An Understated Dominance - Chapter 377

Dustin was thrilled when he spotted the red gemstone. He had thought he would leave the auction empty-handed, but luck was on his side.

“What’s so special about that red stone?” Jayla scoffed, looking down at him. “I have plenty of those at home. Only someone like you, who hasn’t seen much of the world, would get excited over it.”

Dustin ignored her and focused on the gemstone on the stage. It was a deep crimson, shaped like a calabash. At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but its size made it valuable. A professional jeweler would see it as a top-quality gem.

Roderick, confused, asked, “Mr. Rhys, do you really like it?” He didn’t think Dustin was the type to care about precious stones, especially since this one was uncut. While it was a treasure, it didn’t seem remarkable.

“I must have this gem,” Dustin replied firmly.

“Great! If you want it, I’ll spend my entire fortune to get it for you!” Roderick said earnestly. He saw this as a chance to impress Dustin and was determined to make it happen.

“This is a rare gemstone from the deep sea. The bidding starts at 50 million dollars. Each bid must go up by at least one million. Let’s begin!” The auctioneer kicked off the bidding, and the excitement in the room quickly built up again.

“55 million!”

“60 million!”

“I raise it to 68 million!”

Wealthy bidders eagerly called out their offers, ready to compete for the gem.

The atmosphere in the auction room was electric as bidders raised their paddles, sparking intense competition. The gemstone on the block was huge, and experts estimated it was worth at least two to three hundred million dollars. Roderick, a savvy businessman, knew this all too well. To discourage any other bidders, he quickly raised his paddle and shouted, “300 million!”

The lively chatter in the room fell silent as Roderick’s voice echoed around them. Many people shook their heads, realizing that bidding against Big Buck Brooks, as Roderick was known, would be pointless. No one had the financial power to outbid him.

“Mr. Roderick has raised the bid to 300 million. Is there anyone willing to offer more?” the auctioneer asked, looking around the room. But the other bidders remained quiet.

Suddenly, Jayla raised her paddle. “I’ll raise it to 400 million.” Her eyes sparkled with challenge, clearly eager to stir things up.

“500 million,” Roderick countered without hesitation.

Jayla grinned. “600 million.” She knew they were both after the gemstone and wanted to push them to their limits.

“700 million,” Roderick replied, his face unreadable.

“800 million,” Jayla said, tilting her head defiantly, ready to fight until the end.

“900 million,” Roderick shot back, his determination unwavering.