Hina's voice cut through the room like a blade. "Fifteen million dollars!" she yelled, standing tall on the table, her boot planted firm and her hand thrust high. The sound bounced off the walls, sharp and commanding, and every head in the auditorium whipped around to stare at us.
The neon lights flickered over the sea of faces—wide eyes, open mouths, a mix of shock and curiosity in on our little table in the back.
The announcer stumbled over his words for a second, caught off guard, before he regained his flair.
"Oh my God!" he shouted, clutching the microphone tighter and pointing at Hina like she'd just pulled off a magic trick. "We've got a young woman swooping in with the highest bid at the last moment! Folks, this is getting wild!"
His voice was practically vibrating with excitement, and the crowd fed off it, murmuring and shifting in their seats.