Chapter Eight

NOLAN 

I didn't have anything against art sculptures or even how ridiculously expensive they were. Even as a little kid, I had attended many art sculptures sales events with my Dad and I had always found them quite boring. Just people spending loads of money on ancient-looking artworks.

I would rather spend my money on sports cars. 

The auction began and for reasons I will never understand, a lot of the people present were so excited. They just couldn't wait to spend a chunk of their money on some artwork that will be hung on the walls in their home. And then they will get bored of it when something else catches their attention. 

Eve liked Robbie and not just as a friend. I noticed it the very moment I saw both of them together. The funny thing was Robbie was clueless, he probably would never know unless she tells him directly.

Before the first sale began, I went to sit in between Robbie and Eve. Eve immediately knew I was trying to annoy her. I like that she was aware that I was trying so hard to annoy her.

She shot a smirk at me and I could see she was a little angry. Although she took her stare away from me almost instantly, I knew she was still angry. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her lips pursed as she watched the sales event with a little more attention than was necessary.

As we all watched the event, Robbie began to speak about his love for artworks—artifacts in particular. As Robbie ran his mouth, Eve's face lit up and they both began to talk. 

As the second sale began, I decided to join the auction for the artwork. The artwork I bid for was a type of surrealist painting. I had no idea why it was so much of a big deal. To me, it was just some painting that wasn't pretty in any way. 

I went ahead to join the auction and as expected, it immediately got Eve's attention. 

“What are you doing?” Eve asked, staring at me directly in the eyes. 

The heavens! Her eyes were beautiful. 

“What does it look like?” I replied, trying to suppress a grin. 

“Do you ever take anything serious? People actually look forward to these events because they really want to acquire such. . .”

I cut in. “Who's to say I'm not taking this seriously? Maybe I really want some of those paintings.”

She glared at me and the disgust in her eyes became even clearer. 

The auctioneer was a chubby woman in her late thirties. She introduced the second sale and talked about the artwork which was a surrealist painting that was about three centuries old. 

“So starting with fifteen thousand dollars, fifteen thousand dollars going” The auctioneer announced. 

About four people raised their hands—including Eve. She was trying to get the painting for herself. 

“Thirty-five thousand dollars." I said aloud. 

For a moment it seemed everyone in the event had their eyes on me. It was either they were wondering why I wanted the painting so much, or they just thought I was an idiot who didn't know how auction sales went.

“Forty thousand dollars." Eve yelled, her voice clearly enunciating every word. 

“Forty-five thousand dollars.” I shot back.

“Sixty thousand dollars." 

I hesitated, watching her reaction to me being quiet. “Seventy thousand.”

“Seventy-five." She yelled, barely letting me finish. 

We went at it for a couple more minutes. Eve ended up getting the painting for a hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. 

I let her have it. If I didn't, we'd end up buying that painting for a million or more. The bitch wasn't giving in.

For a person who just spent a hundred and twenty five grand on an artwork she probably didn't care about, she was really happy. Usually, when our eyes meet, she'd look away immediately or pretend to be something. This time, she didn't. She kept her stare on me as she had that arrogant look on her face. 

She was definitely enjoying the artwork. 

Till the entire event ended, I watched Robbie and Eve play and laugh like they had nothing to worry about. Eve, in particular, laughed so loud that I had begun to wonder whether she wanted me to be jealous or something.

I have known Robbie for quite a while. He was fun to work with and was a really honest person. But he was also a total nerd and that had me wondering whether that was what Eve was into.

Too bad it didn't bother me at all. Wait, did it? 

When the event was over, I walked up to Eve who was still talking to Robbie. 

“I will have to borrow her for a minute.” I said to Robbie, who seemed not to know that smiling wasn't a perpetual action.

Eve smiled at Robbie. “Don't worry, it won't be more than a minute.”

This girl was really annoying.

“What did you think you were doing there?”I asked, pretending not to know why she had insisted on getting the painting. 

“Maybe I really want some of those paintings.” Eve let out, saying the exact words I had said to her earlier.

“You know what? I don't think you are into art.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “You know what? I'm not really concerned about what you think."

“Well, that's funny because I think you always try to get my attention.”

“That's ridiculous!”

“I'm only saying what I'm seeing.”

We continued to argue for no solid reason. We weren't shouting or anything, but our argument made us look like some old couple arguing over who's not eating right.  

After about five minutes of talking over each other, she decided to leave. Within those five minutes, she called me a dickhead at least twenty times. 

Just as she turned to leave, she said, “You know what? You're right, I don't really care about artworks but I got that painting just so I could put you in your place.”

“How well did that go? Now you just have a painting that will constantly remind you of me.” I said, moving closer to her.

“Well, I'm giving it out to some random charity.”

I watched her as she walked away and I wondered why we always fought. The girl was insanely beautiful. But then, she was so damn bitchy.