Kira's P.O.V
The sun sets down, the air brushes my skin, and my coffee grows bitter, waiting for me. I am admiring the view in front of me, but I am immediately disturbed by the noise of a door opening, revealing the figure of Rahul.
His black wavy hair flows with the air entering from the window I am standing in front of. His tall figure and black eyes greet me as I pick up the cup from the table in front of me, just to put it down after sipping the icy bitterness.
"You need to go there." His amiable voice sounds so unfamiliar to me. I note he has been working out a lot lately. Maybe it is his way of coping. He stands with his hands behind his back, a gesture of reverence.
"I don't want to." I groan as I examine the worried look on his face, just to hear him say, "You realize you have to. This is a chance to establish yourself as the successor of your father's business." His remarks strike me further, along with the gloom in my office.
I comply with his objective. I have to go, but why an auction? What could I possibly do there? But since every wealthy family reflects their relationships through these kinds of events, I have to show up.
Rahul gave me this red dress. It makes me look fierce. The cocktail length and a cut near my right leg bring to light just enough of me. I marvel as I glance at myself in the mirror. Who am I deceiving? Them or myself?
I stride out from the personal suite I have in my firm. I spend a lot more time here than at my house.
"I don't prefer this dress." I express as I get in the car, scanning Rahul in his black tuxedo as he opens the car door. "You look wonderful though." I go on.
"You look wonderful as well." He struggles to sound upbeat, locking the door as he takes the seat beside me.
After thirty minutes of travel, we arrive at the glorious bid hall, and I notice women talking about me. Their husbands, acknowledged as owners of their enterprises supported by my firm, all avoid me.
Clenching his jaw, Rahul sounds angry, adjusting his bow tie. "As soon as we enter, they'll be as sweet as honey."
"Let them be." I hold his elbow to drag him in.
The auction is about to start, but as Rahul stated, everybody starts to approach me before that.
"Hello, I didn't know you'd be here. What could a woman like besides jewelry?" Mr. Sharma snorts. I notice he's lost some weight. His large stomach isn't out anymore.
His hair is a blend of white and black strands. His dark brown eyes glance at me as he holds a glass of wine, tucking the arm of his wife by his side.
"There will be a piece of jewelry, I heard." Mrs. Sharma adds, "Doubtless, that's why you're here."
Her big stone-like eyes quirk at me as she smirks. Her red wannabe-sexy dress is a perfect misfit for her husband's blue suit.
"I'll take the jewelry then. You won't care for it, right, Mrs. Sharma? And might I prefer something else as well, Mr. Sharma? Will that be okay with you?" I scowl, adding, "Since you're here, perhaps for other objects, considering that you're a man."
"What else could you like?" Mr. Sethi laughs, cracking up with the couple, exposing his old body.
His wrinkles are more obvious than ever, and he's a little shorter in height than me as well. He's turning into an old fat rat day by day, hair whiter than pure salt. He should work out a little.
"Mr. Sethi, Ms. Kira has somewhat of a distinct taste. I mean, young people are more enthusiastic these days."
"Shut up. Rahul, you shouldn't speak like this. What if Mr. Sethi is 65 years old? He's still very young. Didn't you hear about the hotel case in the news?"
"Sorry, Mr. Sethi." Rahul chuckles, trying to hide his laughter as Mr. Sethi takes a sip of his wine, shifting his eyes away from me.
Bewildered by their nasty secrets being made fun of, they leave, tactfully excusing themselves. "You did a good job there." I applaud Rahul as a grin pops up on his face.
He drives me toward our table, which is behind those gentlemen, trying to teach me where I belong. "They prepared it this way, knowing what the chair positions mean." Rahul growls in anger.
"Relax, they still can't establish my worth. All they can do is hate me for what I have and they don't. Don't mind them."
We sit in our chairs, giving our immense attention to the announcer. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's our honor to have such remarkable people here for our auction. And we understand the value of your taste, also the reason why we arrange this twice a year, or oftener. Alright then, without wasting any time, I'll introduce you to the very first item of this auction today."
"God, this is so boring." Grabbing another glass of wine, Rahul gawks at the piece of jewelry they are talking about.
"It's a necklace, adored by many ladies here, including Mrs. Sharma." He says, looking amazed by its beauty.
"Take it then."
"What?"
"Bid for it. I told them I'll have it, thus I shall." A faint smile crosses his face as he starts the bid. "Fifty lakhs." (65,339.60 USD).
Grabbing everyone's attention to our table and sipping my wine, I smile at Mrs. Sharma. She looks upset. Rahul raises the bid to one crore (1,30,679.20 USD), winning over every male and female for the necklace to secure it at the last moment.
I was savoring the aftereffect of winning the bid when the announcer declared the last piece for the bidding. "Now, the most awaited segment of the night. It's a piece liked by both men and women, and why not? It's extraordinary. No words are adequate for its beauty, I'd say."
"What could it be? Another vessel or a piece of jewelry again?" Rahul giggles as both of us wait for the final item.
Mr. Sharma seems utterly absorbed in this one. What is it? I had other expectations when I saw Mr. Sharma's reaction, but never in my wildest dreams did I assume that the answer would be this.
"It's a boy." I am in shock by his wounded body, bruises all over, yet still able to flaunt his beauty. Everyone ogles him as well, staring with their prying eyes.
"What is this, Rahul?" I put down my glass as I glare at him.
"It happens a lot. Relax, everyone is into slaves these days." He whispers in his calm voice, trying to soothe my startled mind.
"But he's a human."
"I know." The bid goes on with people raising their offers for the boy. I see a very vulgar look of lust in their eyes, which discomforts me to another degree. For once I thought these men would care about their image, but neither of them is human.
"Two crores." (2,61,358.40 USD) I growl, bidding for the boy, seizing even his attention as he sits quietly on the stage floor with his eyes stuck on the ground. "I'll take him."
His eyes are teary, red from the beatings he might've received, and his life is doomed if I don't do this. "Two crores, one, two crores two, and three, and this beauty belongs to Ms. Kira." I hear people clapping and cheering for me.
Yes, I might have pushed my reputation to the upper level with a little touch of disgrace by winning the bid, but I feel my blood turning cold. I can notice the bitterness on everyone's faces, and I don't care.
The auction was much more than I expected. I stand in front of the auction building, unsettled, waiting for the boy to arrive as our guards circle us, ordered by Rahul.
"What were you thinking?" Rahul demands. "I don't know." I try to shake him off, yet he pursues.
"Kira, you know things like this have been happening for a long time. You didn't have to do it."
"I know. It doesn't mean it has to continue."
The boy arrives between our minor argument, hushing us down. My composure remains the same, unbothered, as I watch him walk toward me.
I see two men holding the fragile body of the boy I just bought. His legs are like jelly, he has no weight, no muscles, and despite that, his beauty prevails unbothered.
I have to appoint my guards to help him to the car, as he can barely walk. They rush to help him and settle him in nicely. Yet, I am standing frozen on my spot when I hear Rahul calling my name.
He unbolts the car door, and with no words, I casually sit near the boy, ordering the driver to take off.