Chapter 419

Chapter 419:

Craig smirked as he speculated, “Who knows what he’s up to? Maybe he doesn’t want to leave empty-handed. But let’s drive up the price anyway. He cost me a partnership, so let’s not let him off easily!”

Although Jeff was uncomfortable with the tactic, he had been compensated and had obligations to fulfill. As Craig started to bid higher, Ashton was ready and countered every increase without pause. Craig, adamant about not letting Ashton off easily, signaled to Jeff to keep pushing the price higher.

Throughout, Craig watched Ashton closely.

When the bidding hit eight thousand dollars, he saw a mocking glint in Ashton’s eyes and sensed a trap. He hastily told Jeff, “Stop bidding! This might be a setup to pull us in!”

Jeff promptly stopped, allowing Ashton to win the bid for the warehouse full of junk.

“This kid is cunning. Luckily, you saw through his scheme, Mr. Carter,” Jeff remarked, relieved by their timely pullback. “Even if those damp wooden items were used for firewood, I doubt they’d draw any interest. Ashton’s not going to see any return on his eight thousand.”

Craig nodded in agreement, pleased with Jeff’s praise. Despite the financial insignificance, Craig was satisfied, feeling he had succeeded in aggravating Ashton. He was secretly delighted by Ashton’s apparent misstep, thinking if word got out, it would embarrass Ashton’s new venture significantly. Craig’s gaze toward Ashton became more scornful, relishing the thought of his rival’s potential humiliation.

After Ashton’s acquisition of the warehouse packed with items of apparent little value, the auction soon concluded since the remaining two warehouses had not enticed any bids.

Yet, the onlookers lingered. They were looking forward to the main attraction—examining the goods in the warehouses that had been taken over.

gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰𝗈𝗺 – 𝕃𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓽 𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓽 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶

While the first warehouse had piqued considerable interest and housed several valuable finds, its hefty final bid price meant that the profit margin was modest, ranging between twenty and thirty thousand dollars. Then came the turn of the warehouse that had intrigued Jeff.

At first glance, the items within seemed mundane. However, Jeff’s sharp eye for value led him to unearth a hidden gem—a collection of exquisitely crafted purple clay teapots, secreted away in a dusty corner.

His find was significant, netting an estimated fifty thousand dollars in profit after expenses, a testament to his adeptness at uncovering worth where others saw none.

Craig could hardly contain his glee. The profit wasn’t sufficient to offset the costs of Jeff’s services, but the acclaim he garnered more than compensated.

His elation was palpable, especially as it allowed him to eclipse Ashton in prestige—a victory he savored more than earning a million dollars.

As the other bidders assessed their respective purchases, fortunes varied. Some turned a profit while others counted their losses.

At last, it was Ashton’s moment to reveal the contents of his newly acquired warehouse.

.

.

.