Chapter 51

As soon as Napier's words filled the hall, everyone's attention shifted back to the two prominent seats.

Brandon studied the woman nearby. She stood completely still, her true feelings hidden beneath her mask.

Business wvorld often felt like a battleground, full of strategy and subtle moves. For those at the center,mind games could make all the difference.

For Brandon, self-control was everything. Over time,he had mastered the art of staying unreadable, and that skill had helped him win many of these silent duels.

Nobody could tell what he was truly thinking, nor could they guess if his calm manner meant strong confidence or simply served as a bluff. At the same time, whenever he let any emotion slip, it was impossible to know whether he was accidentally exposing a weakness or deliberately setting a trap.

He always seemed to find a way to read his rivals,unraveling their strategies with ease.

However, the woman before him was different.

Brandon narrowed his eyes, determined to pick up on anything she might reveal.

Once Napier grew quiet, the spotlight shifted to the woman behind the mask.

Everyone watched as she lifted her gaze and looked straight at Brandon.

With a barely-there smile on her lips, she met his eyes.

She then slowly raised her right hand, and soon a new figure showed on the digital board.

"Fifteen million now from bidder 823!" Napier's calm,seasoned voice carried through the entire venue with ease.

That was over fifteen times more than where things had started.

The stone itself was worth just about one million,and now the price tag had soared to fifteen.

Earlier, the room had been full of noise and excitement, but now the silence was so thick, no one dared breathe.

Every person seemed frozen, all waiting to see what would happen next.

"Fifteen million from bidder 823. Will anyone else offer more?" At that, every gaze shifted back to Brandon.

He kept his face as unreadable as ever, though his right hand rose in response.

Brandon's calm voice rang out, saying, "Bidder 888matches with eighteen million dollars."

Eighteen million dollars!

A collective gasp swept through the audience.

A single tanzanite stone had now climbed to an astonishing eighteen million dollars.

And there was still no guarantee this would be the final price.

Napier wasted no time. "Bidder 888 stands at eighteen million dollars. Is there anyone willing to go higher?"The weight of his words seemed to hang over the room.

Once again, all eyes returned to the masked woman.

Would she actually push the bidding any further?

If she raised the amount yet again, could she handle the consequences of that choice?

Eighteen million dollars meant little to someone like Brandon,whose fortune was practically limitless.

He could easily choose to match or outdo her bid,especially if it meant putting more money toward charitable causes.

To Brandon, this sum barely made a dent. His personal contributions to charity in the past year alone

had already reached well over a billion. These included scholarships,projects for rural development, medical support for sick children, disaster relief, specialized schools, and many different funds.

Some donations had come from him alone or in his and his wife's names. Meanwhile, the Watson Group had supported an even wider range of charitable programs.

With all that wealth, Brandon might feel slighted enough to drive the price even higher,just to make things difficult for the woman across from him, or to tarnish her reputation.

Would she still be brave enough to make another move?

The air was thick with tension as the crowd stared at the masked woman, waiting for her next step.

Then, without the slightest hint of hesitation, she calmly lifted her right hand once more.

Napier's announcement rang through the hall. "Bidder 823 has offered twenty million dollars!"

Instantly, the mood in the room shifted.

People looked at the masked woman with new eyes.

She had to be out of her mind.

Did she genuinely have no fear at all?

Her rival was none other than Brandon.

Brandon had made it clear that he would not stop until the tanzanite belonged to him.

"Bidder 823 puts forward twenty million dollars. Do l hear anything higher?" Napier asked, steering the spotlight toward Brandon, yet every gaze remained fixed on the woman behind the mask.

Many thought she had completely lost her mind.

Most guests had the means to bid twenty million,considering only the most affluent and influential had been invited, but none felt they could match her boldness.

A chill flickered in Brandon's gaze.

He recognized her actions for what they were-a direct challenge.

With every confident and seemingly playful bid, she was testing him. This was not just about showing off wealth or power; it was about pushing the limits of his patience, as well as his authority as head of the Watson Group.

Brandon did not hesitate. He raised his right hand again.

"Bidder 888 is increasing the offer to twenty-five million dollars!"

Shock rippled through the crowd. Twenty-five million dollars!

Nobody in the room had imagined the bidding would reach such heights, except perhaps for one person.

"Bidder 888 is offering twenty-five million dollars. Is there anyone prepared to bid higher?" Napier called out.

The focus in the room stayed fixed on the masked woman.

Brandon watched her closely.

His gaze sharpened, and he tried to see past the mask,hoping to uncover the real reason for her daring bids.

Yet the woman only gave a subtle smile, then calmly lifted her right hand.

Instead of raising her bid, the masked woman gently pressed her right hand over her heart and gave a slight bow.

"You win," she remarked. "Congratulations, Mr.Watson."

Her calm words carried through the hall, leaving the audience in stunned silence.

Just as everyone expected her to keep fighting, she stepped back,handling her exit with unexpected grace.

It was as if she had been guiding every moment, with Brandon playing along in the story she set in motion.

The spotlight lingered on her, highlighting the elegance of her silver satin gown and her delicate silhouette.

Was this truly a loss for her,though?

All around, the room filled with whispers and glances as guests chose sides.

Some insisted that she had failed miserably, while those who understood better saw something entirely different.

She had just achieved a stunning victory in the battle of wills.

"We've now reached the final stage of bidding. Bidder 888 has offered twenty-five million dollars. Will anyone go higher?" Napier's voice cut through the tension, snapping everyone back to the moment.

Nobody answered.

Twenty-five million dollars was way more than most could imagine paying for a single tanzanite stone.

Napier called out, "Twenty-five million,first call."

Silence met his words.

He continued, "Twenty-five milion,second call."

Still, not a sound from the audience. Napier announced, "Twenty-five million,final call."

He allowed a few seconds to pass, but no one dared to make another offer.

At last, Napier brought down the gavel.

A spotlight caught both Brandon and the dazzling, rich blue tanzanite.

Napier announced, "The tanzanite has been sold for twenty-five million dollars! Please confirm your number again, 888. Congratulations on your new treasure."