Chapter 264: Focus On What Truly Matters
In front of the large screen, Vivienne’s eyes unintentionally caught Warren and Natalie among the spectators. Warren’s efforts for Natalie had surpassed her expectations. Vivienne, however, was not one to bow out gracefully, particularly against those who had wronged her before. She swiftly grabbed the intercom and signaled Jacob with a clear gesture.
Zayn, the auctioneer, swept his gaze over the attendees authoritatively, pausing only to glance at Jacob before starting his call. “Two hundred and ten million. Going once.”
“Three hundred million,” Jacob lazily said, casually raising his paddle before Zayn could continue. Zayn was left momentarily speechless.
The room burst into chaos, filled with gasps and murmurs spreading like a sudden wave. Every head turned in Jacob’s direction, their expressions a mix of curiosity and astonishment. The crowd craned their necks, eager to see the big spender. Warren was curious too. Warren had set his limit at two hundred and ten million, never expecting someone to outbid him so dramatically.
Diana leaned forward, trying to get a clearer view. She had anticipated seeing some flamboyant tycoon; instead, she saw a plain-looking older man. If it weren’t for his crisp suit and the jaw-dropping bid he had placed, he would have remained unnoticed.
“Natalie, who is this guy?”
Natalie’s face tensed slightly. “Forreal categorizes memberships into three levels: top-tier, mid-tier, and entry. The top-tier members typically don’t attend in person; they send proxies.” This meant Jacob was acting on behalf of a top-tier member. Rumors had circulated that one needed assets over one hundred billion to be considered for the top-tier membership. That was merely a conservative estimate.
Even if the Mitchell and Chambers families sold all their assets, they still couldn’t match the financial power of whoever was backing Jacob. Only those rare individuals in possession of a black gold card could rival such financial power. Yet, no one had ever been seen using one in public.
Warren’s hands tightened into fists, and he looked at Natalie regretfully. “Natalie, I’m sorry we fell short.”
“It’s alright,” Natalie responded gently, her expression soft. “Perhaps that diamond was never meant for us.” Internally, however, she was furious. She resented that Warren lacked the influence to secure top-tier membership. She despised the fact that there were people whose wealth dwarfed their own to such an extent.
At the same time, in a luxurious VIP suite overlooking the auction, a man lounged comfortably. His sun-kissed blond hair and the playful sparkle in his eyes illuminated his chiseled features, giving him an almost divine aura. Yet, the sly twist of his lips lent him an irresistibly roguish charm. He casually spun a bone ring on his finger, watching the auction unfold on the screen with the amusement of someone observing an entertaining spectacle. A slight smirk appeared. “The extremes people reach to showcase their wealth are indeed shameless.”
“Sir, should we investigate who they are?” his companion asked, his buzz-cut hairstyle lending him a stern look.
The blond man raised his eyes, his look piercing even in relaxation. “Remember this—don’t squander time on those of no consequence. Focus on what truly matters.”
“Understood.”
Forreal boasted a client database reputed to be the most secure globally, its protections nearly foolproof. However, for those who were determined enough, there was always a way through. But in this scenario, the effort simply wasn’t justified.