Sold To My Enemy

Michael

I strode into the bidding hall with a good number of my men flanking around me. They took their positions in the perimeter as I headed to a seat in the back, my personal bodyguard and right-hand man joining me. I had attended the bid to clear my head as something serious bothered me. A shipment worth billions of dollars was on the verge of slipping our hands, and I was not going to let that happen.

During my father’s days as a kingpin, I’ve learnt from him to walk out and get some air when it seemed like the world was crashing down.

“When you think the heat is overwhelming,” he had told me in his study, “just find a small ocean and step into it, and remember who you really are.”

And I was here in this auction for that reason. The bidding in this art gallery does not match the money I command. I just want to watch them bid, then buy the lot from the highest bidder at a ridiculously huge amount. It has a way of bringing me relief. I sat back in my seat, watching the man announce the lot and the rules.

“Boss, I’ve heard you mention that name before.” My right-hand man hushed.

I turned sharply at him. “What name?”

“Freda Nevrakis.”

“Huh?”

Mateo has grown from being my right-hand man to becoming a friend. I can hand him a task and go to sleep because the task is as good as done. Sometimes, I get to share personal stories with him, and we laugh about it, or he sympathizes with me if it's painful.

“Weren’t you listening the whole time, boss?”

I focused my gaze on the podium with renewed attention. Two women strode out to join the auctioneer at the podium, and I recognized one of the ladies at once. Freda? What was she doing here?

I watched as the bidding for the other woman bored me to death, and then Freda’s bidding began.

“Boss,” Mateo said again. “Don’t you think you should jump on this opportunity?”

I looked at him sharply, then back at her at the podium, recalling how I had wished to keep her by my side at all costs. She looked prettier standing there, a few strands of hair over her face. Her blue eyes were piercing, and her figure in the glittering wine dress was alluring. Mateo was right. This was my chance.

“Fifty billion dollars!” I said without thinking further, not recalling the last amount mentioned in the bid. This was the chance to have the woman I've pined for all my life.

Striding down to the podium, Mateo and a few of my men joined me. I stopped as we noticed some other men approaching us. She raised a hand to stop them.

The silence in the hall was deafening, lasting a moment too long. Then, the auctioneer slammed the gavel, and a loud ovation followed. I left the men behind and joined her on the podium, my gaze over her hair.

“What was that you were saying about fate years back?”

I met her gaze to see that her eyes were as round as saucers. A small smirk twisted my lips. In all of my days of bidding, this was the sweetest. I felt like I owned the world itself. The surprised gaze quickly shifted to a scowl. I scoffed.

Her lips moved slightly, but she couldn’t make out words.

"I thought so," I said, c*****g my head to the side and signalling for Mateo to join me. “Bring her to the house.”

“Don’t touch me!” She stopped my men from coming any closer, and the men we had seen earlier drew closer.” Mateo took a few steps closer to me, and his hand went to his waist when I held his hand. "You’re going to shoot at an auction?”

"My apologies, boss. I…" He stepped back, and I turned to Freda again, raising a brow.

“You do have a hundred and fifty billion stashed somewhere, do you?”

She bit her lip. “I mean, I can walk on my own.”

A smirk twisted my lips. “I’ll see you in the house.” I said with a note of finality and walked away.

In no time, I was in my study, riffling through files and sheets, when I heard a soft tap at the door. I glanced up as the door slowly opened to reveal Freda walking in, with Mateo and one of the men I saw with her at the art gallery following closely. Her hair was untied, and her face was wrapped in a scowl.

“Look who we have here.” I stood and rounded my desk, sitting on it.

“What do you want?” She snapped.

“If you could excuse us, Mateo.” I winked at him, then shifted my gaze to the young, muscular man who seemed to be carved out of a rock. "Are you going to keep standing there?”

She turned to the young man. “Max?”

He nodded, then left the room after Mateo. I smirked at Freda.

“You know what I want.”

“I don’t.”

“You haven’t figured out yet? I’m sorry about that.” I chuckled. “No, I pity you for that.”

“You do realize that my parents would begin searching for me once they discovered I was missing. It’s going to be a blood bath when they begin, you know?” She began pacing the room slowly, her head c****d to the side.

“Call them then. Tell them what you’ve gotten yourself into. If they can give me six times the amount, I’d let you walk.” I sat up from the desk and walked to her, lowering my voice to a whisper. “If they fail to get me the money after

six days, we’d get married.”

“What!”