Chapter 250: Stuck
Lisa and Luna, although at a distance from one another, stood rooted to the spots they occupied. Luna had not expected the men in the room to react so enthusiastically. She had expected Mina to run out of the venue in shame, but the woman just stood there like a deer caught in headlights.
Luna had half hoped that Cylus would have come to Mina's rescue but for some reason the man acted as if his words were lost. He did not even have an expression as the men around him cheerfully shouted, trying to outbid one another for the woman he had invited as his companion.
Luna did not know that Cylus was keeping a distance from Mina to avoid irking his mother. He knew that if he interfered with the bidding, the person who would suffer was Mina, not himself. Thus, he instructed his friend to bid on his behalf.
Lisa on the other hand had expected the bid to drop off, with no takers. She did not think anyone would actually bid $50,000 let alone $200,000. She knew Mina was pretty, but there was no way one night with her was worth that much money and she wondered what appeal the woman had.
Other than her curves, Lisa could not see anything special about Mina. She especially hated how weak the woman appeared. If it were herself in Mina's position, she would have taken the microphone and cursed everyone, but Mina just stood there watching the bid spiral out of control, while the hostess struggled to keep up with who was bidding.
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Mina's brain had long ago shut down. Had it not been for CEO Rue's constant reassurance that he would not allow anyone other than himself to win the bid, she would have long ago passed out. She wanted to run, but there was nowhere for her to go. Her only safety net was Luna, who had fed her to the lions, or Zane who must have gone home early.
Mina had no choice but to stick to Mr. Rue, and perhaps that was the reason she stayed frozen on the stage. If she wandered off now, it was likely that someone would try forcing her to accompany them. As far as the men in the room were concerned, Mina had made herself available for purchase.
The ringing in Mina's ears intensified to a pitch so high she knew it would not be long before she collapsed.
Unexpectedly, a deep and hypnotizing voice rang out from the crowd. Mina was startled into awareness because the voice reminded her of someone, although she did not know who. Her heart began to flutter as she searched for the source of the sound and then, she felt coldness spread through all her limbs. It was President Lee.
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Ian had stayed behind after CEO Rue left the room. He had also seen Mina's face when Cylus allowed his anger to get the best of him, and he too felt guilty for it. He hung back and poured himself a drink, hoping to shed the image from his mind but it kept playing on a constant loop, and he blamed himself for using Mina's reputation as a tool to do his bidding. The added stress caused his stomach to spasm, and Ian decided it was time for him to leave.
Ian wanted to avoid everyone, especially Lisa, so he settled on taking a back exit, but his attention was drawn when he heard Mina's name being called. He quickly made his way into the hall just in time to see his sister push Mina into the arms of a waiting organizer. The man led Mina to the stage where she stood with a confused look on her face.
As soon as Ian heard the bidding price was set to start at $50,000, his body tensed, and when he looked over at Mina, she was still motionless. The woman only allowed her eyes to move back and forth as she surveyed her environment, likely looking for Zane or someone else who could help.
Ian had no idea how Mina's name ended up in the drawing for the bachelorette auction, but he knew his sister had something to do with it, and for that alone, he promised to make her pay. He watched his sister intently as the bid increased dollar by dollar. He desperately wanted to see a look of shame, guilt, or anything on her face, but there was nothing. She was a blank canvas, unlike Lisa who was visibly upset.
The bid was about to conclude at $300,000, but Ian was so busy looking at his sister that he did not see who placed the bid. However, he knew it could not have been CEO Rue who was standing on the stage, whispering to Mina.
Just before the hostess slammed her gavel down, Ian blurted out the first number that popped into his head.
"One million," President Lee shouted. Shocked gasps rang out and the room was once again so quiet you could hear a pin drop. One million dollars was a lot of money to spend on an item let alone a person.
The hostess of the event blinked her eyes several times in shock before she had to question what she knew she had just heard.
"One million?" She asked and President Lee shocked her even further by bidding once again. "Two million." CEO Rue knew when to be stubborn and when not to be, he quickly took to the mic and counted down the bidding and the hostess who seemed to be in a daze slammed the gavel down absentmindedly.
Since Mina did not have a talent listed, she did not have to stay on the stage. Cylus wanted to help her leave, but President Lee made it impossible. He quickly made his way onto the platform and stood in front of Mina where he whispered something, and the girl nodded. Mina then turned to CEO Rue and told him that she was rushed when she filled out the auction card, she then asked him if she could add her talent. He of course, agreed.
President Lee made his way off the stage as Mina took a seat behind the piano and took several deep breaths. What he had said to her was the truth. If she walked out of the event without showing off her 'talent,' it would be as good as labelling herself a prostitute. As much as she disliked the man, she knew to take his advice.
Mina's fingers started to move across the piano, she played something unrecognizable on the keys. It was a soft yet happy melody that made the hairs on the back of Cylus' neck stand up. He glanced over at his mother who wore the same expression.
Madam Rue looked down at her own mother, who had been in and out of lucidity throughout the night, and unsurprisingly, the old woman's eyes were focused on the stage for the first time during the event.