Chapter 318

Sophie stared at David, her expression flat. “I’m glad that gemstone found a real admirer. Got a problem with that?”

David clenched his jaw. “You sure the buyer even wanted it?”

Sophie shot back without missing a beat. “As long as it didn’t land in the hands of a creep like you, I’m happy.”

“You—” David sputtered.

Alice tugged hard at his arm. “David, let’s go. There aren’t many pieces left.”

Half-dragging him, Alice pulled him away. David still tossed a final barb over his shoulder. “I’ve got serious business to handle. Unlike you idle gawkers, I don’t have time to waste. Stop following me.”

Sophie watched him stalk off and couldn’t resist muttering, “As if anyone’s chasing after him.”

Adrian took her hand. “Come on, let’s go too.”

Sophie blinked. “Where?”

“He said not to follow him. That’s exactly why we should.”

Realization dawned, and Sophie almost laughed. David had banned them from trailing him, so of course Adrian wanted to do the opposite—just to needle him.

She frowned a little. “Are you serious? Isn’t that childish?”

Adrian arched a brow. “Wasn’t that little scene fun to watch?”

Sophie puffed her cheeks. “Sure, it cracked me up. But lightning doesn’t strike twice. What are the odds someone swoops in again just to humble him?”

Adrian smirked. “We won’t know unless we peek. If we miss another show, wouldn’t that be a shame?”

His words stirred Sophie’s curiosity. Still, she muttered under her breath, “Aren’t we being too mean?” She pictured them sneaking around, waiting for David’s downfall just for their own amusement. That kind of scheming sounded like villains.

Adrian chuckled, leaning down to kiss her cheek. “Babe, you’re too adorable.”

He laced his fingers with hers. “So now you’ve seen it—my wicked side. Mischief and malice. Will you walk away from me?”

Sophie shook her head with a sly smile. “Truth is, I’m no angel either.”

She squeezed his hand tight. “Looks like that makes us partners in mischief.”

David set his eyes on an eight-pound gemstone. He asked around and learned what other bidders were offering. He wrote down a figure just above theirs, enough to secure it. This piece was the prize of his trip. If he won it, his mission in Maripore would be complete.

His father had told him that this task meant a lot to their family. The Lloyds needed this gemstone. His father had given him eight million—money meant to secure a stone for a heavyweight in Pico. If they got their hands on the gemstone, the Lloyds could climb back to their old standing.

David had skipped overpriced polished gems. The family didn’t have money to burn. That eight million had been scraped together. With a steady hand, David wrote down his number and dropped the bid form into the lockbox.

He waited for the reveal with calm confidence.

The auctioneer stepped forward, slips in hand, ready to announce the result. And that was when David spotted Sophie and Adrian strolling up, relaxed as if they owned the place.

His humiliation from earlier still stung. Seeing them now, he knew they were here for fresh entertainment at his expense. Wealthy dealers circled nearby. The last thing David wanted was another scene in front of them.

He barked sharply, “I told you to stay away! Why come back?”

Of course, Sophie couldn’t admit the truth—that they were tailing him for fun. She curled her lip. “You own the place now? Got exclusive shopping rights?”

David sneered. “Can you even afford these gemstones? This isn’t a playground. These cost more than you’ll ever touch.”

Sophie shot back, “Who says you have to buy just to look? Haven’t you been looking all this time without buying a thing?”

David snapped, waving a hand in frustration. “Sharp tongue.”

He swallowed his irritation and forced a smirk. “Fine. Stay, then. Watch me claim this million-dollar beauty.” He gave a haughty laugh. “Bet you’ll never see a victory like it again.”

Sophie tipped her chin to the ceiling, pretending not to hear. “Was that a stray bark?”

Adrian answered smoothly, “Yeah. A mad one.”

“Damn you!” David’s temper surged, but before he could spit it out, the auctioneer’s voice rang clear.

“Next, we’ll announce the results for lot A1356.”

David quickly masked his anger, leaving only disdain on his face. “Go ahead and laugh. Once the results are read, you won’t be laughing anymore.”

.

.

.