Inside the V.I.P lounge...
The V.I.P lounge erupted in a chaotic frenzy, like a wild storm unleashed, as Ellia's bid soared to unprecedented heights. The number once deemed insane at 1.2 billion credits, was dwarfed as it climbed to a staggering 2.4 billion. Yet another person was insane enough to spend 1.2 billion credits just like that.
"What...! It just went up again!" One shouted.
"How much is that?!" Another shouted.
As the chaos unfolded, the Empress sat regally at the far end of the opulent lounge, her face contorted into a deep frown. It was not simply the defeat of being outbid that troubled her, but the gnawing realization that Ellia's true identity had been exposed to a prying eye. Anna had anticipated this moment, yet the swiftness of it caught her off guard.
But depending on the choice that Ellia would make, it wouldn't even matter.