Auction

In addition to the group wedding that was the highlight of the cruise's Christmas event, a notable auction also took place in the cruise's casino, attended by businessmen known not only in the corporate world. The auction was one of the event highlights of that cruise. As the auction began, the first item up for bid was a Moussaieff Red Diamond, which is exceedingly rare."Is that the Moussaieff diamond?" Abigail exclaimed in surprise, gazing at the ring that was the first auction item.

"Do you know about that red diamond?" Edward asked in disbelief. He did not expect the young woman to be knowledgeable about it. Tiffany and James, who were behind the two, were also surprised to hear Abigail's remark.

"Of course. I work for a jewelry company; it's the bare minimum for me to know about these things," said Abigail. Although everyone treated her as just an office maid, she knew about the jewelry they made, especially since Ulrick Jewels was one of the most famous companies producing high-class jewelry.

"You impress me. Tell me more about that diamond," Edward urged.

"The Moussaieff Diamond is the largest known red diamond, weighing 5.11 carats. It was discovered by a farmer in Brazil around 1990," Abigail explained, further captivating Edward. 

The bidding began at $7,000,000. As the bidding for the rare colored diamond unfolded, Abigail found herself glancing at the young man who was silently observing the stage. James, too, remained quiet, seemingly waiting to see if his uncle would participate in the auction. The auction continued until the final item was presented.

"No way! That's the Noor-ul-Ain Tiara," exclaimed the young woman in awe, gazing at the tiara. "The Noor-ul-Ain Diamond Tiara, given to Empress Farah on her marriage to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, boasts a centerpiece that is a 60-carat pink diamond, one of the most significant pink diamonds known. Surrounded by hundreds of colored diamonds and steeped in centuries of royal history, it is incomparable." 

Everyone was astonished upon seeing the last item. None had anticipated it. The auctioneer announced that the last item was of great value.

"In Persian and Arabic, Noor-ul-Ain translates to 'light of the eye,' and the diamond truly honors its name. Weighing 60 carats, it stands among the largest colored diamonds globally. The Noor-ul-Ain, a pink diamond, belongs to an exclusive group of gems, representing only .0001 percent of the world's precious stones. Moreover, it's classified as a type IIa diamond, the rarest kind, shared by the likes of the Hope Diamond.  

The Noor-ul-Ain Diamond, the centerpiece of Empress Farah's tiara, radiates magnificently, encircled by 324 pink, yellow, and colorless baguette-cut diamonds, with many ranging from 14 to 19 carats," the auctioneer told the attendees.

Everyone questioned whether what they were seeing was real or just an imitation, knowing well that the auction was not legitimate. Thus, it would not surprise them if the item was not authentic.

Yet, the people present seemed indifferent. They were ready to spend money just to own that tiara. The auctioneer announced that the starting price for the Tiara was $50,000,000. Upon hearing this, the businessmen present swallowed hard. A hush fell over the crowd. If the tiara was genuine, $50,000,000 would not be enough considering the rarity of its centerpiece diamond.

The auctioneer paused briefly, waiting for the attendees to start bidding, but no one seemed eager to bid such a high amount. That changed when Davin announced his bid.

“$50,100,000,” suddenly declared Romero, a businessman determined to outbid the young man. Abigail glanced at the man, then at Edward. Did they not care about the money being squandered in this auction?

“$60,000,000,” Edward stated without turning to look at them. Everyone's mouth fell open while watching the young man, who appeared quite serious about the substantial amount he mentioned. Even James and Tiffany could only stare at Edward. It seemed Edward was challenging the businessman.

"$65,000,000," Romero countered. James abruptly sat down upon hearing the man's bid. Everyone was just listening to the exchange of bids between Romero and Edward.

Some of those present were whispering and wondering if Romero had such a large number. They were not surprised by Edward because they knew he had money, but they knew Romero's businesses were not doing well, especially since he was humiliated by the young Edward in a business deal. They also knew that the man was heavily in debt.

"$70,000,000," Edward declared. Abigail looked at the young man in surprise. She wondered how far the bidding would go. Even if they sold their souls, it would not be enough for such an amount. But the young man seemed serious.

"$75,000,000," Romero replied. Everyone in the hall was astounded as neither party wanted to lose.

"$90,000,000." The crowd was further shocked when Edward suddenly announced his bid. Romero glanced at the young man. "This cub," he muttered irritably, looking at the youth. He knew he was stubborn, but he hadn't expected to encounter someone even more so. If this continued, he was sure to be outbid again by him.

"$100,000,000," Romero declared, causing everyone to pause. Edward secretly smiled when he heard the man's bid. Everyone was in disbelief; Romero's bid was excessively high—where would he get such a large amount?

"$100,000,000 going once, going twice," announced the auctioneer. "And sold for $100,000,000 to Mr. Romero," he added when no further bids were made. After declaring the winner, Edward turned to Romero with a mocking smile.

"That brat," Romero muttered in annoyance upon realizing what had happened. For the second time, he had been outplayed by the young man, and now a significant amount of money was slipping through his fingers. Not just millions of pesos, but millions upon millions. He had been too caught up in his emotions and desire for revenge to notice that he was being led on.

"Uncle Edward, you do realize the huge risk you took," James said after the auction. If the man hadn't fallen for his uncle's ploy, they would have lost a substantial sum.

"You're amazing, Mr. Edward," Tiffany said admiringly to the young man.