Nathaniel was next to raise his hand, "One hundred and fifty thousand dollars."
"Three hundred thousand dollars," came the counter from the same man. The middle-aged competitor bowed out. The tension was heavy.
I shot Nathaniel a look, in an attempt to dissuade him; but his determined expression was fixed on acquiring the vase. The auditorium fell as silent as a graveyard.
Just when it seemed the vase would be Nathaniel's, the other man lifted his hand.
"One million."
Gasps and whispers filled the room, a reaction to the high bid that none of the other items had achieved. It seemed absurd even to the affluent guest. I attempted to see who had made the bid, but my view was obstructed by a sea of heads, all craning to glimpse the bidder. Giving up from knowing who it was. I turned to Na
