Empty Space

WHERE EVERY ITEM HAS A VALUE

She lost track of how long she's staring at the ceiling. One thing is for sure, she's starting to feel that her head throb's, her heart still felt the pain and her mind is in a mess. 

Why can’t he move on, he is the one who ends things.

“He still loves me....” She is lying to herself if she admits that she didn’t felt happy but the pain is still there. 

She knows that loving a person solely by emotion won’t be enough. Especially if it is Dean, love will never be enough...

Flashback...

 “There is nothing you can do right now.” She stared at the floor.

“No! I cannot accept that, you once loved me.. I... I can make you love me again..” She smiled painfully. 

Why every time he is near all she can feel is how painful loving this man is. 

Missing him, loving him and yet not having him is something she has to endure.

“I am sorry, please stop this.” She started to walk but he grabs her arms then she hissed.

“If you don’t stop this, I will scream.” She threatened him. She knows that his name is precious not just to him but to his family. He is a figurehead to his family an obedient son to his parent.

“You can’t..” He said confidently.

“I will.” This time she stared at his eyes with determination. She was ready to scream when he freed her hand. 

She smirks and walked away from him.

“I will be waiting for you..” it is just a whisper but somehow it reaches her delicate ears that resonate through her heart over and over and over again.

Now here she is, so restless, she looked at the clock it’s past three in the morning. She shut her eyes in frustration and covered her whole body with a blanket.

“I have to sleep....”

SOLROS Auction night...

   There will be no competition that day but they will hold an auction for that special day before the final competition. The items that will be auctioned are the first thing that every artist-designed who participated in the competition. 

She let her eye wandered. There are many people in the room where auctions will be held, there are different artist, rich people and employee of related companies who will join the auction.

 Everybody is quite gorgeous in their suit and dress. She never thought that someday she will be at a party where she can mingle with the people in high society. 

Her eyes landed on her reflection on the glass wall. She is wearing a red gown that is perfectly curved on her body, leaving her impression of a seductress yet innocent. 

There is no trace of Rhianne in the past that’s pure and simple. Even Lillan and her team are always on guard for her that night, well they are just quite protective. 

She smiled when she felt the familiar feeling that someone is looking at her, it’s a feeling whenever Dean is near. 

Then she saw Dean looking at her, though their table is quite far. The light in the room changed as the event will start anytime soon.

“Good evening everyone! Welcome to Solros auction 2020!” The emcee said as he started the auction.

“As you all know. We gathered all the items that every individual artist of the Griffle and Breager team designed. 

This season of Solros auction 2020, every item is quite hard to find. However, we still manage it. The starting bid will be twenty thousand dollars.” She was shocked at the price because if it was their first design. 

The price is quite too high.

“Without further ado, let’s start with the first item. The first item will be the painting of Mr. Ellie entitled My sunshine.” She looked at the painting, it is covered with the different colour of yellow and a farm of flowers which give the first impression of a sunny and carefree personality of the artist but somehow, it gives her a serene pain and loneliness. 

Then at the moment if you looked beyond the farm of flowers she is seeing the face of a lady. Her eyes wandered as he looked at Mr. Ellie and get back to the painting.

“Is it just my imagination?”  

“Twenty-five thousand dollars.” She looked at the lady in black who raised her hand

“Thirty thousand dollar.” She heard the man at her back. The lady in black raised her hand again.

“Fifty thousand dollars.” This time the crowd is quiet.

“Calling once, twice, anybody else?” The emcee said.

“My Sunshine of Mr. Ellie is sold to Ms. Milady. Congratulations, the 

the second item will be....” As the auction continued, she noticed that every artist is quite anxious when they saw their first work being auctioned. 

It’s as if something very important is taken away in front of their very eyes. 

So she is looking forward to the jewel she first designed as a professional jewel designer, well, of course, she will be attached to it since it is her first design that someone takes notice of it. That set of jewel changes her career path.

“Thank you for your time ladies and gentlemen. The last item will be a coupled bracelet designed and made by our very own Ms. Levie.” Her body stiffened as she saw the bracelet on the stage.

“No...” She looked at Dean who is covered with a dark aura as his eyes wear his usual poker face.

“This bracelet is not just any bracelet, the couple wearing it is said to be unlucky if one of them will lose it and promise a lifetime if they both cherish it.” She started to feel anxious as she looked at Lillan. Lillan on the other hand looked so anxious too.

“Why my bracelet is there?” Lillan is the only person about the history of the bracelet and she made sure that the bracelet is in the safety of her home.

“Well actually I tell them about the tale of the bracelet and they are too curious about it.” He whispered.

“I never signed to make my bracelet being auctioned.”

“Well, you give them your permission?”

“I didn’t,” she said flatly as light enough to be heard by Lillan.

“Yes, you are. The moment you signed the contract, you agreed to all their terms and conditions. The item in the auction is not about the first professionally designed by every artist. It is about the very first time you put a value on designing it. It doesn’t matter for whom or for what.” Lillan looked at him earnestly.

“As you can see, it is not about the item. It is all about the story and the value behind the item being auctioned. After all why they are buying such an item without a value?” 

“That bracelet is not for auction or sale. I have to retrieve it.” She said desperately. 

“Don’t worry, your half brother already take measures, my agent will buy it for you,” Lillan whispered to her ears.

“Seventy-five thousand dollars.” They got back to reality and the price of the item raises to seventy-five thousand dollars.

“One hundred thousand dollars.” She felt a cool mist of her body taken its tall when she heard Dean bid a hundred thousand. She felt a pang of guilt. Her situation is worst than him who lost the bracelet in the past. At least it is not taken away in front of your eyes and she cannot do anything about it. “Shit!”

“One hundred fifty thousand dollars.” Three people are consistently bidding on the bracelet. Ms. Aurora, Mr. Allen (The agent of Lillan.) and non-other than Dean.

“Two hundred thousand Dollars” bid by Miss Aurora.

“Two hundred fifty thousand dollars,” Allen said who is getting quite anxious. Well, that money is quite hard to earn, Allen thought. Rhianne looked at Lillan and he is quite anxious too.

“Why the man is so persistent? “ Lillan said, he will lose all his money if this continues living him poor as ever.

 “Five hundred thousand dollars.” She felt her jaw drop as she heard Dean. It is twice the price of the last bid. “He is crazy....”

 Every person in the room starts making a buzzing sound. Dean’s action starts to attract everyone attention because of his stubbornness and bold action. No one dares to bid after that. 

Even the emcee was startled because the last bid is the highest in the history of Solros competition.   

“O—ok, calling twice, trice, anybody else?”

“Congratulations. The coupled bracelet is sold to Mr. Dean. The bracelet must be of high value. May we call Mr. Dean and Ms. Levie on the stage.” 

She started to walk through the stage as light as feather; she felt her legs are quite saggy as noodles. She couldn’t look at Dean’s eye as guilt runs through her heart. 

She can’t protect the bracelet after all. She took the bracelet out of the glass box and gives it to Dean. 

He took it as flashes of the camera are capturing every scene. After that, she walked past him but this time he grabs him on the risk and makes her stay on the stage.

Dean walks in front of him and caught her left hand. He makes her wear the bracelet in front of a lot of people.

“What are you doing?”

“Giving it back to the owner.” He simply said as he put the other bracelet to her giving her the impression to put the bracelet on his wrist.

“Dean you... you are....” Her heart constricts as she stayed still. 

“What should I do?”