The moderator, a man who looked to be in his late forties, let his voice echo through the hall. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this year's Fowler's auction event. Without wasting time, let's begin with our first item on the lot."
Ashley adjusted in her seat, excitement buzzing through her. It was her first time attending an auction ceremony, though she'd watched plenty on TV.
The moderator stepped back and gestured at a large projector screen that lit up behind him. "This exquisite rosewood chair, crafted in the 19th century, is a true masterpiece. Bidding starts at $30,000."
A picture of the chair appeared. Ashley watched with interest as the bidding began.
"Fifty thousand," a voice called from the back.
A middle-aged man with a stern expression raised his paddle with the number two boldly written. "Seventy thousand."
The man sitting beside Lorenzo, holding paddle number five, smiled confidently and raised it. "One hundred and twenty thousand."
