From Neglected Wife to CEO’s Obsession novel Chapter 158

The room buzzed with whispers, everyone craning their necks and trading gossip in hushed tones.

“I saw Mr. Swanson at a gala once. The guy’s a big deal—owns half the city, ruthless in business, a real shark.”

“Elite Tech only got bought by Swanson a month ago, and I’ve heard they’ve already landed some outrageously huge contracts. That company’s about to blow up.”

“Mr. Thompson’s been all over the tabloids lately. Thompson Corporation took two major hits back-to-back, and now Mr. Washington’s here, clearly ready to throw down.”

“They say Washington started his company with a billion-dollar investment. He’s careful, but he means business.”

“Swanson just raised his bid by ten million. Honestly, when it comes to playing big, neither Washington nor Thompson can keep up.”

Up on the giant screen at the front, Jeffery looked cool and relaxed. Remy’s face was blank, but his right hand was clenched so tight you could see the tension eating at him.

Of the three bidders, Elliot was the legend. Everybody knew his name. No one even tried to challenge him.

Jeffery didn’t have the same reputation, but he was the new power player, mysterious and unpredictable.

And then there was Remy. Even though luck hadn’t been on his side lately, his company was no joke, and everyone knew his potential.

Remy held on. “Seventy-five million.”

Jeffery bumped it up by another million.

Elliot called out, “Eighty million.”

Remy paused, then pushed it to eighty-five million. For him, that was the edge—he was maxed out.

Jeffery calmly added another million.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Elliot to jump to ninety million. I just knew—if he went that high, the emerald set would be his.

But Elliot didn’t bid again.

By the time we’d grabbed some late-night food and got back to the apartment, it was already past eleven-thirty.

I stepped out of the elevator, and the sensor lights blinked on. Remy was right there, dressed head-to-toe in black, suddenly in my path.

He looked a little better than he had at the auction, but the exhaustion and defeat still showed. He was slumped against the wall, flicking a lighter open and shut, the sound echoing loud in the quiet hallway.

Our building only had one apartment per floor. It was just me and him, and my nerves immediately shot up.

My first instinct was to step back into the elevator and call security.

But before I could even move, Remy saw me. His eyes flickered with something—hope, maybe desperation. He tried to take a step toward me.

But before he could, he just crumpled. First his body hit the ground, then his head thudded against the floor.

I stood there by the elevator for a solid ten minutes, watching him, not daring to move. When I was sure he was really out cold, I finally worked up the nerve to check on him.