Auctioned for Love

Jade walked proudly wearing her red halter gown made by a famous designer as she enters the grand ballroom of a known five-star hotel. Her regal beauty outshines those of the wealthy matrons and popular actresses invited to tonight's event. She was instantly loved by the cameras. Her million-dollar smile captivated those rich and eligible bachelors in the area. For once, everyone thought this was a pre-debut of the Velez heiress not until the host announces the purpose of the event.

She saw familiar faces, from the famous politicians down to well-known celebrities. All clad in their designer long gowns and expensive suits, it’s more like a red carpet premiere rather than an annual charity event. Surely the cream of Filipino society knew how to flex their worth.

Jade got engaged in few chats with the surrounding guests but none in particular caught her interest. She grew tired of the attention and the never-ending business-related topics that she excused herself politely. Drinking some red wine, she watched the event as she proceeded from the round table far from the crowd; slightly swaying her body to the slow beat, enjoying the classic OPM songs filling the air.

“Bored, Darling?” Delo came into her sight looking gorgeous on that single-breasted black suit. She was delighted to see her gay friend that she literally throw herself into him, kisses him on the lips then embrace him. He laughed heartily. "God, Jade! I know how bored you are but please spare me of the hugs and especially the kisses! I'm damn not straight!" he reprimanded her. She smiled at him sheepishly and pinched him on the cheeks.

"I just did. Sorry, not sorry." She took another fluke on the passing waiter. “You’re still the same old Rodelo Gatchalian I met years ago. You still got that ‘Kilabot ng mga kolehiyala’ vibe!” annoyed, Delo rolled his eyes.

Their reunion was cut short by an unexpected auction. The male host introduced the founder and COO of the Velez Edifice and that is her father, Giorgio Velez. A stunning emerald necklace with Swarovski crystals was unveiled before them. He was summoned by her father on the stage that made her brows furrow. Intrigued, she walked past the other guest till she reached him.

“What is this fiasco, Dad?” she kissed her old man on the cheeks. Giorgio laughed but there’s a hint of mischief hidden on his eyes.

“Just watch, Mi Bella,” he holds her hand and ushered her near the necklace. Indeed, the necklace was beautiful. “You leave me no choice. I need to see the future of the Velez famiglia.” And he announced the most bizarre things she’d ever heard in her entire life.

She was placed for auction together with the necklace!

“D-Dad, what’s the meaning of this?” she confronted her father. The host took over the bidding and every man on the room is getting hyped! The bidding is getting higher every damn second that it has gone to half a million! That's outrageous! "You are not doing this to me! I am your daughter for heaven's sake! This is madness!" she fans her eyes as tears it starts to swell up.

Jesus! This is not happening!

“Yes, this is madness. Indeed.” Giorgio nodded approvingly. He’d like what’s he’s seeing from the stage, men who are eager to marry her daughter and their family’s name rolled into one. The stakes are getting higher and he’s intrigued who’ll be the luckiest guy tonight. “You’ll thank me later for this, Mi Bella. This madness is indeed one of a kind.”

“What?”

“100 million for the necklace and the Miss,” the host announced that earned a drastic turn from Jade to the crowd. She figures out the man that bet his millions on her was Faustino Imperial of Imperial Empire and a known gigolo. He smiled at her wickedly as their eyes met. Horrified and disgusted she looked away from that brute. She disposed of his kind. "Going once...Going Twice..."

For the first time, Jade wish someone would steal her from the inevitable. She firmly closed her eyes as she awaits her uncalled destiny when she heard a familiar voice on the crowd.

"100 billion..." Gregory de Jesus raised his card amidst the commotion. Jade opened her eyes, her head turned to his direction of its own accord. Everyone looks at him in shock expression. His face remained stoic. He was staring at her, and the intensity of his gaze stole her breath away. “100 billion for the necklace and Miss Jade Ann Velez.” He declared once again. Silence engulfs the area.

In her eyes, everything else faded. She was only aware of him. Only him.

“Gregory de Jesus, that’s interesting.” His father speaks. Her mind went blank. Instinctively, she raised her hand to her mouth as the reality finally dawned her.

Greg just bought her for 100 billion pesos!

No! Her mind screams in resistance. He can’t be!

The host cleared his throat. “100 billion for the necklace and the Miss. Going once...Going Twice?” No one dared to compete with the de Jesus heir. “Then I announce the emerald necklace and Miss Jade Ann Velez sold to Mr. Gregory de Jesus.”

Greg was summoned by the host to come over the stage. He’s a playboy! He’s a playboy! She repeated like a mantra. The same caliber with Imperial, that guy goes everything with a pulse and she grimaced at that. But rumors say the De Jesus' second son only chooses the most stunning models and actresses of his liking. The beauties of this generation. And Jade doesn't fall on that category.

A wave of mortification rushed throughout her body, sending her hot and cold upon remembering their brief encounter three years ago. Was she jealous of all the women that names get paired with the Gregory De Jesus? Why would she?

Greg is the party-loving playboy that the media watched closely. Totally out of her league, she thought as she watched Greg and her father exchange pleasantries and shook hands.

For a brief moment, Jade saw genuine happiness in her father's eyes. A rare sight for the strict Velez patriarch. “My daughter is in your hands, young man. Take good care of her.” She could sense his gaze on her, and when she permits herself to see those familiar, unusual cobalt eyes that haunt her every night and yet for a fleeting second she saw nothing but condemn.

But why?

“I will, Mr. Velez.” Then Greg turned to her and offered his hand. His facial features schooled and were back to being arrogant. “You’re coming with me, Ann.” He said so sure that she will don't retract. And contradictory to what she believed was the right thing to do, she accepted immediately for some reason she unknown to her. Her body just moves on its own.

She later realizes the implications of her actions.

She just unwittingly left the event with Greg!