desmond said and brought out the card. He swiped it on the machine and it was successful.
"Thank you, Mr. Desmond," the host announced. "Miss. Daniella, the bracelet is now yours."
Daniella smiled and collected it. She smirked at Anabel before walking back to her seat. Desmond sat back on his seat but he wasn't happy. The impact of what just happened was written boldly on his face. He felt like he just wasted fifty thousand dollars. Even though he took it as a sacrifice to protect his image, he could feel the pain. He began to regret ever coming with Daniella.
Anabel's face was filled with a satisfied smile. She loved how everything played out.
The auction went on and Anabel didn't bid. She have achieved her aim. Though she wasn't interested in any of the items placed for bidding. People kept glancing at Desmond and Daniella, their whispers and side glances was a constant reminder of the evening's fiasco.
Finally, the auction came to an end. Desmond and Daniella were the first couple to leave. Desmond made his way to his car and Daniella followed up. He got inside and drove off with reckless abandoned.
Desmond gripped the steering wheel in fierce anger that his knuckles was turning white. After what felt like an eternity, he broke the silence. "Daniella, what were you thinking in there?" He asked.
"I... I don't know," She stammered. "I just couldn't stand the thought of Anabel winning. I wanted to prove myself and show her that she's still beneath us."
Desmond sighed. "I warned you not to compete with her. I warned you and you let your emotion take over you. You see what you caused? I felt like I wasted fifty thousand dollars. I just wasted it."
"It's not a waste. The bracelet is beautiful. Besides, I can't just sit there and do nothing," Daniella protested. "I felt like I had to show her that I cannot be intimated."
"That's recklessness. What do you want to prove?," Desmond replied.
"I'm sorry, Desmond. I didn't mean to cause all this trouble."
"You didn't mean to cause trouble but you disobeyed me. I warned you and you went ahead to do what you want."
"I've said I'm sorry. What else do you want? please stop shouting at me because of common fifty thousand dollars."
"Common fifty thousand dollars but you couldn't afford it." Desmond fired back.
"Because I'm sacrificing my time for you."
"You were never working when I met you. And because of this, I don't think we will continue with the wedding plan." Desmond said.
"You can't say that."
"I just said it."
"Then be ready to be single again because I will leave with my baby." Daniella threatened.
"You can't threaten me with that." Desmond said.
"Then extend the wedding and see what will happen. You want to cancel our plan because of a common mistake." Daniella said.
"A mistake that took part of the budget for the wedding." Desmond replied.
"You can say anything you want but the wedding will still hold. We are getting married, Desmond." Daniella said but Desmond ignored her and kept driving. He was fed up already.