Punishment For The Intruders

"Barnie, what’s going on? Why is this happening?”

Lucas glared at Barnie once more, demanding an explanation. But Barnie was at a loss for words. For the first time in his life, he struggled so much to find the right words.

“I’ll count to ten. If by the count of ten you four still haven’t shown yourselves, our security will drag you out,” Wales announced from the stage.

He began counting: “One… two…”

Lucas stared at the stage, his face pale. Lisa was equally distressed. If they didn’t confess, if they continued to pretend ignorance until the tenth count, they’d be embarrassed—dragged out of the ballroom in front of the guests.

Such a thing had happened before at the prestigious Dominion Group tender auction. Should they really experience it again?

“Five… six…”

The once buzzing ballroom was now completely silent. Apart from Wales on stage, no one in the room spoke. Lisa and her brothers tightly covered their mouths, though their eye movements and expressions betrayed the chaos within