"Why do you say that? He sleeps with anything that has a pulse," I retorted.
"He used to sleep with anything that has a pulse," Chad corrected me. His words piqued my curiosity, and I narrowed my gaze at him, but he only chuckled and looked away.
Chad had been part of the Donovans' inner circle for a longer time than me, earning him the position of one of Archer's most trusted associates. Archer had once revealed that Jessica, known for her ability to extract information by seducing Archer's guards and friends, had never succeeded in winning over Chad. As another one of Archer's guards and friends, I also managed to resist Jessica's charms, though I kept that fact to myself.
Just as I thought of her, Jessica walked past Chad and me, heading straight to the front to join Archer. Chad groaned in apprehension.
"I'm not paid to break up catfights. That's on you," I teased him, chuckling.
"Come on!" he protested, clearly not thrilled with the situation.
Two imposing figures entered the room later, just as the mayor announced the beginning of the auction.
Archer locked eyes with me from the front, and I followed his gaze to the men entering. Venom tipped his hat at me in a greeting, and I met his cold gaze with my own. Then I looked at Adolf, who was giving me a cold peculiar stare with his one eye and a shiver ran down my spine. The man looked like a bloody reaper with his fucking eyepatch. I knew at that moment that he knew who I was, though I couldn't fathom how. The urge to call Adele overwhelmed me, and I reached for my phone to text her.
"Hey, baby bird, what does a final-year undergrad do on a Friday night?" I typed, my nerves tingling with anticipation. After a couple of minutes, I saw the three dotted lines appear, indicating that she was responding.
“Finally managing to find some well-deserved rest after tirelessly working on their project?” she replied. A wave of relief washed over me as I chuckled.
"How is she?" Chad asked beside me, curious about the conversation. I smiled at him.
"Let's find out," I said, typing, "Chad wants to know how you're doing?"
"Besides feeling guilty for slowly poisoning innocent cute mice we used for experiments? I'm pretty okay for a cold-blooded killer!" she responded, accompanied by a crying emoji. Chad and I laughed.
"Ouch, sorry about that. I hope you gave them a proper burial?" I typed back.
"I did! I'm not a monster!" she replied.
Chad and I shared another chuckle. "Okay, baby bird. Don't worry, they're surely in a better place now. And in a few months, you'll be done for good," I reassured her.
"I can't wait. Tell Chad I say hi," she replied.
"You're lucky to have each other," Chad remarked. "Family is everything."
"Yeah, I know," I replied, and I assured Adele that I would video call her when I got back home.
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed collectors, we have a truly extraordinary piece up for auction today—a genuine artifact from Ancient Egypt, with a provenance that dates back thousands of years," the auctioneer's voice drew my attention, and I turned to face the scene. The room was buzzing with excitement as wealthy art enthusiasts gathered for the bidding war. The walls were adorned with magnificent paintings and sculptures, but all eyes were fixed on the centerpiece—the rare and precious Egyptian artifact.
The bidding began with a distinguished gentleman confidently raising his paddle and declaring, "I will start the bidding at $100,000!"
"$500,000!" Venom countered, raising his paddle.
"$1,000,000!" Barbara shouted, raising her paddle after Archer leaned in to whisper something in her ear. It was clear that things were about to heat up.
"$2,000,000!" Venom quickly countered. Adolf, giving Archer an icy glare, threw his own bid into the mix. Archer smirked.
"He's like the devil these days," Chad muttered.
"I think he's gone beyond that, Chad," I replied quietly. My eyes scanned the room, watching Adolf and Venom closely as Chad and I moved closer to the action.
"$5,000,000!" Barbara countered, her voice trembling slightly. Jessica's movement caught my attention as she stood to Archer's right, while Barbara stood to his left. Jessica hooked her arm around Archer's as if staking a claim. I watched as Archer glanced at her and slowly removed his hand from hers.
The bidding escalated rapidly as each participant fought for ownership of the coveted artifact. The prices soared, and the room filled with intense whispers and occasional gasps. Venom swiftly raised the stakes to $40,000,000.
Not to be outdone, Barbara raised her paddle and confidently shouted, "One hundred million dollars!"
Gasps filled the air. I could feel Adolf vibrating with intensity. When Venom hesitated to counter the offer, Adolf grabbed the paddle from him and raised it defiantly. "Five hundred million dollars!" he roared. The room fell silent, the tension palpable.
"Shit," Venom cursed. Even Adolf seemed shocked by his own audacity.
It was clear that the auction had transcended a mere acquisition of art; it had become a test of wealth, ego, and determination. Archer suddenly smiled wryly, catching everyone's attention.
"You know what? This is getting absurd," he exclaimed, his voice carrying across the room. "I'm out."
The audience gasped in surprise, struggling to comprehend Archer's sudden withdrawal. Venom and Adolf glanced at him, their faces a mix of confusion and disbelief. It slowly dawned on them that Archer had never intended to win the auction; he had manipulated the situation to force Adolf into overpaying. Archer's satisfaction gleamed in his eyes.
As the crowd murmured, the auctioneer declared Adolf the victor. The auction continued, but the once exhilarating atmosphere had dampened, the focus shifting to the calculated tactics employed by Archer Donovan.
When Adolf and Venom approached Archer, I swiftly moved closer, with Chad following my lead. Archer strategically positioned Barbara behind him, protecting her with his own body. Jessica shot a disapproving glare at Barbara, clearly dissatisfied with Archer's choice of companion. Adolf came to a halt just inches away from Archer, attempting to match his height despite his shorter stature. Archer remained unperturbed, sporting a sly smile.
"You played me! You knew I wouldn't back down! You wanted me to waste my money!" Adolf growled, his voice seething with anger.
Archer took a brief pause before leaning in, lowering his voice to a chilling, threatening tone as he addressed Adolf, "Get the hell out of my town."
Venom made a move to reach into his jacket, but I stepped in front of him, a smile playing on my lips. "I suggest you reconsider any actions right now. Because if you choose to proceed, you'll meet your end alongside your boss. So behave," I rasped. He glared at me, his jaw clenched.