Tony watched in shock from the side, muttering to Preston next to him, "Oh my god... they're throwing money around like it's nothing, I'm scared to even breathe. These guys are on a whole different level, it's terrifying..."
Kevin had a look on his face like "you guys are unbelievable," and joked, "Crazy, just crazy! Bidding a car up to two million? With that kind of money, you could do so much else! I really don't get how you car guys think!"
"You don't get it at all." Brandon shot back, sounding annoyed.
Then he turned to Ethan, his tone a mix of admiration and regret. "Damn it, I'm actually kind of regretting this now. If I'd known you were this ruthless I wouldn't have even bothered competing. Two million, man! Without even blinking? This P1 brand new only runs about $1.3 to $1.4 million. Even a top-tier used one, market price tops out around $1.6 to $1.7 million. You really think it's worth it?"
The faint smile at the corner of Ethan's mouth didn't change. He picked up his glass and took a sip, his tone casual but carrying an undeniable certainty. "Worth it? In terms of market value, sure, it's not worth two million."
He set down his glass, his eyes sweeping over the P1 on the screen, a genuine spark of passion in them. "But for me, liking something is the highest value there is. If you want it and you can afford it, you buy it. Numbers are just a means to an end."
"Damn, respect!" This time, Kevin gave Ethan a sincere thumbs up. "That mindset, I gotta give it to you!"
Brandon froze for a second, then slowly nodded, genuine approval and admiration in his eyes. "I think what you said actually makes sense. You can't put a price on liking something! But I really can't match you on this one, so the car's yours."
He accepted the loss completely, and at the same time, came away with a deeper read on Ethan's nerve and his values.
Brandon immediately bounced back to his cheerful self, smiling as he gave him a heads-up. "But hey, take it easy, kid! This is just the first item. The real highlight hasn't even shown up yet. Don't burn through all your 'ammo' this early. You see something you really want later and you'll just be sitting there staring at it helplessly. I can't have you running out of gas before the finish line!"
Ethan smiled calmly and replied with just two words. "I'm fine."
Seeing no further bids, the female auctioneer brought down the gavel decisively. It was just a light, symbolic tap, but her crisp voice declared the result. "Congratulations, sir! You've won the first lot, the McLaren P1, for $2 million!"
She immediately stepped forward and handed Ethan a small, finely made black alloy plate engraved with the number "001," presenting it with both hands.
The female auctioneer spoke to Ethan in a low voice, with professional respect and a hint of excitement. "Mr. Ethan, please hold on to this plate. Once the whole auction wraps up, you'll use it to settle everything with us at once."
Ethan took the plate, cool to the touch, weighed it casually in his hand, and nodded with a smile. "Got it."
The numbered tag settled into his palm, like an announcement that in this battle of speed and passion, he'd claimed the first trophy.
The auction had only just begun.
The female auctioneer walked back to the center of the room, the same professional, composed smile still on her face.
The middle-aged assistant behind her, right on cue, opened another black hard-shell case she was carrying, carefully took out a deep blue velvet box, and gently set it down on the velvet-lined display stand.
Next to the box sat a beautifully printed certificate with a prominent seal stamped on it. The texture of the paper and the seal alone gave off an air of authority.
The female auctioneer, hands in white gloves, solemnly opened the lid of the box.
Inside lay an extremely luxurious watch.
The platinum case gave off a cool, regal shine under the light, while the bezel and lugs were densely set with top-grade Wesselton diamonds, sparkling brilliantly.
The deep blue, star-filled dial was mesmerizing, tiny diamonds scattered across it like stars. The intricate hands and the various function displays looked almost like a precise diagram of the universe at work.
The female auctioneer continued, "Next up is today's second item, from the king of watchmakers, Patek Philippe. This is an extremely rare Ref. 5002P platinum piece."
She carefully held the watch between her fingertips, tilting it slightly so everyone in the room could get a clear look at every detail.
The heft of the platinum, the brilliance of the diamonds, the depth of the dial, and the dazzling, intricate movement made up of hundreds of tiny parts were all on full display.
"It combines twelve top-tier complications, including a tourbillon, perpetual calendar, and minute repeater, making it one of the absolute pinnacles of Patek Philippe's craftsmanship."
She gently set the watch back down and pointed to the certificate beside her. "18K white gold case set with diamonds, paired with a hand-stitched premium crocodile leather strap. Front or back, this is a flawless piece of mechanical art, and I think we all know what Patek Philippe's name means. This certificate is issued directly by Patek Philippe, so there's no question about its authenticity."
Her eyes swept over the men in the room, her voice clear. "Starting bid: $1 million. Let's begin."
Brandon spoke up almost immediately, his eyes locked on the watch, not hiding how much he liked it. "Now that's a piece! The second you put it on, it's a showstopper!"
Kevin, Preston, Logan, and the rest all nodded in agreement, their eyes burning with intensity.
Even they couldn't resist a piece on this level.
Ethan's eyes were completely glued to it.
Compared to the Patek Philippe on his own wrist, this Ref. 5002P had a clearly younger, bolder design. The deep, starry blue dial paired with the brilliant diamonds was exactly his taste.
Patek Philippe's signature top-tier finishing showed an unmatched texture under the lights.
No wonder it's Patek Philippe, the craftsmanship really was flawless.
Kevin rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Alright, enough drooling. Same as always, highest bidder takes it home! Let's go!"
Brandon took the lead and was the first to bid. "$1.05 million!"
Kevin followed right behind. "$1.1 million!"
Tony couldn't resist jumping in. "$1.15 million!"
Preston: "$1.2 million!"
Logan: "$1.25 million!"
"..."
The price kept climbing, the competition fierce.
Brandon and Kevin were neck and neck, with Tony, Preston, and Logan jumping in here and there, and the price quickly climbed to $1.5 million.
At this point, the jumps between bids got noticeably smaller, breathing got heavier, glances were exchanged, the air thick with hesitation and everyone sizing each other up, each waiting for someone else to back down first.
Just as the price seemed about to stall right there, a calm, clear voice broke the standoff. "$1.6 million."
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