Tempting Him to Lose Control

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: What’s Wrong With This Lord Again?

Claire Kendall stood rooted to the spot, a thin layer of sweat forming on her palms.

Up on the second-floor corridor, the figure had already disappeared into a private room.

She bit her lip, her heart in a turmoil. ’I have to go up and explain.’

"Are you okay?" Ian Rhodes asked cautiously.

"I’m fine. You go on and look at the exhibits. I’ll be over in a bit."

The light in Ian Rhodes’s clear eyes dimmed.

Claire Kendall took a deep breath and walked toward the stairs.

"Claire Kendall?"

A voice dripping with condescension rang out.

Clad in a bespoke satin gown and high heels, Yvonne Warren came to a graceful, unhurried stop before Claire Kendall, the latest model Hermès bag in her hand.

"I almost couldn’t believe my eyes. I never expected you’d manage to get an invitation to an exclusive business community auction."

As she spoke, she glanced at Ian Rhodes, a slight smirk playing on her lips.

"Ms. Kendall is quite the operator, it seems."

Claire Kendall was in no mood to trade barbs with her. Her attention was fixed on the window of the private room on the second floor.

From this angle, she could only see one of his hands. The string of Buddha Beads on his wrist gleamed with a gentle luster under the light. He picked up a teacup, then slowly set it down again.

Seeing that she was getting no reaction, Yvonne Warren deliberately raised her voice, her tone laced with mock sympathy.

"Claire, your family went bankrupt, and your father’s in prison. We did work together, after all. If there’s an item you like today but you’re a little short on cash, I can buy it for you."

"The host of this auction, Mr. Wright, just took over a billion in investment from my family, the Warrens. I’m sure I have that much pull."

At this, murmurs of flattery immediately rose from the crowd.

"So the Westside redevelopment project was funded by the Warrens."

"Doesn’t that mean Ms. Warren can have any item she wants today?"

"Looks like even Mr. Wright has to curry favor with this heiress."

Yvonne Warren’s expression remained impassive, but she lifted her chin arrogantly.

Claire Kendall’s brow furrowed. She looked down and tapped out a message to Miles Warren on her phone.

Your niece is bullying me, and you’re just up there sipping tea and watching the show.

After sending it, Claire Kendall looked up at the second floor.

Through the antique-style bamboo window, a large, well-defined hand picked up a phone from the table.

Her own phone vibrated in response.

Don’t you have Ian Rhodes to help you?

She stared at the message and let out a laugh, though it was laced with anger. ’So jealous,’ she thought. ’I can smell the sour grapes all the way from up there.’

Just as Claire Kendall was about to reply, a commotion erupted at the entrance of the hall.

"Mr. Wright is here!"

Yvonne Warren’s eyes lit up. She adjusted her shawl and stood poised, waiting for Leon Wright to come and exchange pleasantries with her.

After all, the Warren Family was his biggest backer.

Sure enough, Leon Wright walked briskly toward her.

"Mr. Wright," Yvonne Warren greeted him, taking the initiative. Her voice held a respectful tone that didn’t quite mask the poised arrogance of a wealthy heiress.

Leon Wright stopped and nodded at her, his tone polite but distant.

"Ah, Ms. Warren. I hope you enjoy your evening."

Yvonne Warren’s hand froze in mid-air as Leon Wright walked right past her and stopped in front of Claire Kendall.

The smile on Leon Wright’s face instantly became warm and enthusiastic.

"Ms. Kendall, it really is you! I thought my eyes were deceiving me."

He lowered his voice. "Mr. Warren originally said you weren’t coming."

Claire Kendall subconsciously glanced toward the second floor and gave an awkward smile.

Leon Wright raised his voice an octave, his tone filled with gratitude. "I’ve been looking for a chance to thank you personally! It’s all thanks to your brilliant suggestion—using our intangible cultural heritage and classical style to build hype—that this auction is even happening."

"We haven’t even broken ground on the Westside property yet, and we already have several investors lining up."

Claire Kendall replied humbly, "You’re too kind. It was your wise decision-making."

The people around them were stunned.

What was going on?

A top-tier tycoon was being so enthusiastic toward a little-known designer?

And what did he say?! This auction was only happening because of Claire Kendall.

The crowd looked at Claire Kendall, their gazes now holding a newfound respect.

A few steps away, Yvonne Warren’s smile faltered. She gritted her teeth, her chest heaving with anger and jealousy.

’Is Leon Wright blind? The Warren Family invested in him, and I’m the family’s eldest daughter. On what grounds is he so dismissive of me, yet so effusive toward Claire Kendall?’

Yvonne Warren couldn’t make sense of it, but she knew she couldn’t cause a scene.

Leon Wright’s gaze casually swept over Ian Rhodes, who was standing next to Claire Kendall.

"If I recall correctly, this must be the Design Director of Apex Wear. So young and promising, truly promising..."

Leon Wright smiled and nodded. "So, Ms. Kendall and Mr. Rhodes know each other?"

Ian Rhodes nodded. "Yes, Mr. Wright. Claire and I were classmates in college."

"I see." Leon Wright was a shrewd man. He subtly glanced toward the second floor and lowered his voice.

"Mr. Warren is in the private room on the second floor, you know? He’s probably waiting to bid on an item for you."

Claire Kendall forced a smile and took the opportunity to say, "Alright, I’ll go up and see him then..."

Before Claire Kendall could finish, Ian Rhodes stepped forward, acting as if he hadn’t heard what she just said.

"Claire, the auction is about to start. My mom’s birthday is coming up, and I want to pick a gift for her. Can you help me choose something?"

Claire Kendall hesitated.

Ian Rhodes’s voice dropped a little. "Please, Claire? Back in college, she always said you had the best taste. She’d be thrilled to know you picked it out."

When the OCHH studio was just starting out, Ian Rhodes’s family lived near the university. His mother, Grace Rhodes, was very warm, and they had often gone to her place for meals.

Claire Kendall couldn’t refuse. She nodded. "Okay."

"Mr. Wright, I’ll head over as soon as it’s finished. Could you please let him know for me?"

With that, Claire Kendall was pulled by Ian Rhodes toward the front row seats.

「In the second-floor private room.」

Miles Warren sat in a mahogany chair, a cup of long-cold tea before him. His gaze passed through the window, landing on the slender, graceful figure in the auction hall below.

And on the hand of the man pulling her—an eyesore.

When Leon Wright entered, he found Miles Warren with a thunderous look on his face. Wright’s heart lurched—he knew at once why the man was unhappy.

He sat across from him, barely daring to breathe. The silence in the room was suffocating.

Miles Warren stared unblinkingly at the scene below. After a long moment, he spoke, his voice flat.

"Mr. Wright."

"It seems just anyone can get into your venue these days."

"I..." Cold sweat beaded on Mr. Wright’s brow. "I’m sorry, Mr. Warren. I didn’t do my due diligence."

Miles Warren toyed with the Buddha Beads on his wrist.

’Claire Kendall, you’ve really got some nerve.’

The auction officially began, and the auctioneer started introducing the items.

The surrounding crowd murmured among themselves.

"Where’s Mr. Wright? Why isn’t he here?"

"He’s on the second floor. I heard a big shot showed up in one of the private rooms, and he’s keeping them company."

"Who is it, to get such special treatment? More important than the Warren heiress?"

Claire Kendall listened to the whispers, her back involuntarily straightening.

She could feel a searing gaze from the second floor fixed on her, hot enough to burn a hole through her.

She snuck a peek, but the bamboo curtain on the window was only half-rolled, and the light inside was too dim to see anyone clearly.

She took a breath and tore her gaze away, feeling both guilty and tormented.

"Claire, what do you think of this one? Would my mom like it?" Ian Rhodes turned his head, leaning in to whisper. His warm breath brushed against her ear.

Claire Kendall shifted to the side, subtly putting a little distance between them.

"I don’t think your mother would like this style."

"Alright then, let’s keep looking. Thanks for the help, Claire."

The auction continued in full swing.

Ian Rhodes’s voice suddenly cut in. "Claire, I think I got something in my eye."

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