Sold To My Enemy

Freda - Present day.

I stepped out of the car to meet a flurry of cameras as press and paparazzi swarmed towards me, all chattering a million questions. My men – the men my dad had assigned to follow me struggled to pave the way as we weaved through the crowd before the art gallery, and a paparazzi with a smug face stepped in the way.

“Ma’am, are you an art enthusiast? Could you tell us why the Lorenzo art is important to you?”

I c****d my head to the side. “Maybe you should shove those question right up your ass.”

As I walked away, their chatter increased, and they struggled to follow me inside when the security guards in charge of the gallery stopped them. That was one hell of a relief. And that was how I got to be standing before the Lorenzo painting, where a lady with an ugly smirk was questioning my value.

Auction events were a way for some to flaunt their financial prowess. But I saw it as a way to prove dominion and put people in their place. Right now, some b***h is pissing me off, and I so wanted to show her to the trash where she belonged.

I whirled around to face her, tucking the strands of my blonde hair to the side. “You think you’re so important? How about we see your monetary worth instead?”

She growled. “Maybe we should. That way, I get to show you your place.”

With that, I stalked away towards the auctioneer of the event. “Can I have a word, Mr Prescott?”

He grinned at the people he examined a particular painting with. “Allow me gentlemen. I have to attend to one of our finest patrons.” Then she turned to me. “Miss Freda Nevrakis?”

“Wouldn’t you like to make some extra cash? I suppose you could use more to keep up.”

“What’ve you got?”

“I’d like you to call for an auction first before the Lorenzo painting.” My voice was crisp and grim.

“I’m intrigued.” He gave me his full attention. “Give me details.”

“This’s going to sound weird.” I glanced around. “This time, you’re auctioning for human beings.”

“That’s crazy, Miss—”

I stopped him. “Whosoever gets bought leaves with the buyer. They can sort themselves out by paying triple the amount.”

“Damn!” The man grinned. “This rich fools are going to bite.”

“You get to keep a percentage, and the buyer keeps the remaining.”

“Right. May I know the person to be auctioned?”

"The interesting part. Me and the lady over there. I glanced back at an ebony lady behind me as I slid him a little paper bearing our names.

“What the—”

“Just do it. I can figure myself out. She can’t.”

“Alright then. You’re sure about this?”

“I’ve got this.” I strode away confidently, flashing the brown-skinned woman a devilish grin as I breezed past.

At the sound of the bell, we all got to our seats. I slumped into mine with a sweet relief. Let me see how she gets herself out of this bait. I doubt she has the financial prowess to double the amount of the highest bidder. However, that's going to be a cakewalk for me. I glanced around to find her wearing a smirk, gaze glued to the auctioneer.

“Alright. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Right now, before we go into auctioning for the Lorenzo painting, I’d like us to have a special auction this evening.” A few murmurings rose in the crowd. He continued nevertheless.

“This time, we are going to be buying human beings." He grinned, and I followed suit in my seat. “The person bought follows the buyer home, or pays triple the amount.” The murmur rose to a cheer. I snuck a glance at the lady. She wore a scowl now, glancing in my direction.

The auctioneer continued. “Allow me to invite the lot to join us. We have Miss Freda Nevrakis and Miss Olivia Jason." I watched as the lady stood up angrily and strode towards the platform. I stood up with a flourish and strode like I owned the art gallery.

“Alright then.” He began with the black woman as the bid rose from fifty thousand to seven million dollars. I glanced at the lady, whose scowl was replaced with dread, as a smug-looking young man bid for his possession to join him. Then, the auctioneer started my bid.

“Alright, we start with this pretty young lady with fifty thousand dollars. Would you call a hundred?”

“One fifty thousand.” A young man in the crowd grinned.

“One fifty thousand? This bid hasn't really ignited yet.”

The smug-faced man took a step forward. “Three hundred thousand. Wouldn’t hurt to go home with two ladies.”

“I don’t mind adopting one more daughter.” A woman in the front row grinned. “I call a four hundred and fifty thousand.”

“Four hundred and fifty thousand dollars loose. Let’s make this a game, would ya?”

“One million dollars!” The smug face man said again.

“Five million!” The young man who bid first grinned.

The woman in the front row raised her hands. “Damn these rich folks! I’m out.”

“Ten million.” It was the smug man again. He is relentless. At this rate, he thinks he has me. But thirty million dollars is nothing for me.

“Ten million dollars! We are down to the risky end. Anyone willing to push further?” The auctioneer grinned as I basked in my victory, which didn’t last.

“Fifty billion dollars!” A voice boomed from the crowd, silencing the place to pin-drop silence. I looked up and got the shock of my life. The recognition was unmistakable. The man strode forward like he was in control of all of Rome, his bidding card raised.

“Holy…” The auctioneer trailed off.

I glanced at him with a raised brow, and he returned my gaze. Then, I turned back to the man as I worked the calculation in my head. Where in the seven hell

s will I get one hundred and fifty billion?