The auction was a sea of black ties and designer gowns. Champagne flowed, diamonds sparkled under the chandeliers, and everyone was watching us. The Golden Couple.
Brandon held my hand the entire time, parading me around like a trophy.
“Look at that,” I said, pointing to the catalog. Item 45. A rare, vintage sapphire necklace. It was breathtaking, deep blue like the ocean. “It’s beautiful.”
“You want it?” Brandon asked, squeezing my hand. “It’s yours.”
But when the bidding started, it went wild. The price climbed higher and higher. Brandon bid a few times, but then an anonymous phone bidder jumped in, driving the price to an astronomical figure.
“Going once, going twice… sold to the bidder on the phone!”
I felt a pang of disappointment, though I tried to hide it. “It’s okay,” I murmured. “It was too much anyway.”
Brandon suddenly stood up. He walked to the stage, grabbing the microphone. The room went silent.
“I may have lost the necklace,” he announced, his voice booming with charisma, “but I won’t let my wife go home empty-handed. I’m buying every remaining piece in this lot for her. Because nothing is too good for Maureen.”