Chained By The Mafia Lord Mafia Series

Sophia Pov

"Our first item of the night is the whispering city," the auctioneer announced. I stared at the painting from across the room, the dim lighting in the gallery seemed to heighten the painting's quality.

"The bid will start at $1,500," the auctioneer said, and bidding began.

"$2,000."

"$2,500."

I observed as others raised their paddles to bid. It wasn't that I wasn't interested in the painting, in fact, I was only here for the painting. I saw no reason to join the rest in the bidding game, there was no real challenger for me.

"$7,000."

The room went silent. I guessed everyone was done playing. After waiting for a few more seconds, I raised my paddle just as the announcer was about to declare it sold, "$8... $1,000,000."

Everyone turned around in shock.

"Wow! Did I hear that right? $1,000,000 from the gentleman at the back!" the auctioneer announced happily.

I turned to see a man standing at the back, dressed in a black tuxedo. He had long hair tied in a short ponytail and a permanent scowl on his face, but he still managed to look hot.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard the announcer calling for more bids. Everyone began murmuring among themselves. "Who would be crazy enough to bid higher?" someone muttered. I would.

"$2,000,000!"

The room went dead silent. I turned to see that the man now had his eyes on me. His scowl seemed to disappear for a second, but I wasn't sure since I could barely see.

"Wow, the painting is only worth $1,500, but we are already at $2,000,000," the auctioneer exclaimed.

"Any other bidders?" the auctioneer asked. I stared at the stranger with a proud smile, knowing that he wouldn't go higher. To my surprise, he lifted his paddle and, with a low yet authoritative voice, said, "$5,000,000."

My jaw dropped in surprise. Who bids $5 million on a painting? Even the announcer was dumbfounded. "F-f-five m-million?" he stuttered.

I gripped my paddle tightly, I couldn't be defeated like this. I glanced at the man, who was staring back at me with... interest? Curiosity? I couldn't tell.

After a moment of hesitation, I decided to throw caution to the wind and take this hot stranger head-on. "Twenty million dollars!" I yelled. If I thought the room was already dead silent before, then I was wrong. The room became so quiet that I could hear the inhales and exhales of others.

"Sold!" the auctioneer announced, and the room erupted in applause. I had just bought a painting for twenty million dollars!

I turned to look at the person who had successfully made me spend my life savings on a painting and saw him staring back with a grin. It was the first time his lips had curved up since the auction began.

After the auction ended, I made my way to his table and introduced myself. "Hey there, I see you didn't buy anything?" I started with a smile.

"A pretty lady stole the only piece I was interested in," he replied, flashing me a smirk, the same one he had given me from across the room.

"Bummer, but I know another piece of art you could take home," I said, trailing my fingers along his tuxedo. His grin grew wider, hinting that he knew what I was implying, and soon his hands found their way around my waist. Maybe that painting was really worth 20 million dollars.