Chapter 403 Stone Auction
It was only natural that many would want a piece of these stones. If they managed to acquire stones containing jade worth millions, they could turn them into jewelry and sell them for an even higher profit.
He believed his daughter was still too naïve to fully grasp the complexities of society, so he studied Hera with skepticism. Stone betting was a high-stakes gamble, far riskier than most, relying on a blend of knowledge, keen observation, and luck.
Most importantly, luck alone couldn’t turn someone into an overnight millionaire by randomly picking stones, as Hera seemed to have done. He doubted the truth of his daughter’s claims but chose not to embarrass her. With so many prominent companies and rivals around, belittling his daughter would only undermine his own reputation and make others think she was incompetent.
So, he allowed Hera and Zhane to wander around, subtly distancing himself and his inspector. This gave the impression that his daughter had simply invited them to observe. If they chose to participate in the auction and place any bids, it would be entirely their responsibility to cover the costs of their purchases.
Upon realizing her father’s intentions, Miss Goldsmith was deeply upset, feeling as though she was being treated like a naive child. However, since she had invited Hera and Zhane, she chose to stay with them. With an embarrassed smile and red-rimmed eyes, she approached them. Hera, seeing her vulnerability, thought the girl wasn’t so bad after all. Despite their rocky first encounter, Miss Goldsmith seemed far more genuine than the other snobby ladies from prominent families.
Hera immediately took a liking to the girl, who looked on the verge of tears as she struggled to find the right words to explain her father’s blunder without offending Hera or Zhane, or putting her father in a difficult position.
To ease the girl’s discomfort, Hera took the lead. "Miss Goldsmith, would you mind showing us around and explaining how the bidding works? This is my first time at an event like this," she said with a warm smile, completely unbothered by her inexperience. Her amiable demeanor and confidence made Miss Goldsmith instantly agree, this time without any judgment.
The stone auction differed slightly from typical auctions. In this format, bidders walked around the entire floor, inspecting stones displayed on tables. An overseer was stationed at each table to ensure fairness and prevent any damage that could decrease the stones’ value.
After inspecting a stone, bidders would write their offer on a slip of paper and place it in a securely sealed box next to the stone, where the overseer stood watch.
After inspecting a stone, bidders could move on to the next one. When the allotted time was up, the host would gather all the overseers in the center of the room and seat the bidders. The overseers would then open the boxes, present the stones, and read the bids. A live feed on a large screen would display the current bidding progress, showing each bidder’s name and amount. If a new, higher bid was placed, the bidder’s name would move to the top of the list.
Miss Goldsmith explained each detail enthusiastically, pointing out key areas and stations to ensure Hera and Zhane understood everything. "By the way, you can just call me Liz," she said with a warm smile, extending her hand to Hera. This gesture was her way of making amends for her earlier misconceptions and snide behavior.