Olivia Sparks

Everyone was dumbfounded.  Right before their very eyes was Madam Chanel Greene in her black and white vintage Coco Chanel gown, hugging the paddle to her c.h.e.s.t. "HAHAHAHAHAHA! Anyone who wants to bid higher than me?" Her eyes roamed the room, winking at Konstantin's way. The tense atmosphere was replaced with booming laughter sending good vibrations in the hall. The emcee walked around, stopping at the far end table upon seeing a familiar face. "Twenty point one million dollars." Heads snapped in the direction of the voice, surprise written all over their faces when Natalia, the princess of Vuono holding a paddle came into focus. She looked like a fairy that graced the Earth, the glitter of crystals that adorned her gown made her a sight to behold except for Maxen, glued to his phone, firing messages to his proxy bidder. Arrogance washed her once tear-stained face, triumphant that she had the upper hand in the room. She begged him earlier, but tonight she'd make sure he's the one begging her. "You have to give props to her persistence," Nikolai uttered, sipping his champagne. He glanced to his side where Maxen was seated, holding in a smirk. "Who else will she get it from but her brother who doesn't understand a 'no'." As if Maxen hit a sore spot, Nikolai shifted in his seat, his smirk turned into a scowl. He decided it's best to stop ruffling Maxen's feathers even though it was his favorite sport.  The night was still young and a lot could happen, including him finding out about his and Olivia's little altercation in the past. Speaking of Olivia, his eyes darted to where she was sitting, and subconsciously, his hand flew to his neck. Sitting beside him was Bella who noticed his movement. He squeezed her hand upon seeing steam shot out of her ears in fury. He knew why she was furious and that was the reason he did his best to keep his distance from Olivia the entire night. "Twenty point one million!" the emcee roared, his stomach churned with excitement at what seemed to be another high in his career. "Twenty point four million." "Twenty point five million." The pot exponentially grew, with Natalia fighting against Konstantin. The ensuing drama of the siblings excited them more than the growing pot in the stage until Henry Lin raised his paddle. "Thirty-two million." His eyes flitted to Natalia then to Konstantin as if challenging them to outbid him, but the two knew when to surrender especially when they're in a foreign soil. "Thirty-four million." The guests didn't need to crane their necks as the lone person brave enough to challenge the wealthiest man in the country was his own daughter, Olivia Lin. "Thirty-four million for the Madonna and child portrait. All proceeds will benefit the House of Chamenos, the largest orphanage in Nisia with 20 satellite orphanages around the country—home to over five hundred orphans and thousands of scholars. This money will go a long way all thanks to our generous guests tonight. Once again, at thirty-four million." Oliver was thankful that he was sandwiched between his father and sister. He thought, if he wasn't, then the two might slap each other with the paddle as they use force to outbid the other. With the grumbling sounds Henry Lin was making on his seat, Oliver knew that the former was pissed. It was pretty obvious that Olivia was showing how much money she could spend and how she wasn't afraid of Henry Lin when everyone in the room does. Oliver knew that Henry Lin couldn't bring himself to outbid Olivia just so he could show to the guests how great of a father he was to bring up such an outstanding daughter like her. Little did they know about the fact that Olivia would not shed a dime that night. [Maxen: Thank you, baby. Let's go bring home the bacon.] [Olivia: Sky's the limit?] [Maxen: Sky's the limit, including my heart.] [Olivia: Natalia might pull another trick.] [Maxen: No, she won't.] [Olivia: If you say so. Let's win this painting, baby. I want it.] Maxen stifled his smile. Of course, she'll call him baby to butter him up, and if she's thinking she'll get it for free, well, she's absolutely, one hundred and one percent wrong. [Maxen: I'll sell it to you for a dollar… and a dress of my choice." Across the table, Maxen tipped his champagne glass towards Olivia's way after she was done reading his message. The two mirrored smiles and exchanged toasts from their seats, signing their deal. It was their plan all along that Olivia would proxy bid for Maxen that night given that he's the country's prince and splurging money in public even for the benefit of charity was a big no-no. It was expected for the royal family to maintain an illusion of simplicity despite the screaming grandeur of their daily lives. And after thinking of who might go all out for the painting, they narrowed down their list to first, Henry Lin, because he wanted to give everyone a middle finger through the millions he would spend that night and the second person on the list was Nikolai Vasiliev who simply loves to show off his wealth. For a brief second, Maxen's eyes landed where Konstantin was sitting and saw that the latter won't try to outbid Olivia, just as he expected. He was thankful that it was Konstantin that wanted to purchase the portrait and not Nikolai. For weeks, he was worrying that if Nikolai took an interest in Xandra's portrait, he might have to shell more money than he should. "The gavel is up," the emcee said, calling out all other bidders too, just in case they'd like to challenge the last bidding price. "Selling at thirty-two million! Princess Natalia, fair warning! The Gainsborough portrait! Last chance, Princess Natalia, Mr. Ivanov. At thirty-two million dollars, I'm selling The Gainsborough portrait to our charming Ms. Olivia Lin. Sold!" The sound of the gavel hitting the podium woke up the rest from their reverie. Xandra's portrait sold for thirty million, another record high for one of her works. Olivia Lin's status in high society was cemented.  And Maxen thought he was a step away from fulfilling his promise. The white and black affair concluded and soon the ballroom hall was empty of guests, save for the stuff that was left to clean up. Meanwhile, a group of second and third generation scions rode up the lift, landing on the penthouse floor that Nikolai booked for the night. All the rooms in the floor were turned into a mini casino where two to three men guard each room.  Maxen and Olivia arrived last in the presidential suite, finding Oliver and Ava arrived before them and were already seated. To their surprise, Wyatt was there too. Since Olivia wasn't into gambling, and was more of a slot-machine lady, she thought of finding escape in the balcony to recharge after her energy was depleted from mingling with people the whole night. "I'll be on the balcony," Olivia whispered in Maxen's ear as soon as they stepped foot inside.  "I'll walk you out." He cupped her elbow, sliding it down her to her arm until their hands met and weaved together. When they reached the balcony, Maxen looked over his shoulder and stayed for a while. He stripped his tux jacket, blanketing it on Olivia. Hugging her from behind, they stood by the railings, watching over the sleeping streets below, the passing headlights of the cars looked like fireflies from above. "Go back inside. I'll be there in a few." Olivia c.a.r.e.s.sed the shell of his ear and smiled when he nuzzled his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling the notes of rose and jasmine on her skin. Kissing the side of her head, Maxen breathed into her ear, "Don't stay out for too long, it's cold." After five minutes, Maxen finally let go of Olivia when Oliver called him to get inside because the table and the dealer was set and ready. "Look who's here. My brother-in-law." A smile painted on Olivia's upon seeing Tristan stealing a nap in the corner, but it fell upon seeing his solemn mood. She had a feeling that Tristan must have picked something up while sniffing the channels of Nisia. "I was waiting for you, actually." He glanced at his watch and snarled at how late it already was, for sure his wife was already fast-asleep later once he's home. "Good news first, congratulations on your new purchase. Everyone will be talking about you for a week and expect tons of phone calls from aunties who wanted to pair you with their sons." "And the bad news is?" Tristan took a sharp breath, He didn't want to be the bad guy and deliver the news that would rock her world, but his conscience told him that as a longtime friend, she deserved to know the truth as early as possible, so she would be ready when the truth would come to life. "Bad news is… I have evidence of your father filing for a divorce." Gray clouds hovered on Olivia, a promise of storm threatened as it swirled above her head. "Is there anything else that I need to know?" "Worse news." This time, Tristan's gaze landed on Olivia, hesitation swoosh in his eyes, knowing Olivia wouldn't take the news sitting down. "Do you want to hear it?