Chapter 306
“Damn it! Sharon’s still got the nerve to provoke us!” Nate’s face twisted, his voice sharp with rage. “Carter, we should keep bidding! No way she can outbid you!”
Sharon smiled faintly, her gaze falling squarely on Carter. “My budget’s eighty million,” she said, her tone light but laced with steel. “If Carter’s willing to go higher than that, the necklace is his. But if your budget’s less… I suggest you don’t waste your energy fighting me for it.”
She paused, lips curving just slightly. “Either way… you won’t win.”
“Eighty million?!” Nate nearly threw his head back laughing. His voice dripped with mockery. “Sharon, you really talk big for someone so broke. Without a man backing you, could you even cough up eight thousand?”
Sharon glared at him. “Since you’re so impressive, Nate, why don’t you bid the eighty million?”
Nate opened his mouth, then shut it, tongue-tied.
Eighty million. No way in hell was he reckless enough to fake it now.
But still, no part of him believed Sharon could possibly afford it.
His finger shot toward her like an accusation. “Oh, I get it now-you’re trying to pull the same stunt as earlier! Bait us into driving the price up, then drop out at the last second! You’re trying to scam us again!”
It was like he’d just uncovered some grand conspiracy. He practically jumped in place. “Sharon! You are absolutely shameless!”
Sharon blinked, then let out a soft gasp of mock surprise. “Nate, you should be careful with your words. We’re all bidding in good faith here. What scam?
“If I think something’s worth it, I’ll pay whatever price I want. If it exceeds what I believe it’s worth, then I’ll stop. Pretty simple, isn’t it?”
Her gaze sharpened further. “So by your logic… anyone who backs out of bidding against you is malicious? Interesting.”
Her lips curved into a slow, amused smile. “Besides… I’ve won more bids than you tonight.”
Nate snapped back without thinking, “Yeah, because you’ve got another man paying for it all!”
A low, languid voice cut through the tension. Xavier leaned lazily back, his tone indifferent but weighted. “Nate, not every woman needs a man to buy things for her.”
He glanced lazily at him. “Everything Sharon’s won tonight was paid for with her own money. Has nothing to do with me. You really shouldn’t project your own limitations onto others. Especially not onto women.”
His gaze turned sharper. “The very women you look down on… might just be richer and far more capable than you.”
A ripple moved through the crowd, especially among the women.
Several nodded, eyes filled with approval for Xavier.
At the same time, their faces twisted with disgust toward Nate.
Someone muttered under her breath, “This guy… isn’t he from the Hendricks family? What a misogynist. I need to tell my sisters
-never, ever marry into that family,”
Another woman pulled out her phone. “My mom’s the chairwoman of our group. Looks like we need to reconsider working with the Hendricks family. A guy this sexist? The company’s culture can’t be much better.”
“I just remembered-my cousin’s supposed to go on a blind date with someone from the Hendricks family next week,” another
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whispered arpaty “Yeah, I’m calling her and selling her to run.”
The mus Salled pen whispers, fingers pointing, eyebrows raised.
Nate’s face turned the color of bad watercalen – streaked with embarrassment, humiliation, and panic.
Fir stumbled grasping in words ‘No, no that’s not what I meant…
He could already picture his father’s face when this got back to him. A man who cared about nothing but profit-if he knew Nate had trashed the family name ever a few stupid remarks, he’d break his legs.
But no one was listening
The looks directed at Natte were pure contempt.
Even those who realized Nate had just spoken without thinking didn’t bother offering him any grace.
They were thinking, Too stupid Way too stupid. If we work with idiots like him, it’ll rub off.”
Then Kelly leaned forward, her tone dipped in sugar and poison. “Sharon do you really think… you can actually afford this necklace?
