Sasha's POV

I had never been to an auction before and judging from Dylan's expression neither had he. I looked around curiously to see how many companies had decided to bid.

"Oh God!" Dylan whispered and face-palmed. Okay, what the hell happened now?

"What happened?"

"What happened? Mr. Lucas happened."

Mr. Lucas' Company was third in the chart but the way he acted and boasted fooled most of the outsiders into thinking that he topped the chart. While he wasn't a bad person and several people from the corporate world liked his company, sincerely or for selfish reasons I had no Goddamned ideas, I never liked him. He was selfish, acute to the point of irritation but mostly he was boring and went on talking about his wealth and achievements like a broken radio. But what was the matter with Dylan?

"Yeah, so... ?"

He turned around so that he could look at me while his back faced Mr.Lucas.

"I don't like him. His disgusting speeches bore me to death." 

Hmm. We had something in common. What a surprise!

"Well, you are, as I can see, quiet alive," I said and  choked back my laugh.

He narrowed his eyes. "Sasha. I am serious."  

"So am I." I grinned. Then I peered over his shoulder and mentally face-palmed. "And speaking of the Devil... "

He looked back once and then quickly turned towards me.

"Please tell him I've become deaf," he pleaded. "When it comes to audience, he has, even God does not know why, a liking for me."

Okay, and then what? Ask him whether he would honor me by letting me attend his funeral within this year? Tempting, very tempting indeed, but not at all mature. In fact, on the second thoughts...

"A liking for you, huh? Then, how 'bout I go get ourselves something to drink, mhmm? In the meanwhile, please entertain Mr. Lucas for me, will you?" I said with a smirk on my face.

"Sasha, you're  not serious. You're joking, right?"

"Here he comes." I started backing away.

"Sasha, no!"

"Best of luck, Dylan. Hope you don't fall asleep."

With that I turned around and left that place with a huge smile on my face. Maybe working with Dylan was not going to be a pain in the ass after all.

-x-x-x-x-

I found myself a seat in the second row, settled down comfortably and waited for Dylan.

"You never came back with the drinks you know", someone hissed from my side after a few minutes.

Well, so much for a moment of silence.  I sighed but otherwise, refrained from saying anything else.

"Did cat get your tongue?" the same voice hissed again.

"No."

"Then say something."

"Something what?"

"Why didn't you come back?"

"Oh, that. I lost my way." I casually shrugged my shoulder.

I could feel him preparing another biting remark but I was saved with the ringing of the bell declaring that the auction had started.

As the heat started rising, we looked at each other and a silent message passed. Time to bid. Currently 5000 million dollars was the highest bid. Dylan raised his voice and said,"10000." Someone immediately shouted,"15000."

"20000", Dylan bade again.

"25000", the voice did not miss a beat.

"50000!" Dylan scowled.

"90000!"

God who was this I-wont-let-it-go-by-hook-or-by-crook guy? Unable to take it anymore, I called out, "200,000!" 

Insane amount, I know. But I wanted it to be over and the Company to be ours. Could anyone blame me for that? I turned towards Dylan as a silence fell over the whole room.

"200,000! Anyone wants to bid higher? 200,000 1, 200,000 2, 200,000 3, sold!"

I heard the auctioneer said "Sold" but I was more concerned with Dylan. He was staring at me like he had seen some ghost.

"Dylan", I called out slowly. He shook his head as if to snap out of a trance and after what felt like an eternity, he smiled. Then he leaned towards me and said, "200000, partner? I would say insane but that would be so cliched. So, well done ." 

I smirked but inwardly, I relaxed knowing that he wasn't mad at me.

Outside the auction room, I waited for Dylan to call me after he had gone through all the papers.

"Oh, well if it is not the beautiful Ms. Sasha Brookes."

Immediately my eyes widened and I slowly turned around to face a smirking Mr.Lucas. Well, Karma, you're a very, very ugly bitch. I raised one eyebrow, plastered a sickly, sweet smile on my face and said, "Then its no one else." 

He looked like he was at a lose of words. Then he gave out a forced chuckle and said, "Nice one, nice one." 

I smiled politely.

After a little pause, he said, "Don't you think 200,000 is a bit too much, even for you? You know, I could have bought it for 90,000  which was still a reasonable amount." 

Ah! Now his approach made sense. I was about to reply when my phone vibrated.

Dylan: As much as I will love to see you start snoring within two seconds, unfortunately for me, you are needed in the auction office now.  And btw, payback's a bitch Brookes."

That... that... ugh! Several colorful names immediately came to my mind. "I don't snore", I muttered under my breathe.

"Huh?!"

Oh shoot! Mr. I-wont-let-it-go was standing within the the hearing distance. 

"Oh nothing Mr. Lucas," I said with an innocent smile. If only he could understand that his presence was despised by me.

"You know, as much as I would've liked to have a conversation with you, I really need to attend some business of mine. And yeah, talking about the money, since you're so worried that I may go bankrupt, let me assure you. Dylan and I are going to pay half the amount for our Company. So I don't think its going to be a problem." I gave him a bitchy smile. "It was nice talking to you."  Before he could come up with another response, I turned around and left the dumbstruck CEO to find my new annoying-as-hell partner, Dylan.

Author's note:

Please, please, please don't be a silent reader and give me you thoughts on the story through comments and votes... even if you have read only few chapters.

Bye :)