Deep

12:♠♠

Merry Christmas.

We turned around and there she stood. She looked like a model with  her average height,shoulder length jet black hair that was in a tight upper bun, a heart shaped face that was well complemented by her grey doe-like eyes. And the maroon gown she wore was like adding a cherry on top.

"Dean." She called again, her voice bare of any  emotion.

I felt Dean stiffen the moment she called his name again, taking in a sharp intake of breath.

"We need to talk." She said, lowering her voice.

I didn't know what was going on, but there was no way I would stand here and listen in on their conversation. There was some type of tension between them, and I did not want to be there if anything went wrong. Maybe the two were sweethearts and the lady wanted to sort things out between them.

Deciding to give them their privacy, I took a step backwards, ready to turn around and go anywhere, far away from whatever was going on between the two of them, but before I could turn, a hard,strong,hand captured my wrist holding me in place.

I stiffened,unaccustomed to the unfamiliar contact. 

"What?" Asked Dean, his jaw clenched and his voice laced with anger.

The lady did not seem affected by his behaviour, instead she lifted her chin upwards and looked him directly in the eye. "About the old man."

At hearing the last sentence, he squeezed my wrist so hard that I winced. That would surely leave a bruise.

Who was the old man? Was it his father or the lady's father? Were they together?

At the thought, I scolded myself. I had no right to know what was going on between the two of them. There was no need for me to know whatever was going on in Dean's personal life, it's not like we were together or something.

"You are no one to tell me what to do." His voice tore around the tense atmosphere that had grown between them. "And I'm not going anywhere."

I expected the lady's eyes to tear up or maybe take a step back because of the menace in his voice, but instead, she just sighed and walked away. Just like that!

We were left behind, both of us standing there in silence,lost in our own thoughts, his hand still on my wrist.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen."

Someone spoke on the microphone and we jumped apart as if we had been burned,our hands untangling from each other. I looked around, trying to breath in and out to gain my composure and saw that the businessmen plus their PAs were already heading to their designated tables.

"Ours is the third one." Dean said and started heading towards the table without looking back to see if I was following him.

Pushing away whatever had happened minutes ago at the back of my mind, I followed behind Dean and took the seat next to him where two other people were already at. Since we had already greeted each other earlier, I only nodded at them.

The man that had spoken earlier announced that it was now bid time and the hall erupted in applause. Everyone really seemed happy from the way they were smiling ear to ear and talking among themselves ,apart from my boss who sat still and stiff like a stone.

"Since we are bidding on a two acre of fertile land, we are not going to use the unique method of biding." The room suddenly felt silent." Today, the highest bidder gets to go away with the land."

People started talking among themselves again. "This is not what we had prepared for." A middle age man at the table next to our spoke. "We always go by the unique bidding method."

Murmurs arose and the emcee had to wait for everyone to cool down to speak again. "That is true Mr Gonzalez, but there were some slight changes and the auctioneer wants his land taken by the highest bidder."

All along as people spoke among themselves, giving their grievances, Dean and I were quite. I even saw the PA of the businessman sitting at our table look at us questioningly.

When the room was under control, the emcee took over again. "Yes Mrs. Raymond?"

"$500." A lady in her mid thirties spoke.

"Anyone else?"

"$800."

"$1000."

*$3500."

"Yes Mr. McConnell?" The emcee asked and I turned around to see Dean's hand hanging in the air. The room fell silent as everyone waited for his reply.

"$10,000."

I heard people gasp. I probably gasped myself but all I could concentrate on was the bid increase in $6500.

"$12,500." Mr Evans ,a man who had  bod at $1000 raised his bidding money. I saw him turn to gauge Dean's reaction but like ever, he was sat still.

Mr Evans raised his bid to $15,000 and my boss raised his to $17,000. I did not know the man, but from the way his eyes looked at Dean, I could tell they did not see eye to eye.

Everyone's eyes were now on Mr Evans to see how far he would take the competition when he said,"I wish I could continue, but I can't go competing with someone whose moods changes like that of a child."

Dean  tensed, his form becoming rigid. His hands which were laying on top of the table were folded into tight fists. The room was quite and almost everyone could hear his ragged breath as he tried to control himself from pouncing on the man.

"Any one else? One, two three and the land goes to Mr McConnell." The emcee's voice cut through the thick atmosphere.

When the bidding event was over, businessmen started dispersing to get their drinks or talk to their friends but the two of us were left sitting down. I was afraid to talk to him, not after I had seen him act the way he did.

What Mr Evans said got to my head. Did that mean that almost everyone knew  of Dean's anger issues?

"Hello, hello." A familiar voice spoke behind us and I turned around to find Noel smiling at us. I felt grateful of his sudden presence.

"Why are you arriving just now?" Dean asked, checking his watch.

"No greeting?" Noel slumped on the chair next to mine and when he saw the serious look on his friend's face, he said. "I had somewhere to be."

"Where?" Dean whispered beside me.

Noel who must have decided to ignore Dean, stretched his hand towards mine and I greeted him."Have you thought of starting a comedy show?"

My forehead creased. "Why?"

"Because you were so funny that day at the bar." He gave me a smile that reached his eyes as he let go of my hand.

"Yeah." I simply replied, evading the topic. He might have gotten the memo cause he started telling Dean of how strict I was the day he came to the office.

"That's  her job." My boss grumpily said.

Was he was still angry because of what had happened during the bid? Or was he angry because his Bff was talking and laughing with me instead of him? Did he think I was trying to steal Noel's attention?

"Cool down man." Noel raised his hands up in surrender mode, his eyes darting from Dean to me.

Dean opened his mouth to say something but he was cut off by his phone's ringtone. I glanced at him and saw his jaw clench before he walked away.

Noel who was checking his phone, smiled at me and said,"Now, tell me something about yourself Steph."

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