Chapter 91 - The Auction

The girls chatted into the night and caught up on everything they had missed since they last saw each other. They then slept in late the next day and spent the entire afternoon preparing for the charity ball.

This time, Halia was wearing a beautiful gradient ball gown that went from white at the top to blue at the bottom. The bottom of the dress was studded with little diamonds that twinkled like stars and it looked like a beautiful night sky. Half her hair was tied up and pinned with a stylish diamond hair clip, while the rest of her hair dr.a.p.ed down to her h.i.p.s in elegant curls.

"Wow, you look gorgeous," Natalie praised.

Halia looked in the mirror and felt a little awkward. She wasn't used to getting this dressed up. She had barely gotten through last night, and now, she had to go through it again.

Her friend grabbed her hand with encouragement. "Although I don't know why you suddenly decided to attend this event, there's no need to be nervous, I'm here," Natalie smiled.

Halia nodded her head and headed out of the suite into the elevator. Today's event was also held at The Peninsula, but this time, it was in the much bigger and grander ballroom.

As Halia walked in with Natalie, people whispered amongst themselves again. The mysterious daughter of Henry Feng had arrived again and she looked even more beautiful than the previous night.

"I wonder if she has a boyfriend," some of the men whispered.

"Perhaps, we could introduce our son to her," an old couple discussed.

Of course, there were some guests that didn't attend the viewing event, so they were trying to catch up on the gossip as they eyed Halia up and down.

"Do you know everyone here?" Halia asked Natalie.

Natalie looked around, "Pretty much. There are a few secretaries and assistants that have changed, but that's about it."

"Apart from Thomas Sun, who else is new?" Halia asked.

Natalie was smart, otherwise, she wouldn't be the secretary to the Chairman of Fengtai Corporation. So, after hearing Halia's story with Jackson and all her adventures going undercover, she suspected her friend was here for serious business and decided to answer everything that Halia asked.

"You see the woman over there with the big eyes and pointy nose? I've never seen her before," Natalie said as she looked at a woman in the corner. "Oh, and those two guys, I don't know them either."

Halia looked at the three people that Natalie pointed out and made a mental note of them.

Soon, all the guests arrived and Natalie pointed out another three unfamiliar faces.

That night, two of the six people that Natalie pointed out actually approached Halia and tried to convince her to visit casinos that they were partnered with. It wasn't illegal to be a junket, it was just a side hustle where they promoted casinos for a bit of extra commission, so Halia tried to probe them to see if they offered any illegal services. But, both these people were clear.

Perhaps, none of the illegal junkets found a way to get into this particular event.

Halia glanced at Sean who was on the other side of the ballroom and he shook his head, gesturing that he didn't find anything either.

Halia sighed and grabbed a glass of champagne. Did she come all the way here for nothing?

At that moment, a voice whispered beside her ear, "You look a little upset."

Halia quickly turned and came face-to-face with a man she had met the previous night: Emerson Wu.

Halia smiled, "I'm just a little stressed. I don't know anyone here."

Emerson tilted his glass of wine and clinked it with Halia's Champagne glass. "You know me," he said.

Halia laughed and took a sip of her Champagne.

"I saw you looking at the auction items last night. Anything strike your fancy? Are you planning to bid on anything?" he asked.

Halia shook her head, "I don't like fighting for things, so I might just write a donation cheque. It saves the headache."

Emerson looked at Halia, "You're very different to the other women here. They've all decided what they want and they're willing to tear each other apart for it. They've completely forgotten that the entire purpose of this event is for charity."

Halia laughed, "What about you? Are you planning to bid on anything?"

"I have a few items in mind," the man replied with a charming smile.

At that moment, the lights in the ballroom switched off and a spotlight focused on a chubby man on the stage.

"That's the auctioneer, things are about to get serious," Emerson chuckled.

Halia turned towards the stage as the first item was presented for auction.

Guests were throwing around millions of Yuan like it was nothing and the auctioneer could barely catch up with them. However, Emerson remained silent. Didn't he say that he had his eyes on a few items? What were they?

Soon, the necklace that Halia and Natalie were looking at the previous night was brought up onto the stage.

"Finally, it's here," Emerson whispered under his breath. As people started to raise their hands, Emerson suddenly cut in. "30 million yuan," he said without hesitation.

Everyone in the ballroom gasped.

It was Emerson Wu, no one could outbid the heir of Golden Dream Casino.