Turning Of The Tide (Natalie and Trevon) novel Chapter 78

Unbeknownst to them, time slipped away unnoticed, and in the blink of an eye, the day of the bidding had arrived.

Sherri was filled with sheer delight, beaming like a child.

She twirled in front of the mirror, unable to contain her excitement. The reason for her joy was the limited-edition dress that Edward had purchased for her to wear at the bidding event. Notably, it was the same design as the one worn by Natalie, affectionately known as the sister dress. One was a delicate shade of blue, while the other boasted a soft, creamy hue.

Without a doubt, Sherri had chosen the pale blue one.

Meanwhile, Natalie had already finished her makeup and sat primly on the bed, waiting patiently for Sherri. She had been waiting for half an hour while Sherri meticulously curled her eyelashes, taking her time with every detail.

Completely unaware of the passing time, Sherri didn't consider the minutes ticking by. For a woman, getting dressed and applying makeup was an effortless endeavor, as if time had no hold on her.

Looking beautiful was all that mattered.

Natalie felt reluctant to remind Sherri. "Sherri, we're attending a bidding event, not a beauty pageant. You already look stunning. Even the celebrities walking the red carpet can't compare to you."

Sherri had an air of confidence, proudly stating, "Absolutely! You have great taste. But I can't afford to embarrass Edward. What if I run into my future sister-in-law? I can't risk looking anything less than perfect."

Deep down, Sherri always had a nagging feeling that Edward had a girlfriend overseas!

Feeling tired, Natalie propped her chin up and said, "You keep going. I'll grab a drink to wake myself up. I haven't had a single sip of water since I woke up this morning."

"Hey, Natalie, does my makeup look good? Are my lashes curled enough?"

Natalie glanced up and commented, "Looks good. No need to curl them anymore. They're reaching for the sky."

Sherri was in high spirits and didn't pay much attention to Natalie's hidden implications.

Edward had been waiting downstairs for an hour without making a single phone call. He sat in the passenger seat, patiently waiting.

Meanwhile, Kyle, showing no sense of urgency, reclined in his seat with his eyes half-closed, nearly drifting off to sleep.

Once Sherri and Natalie finished their preparations, they spotted Edward's Maybach downstairs. Opening the car doors, they carefully adjusted their dresses before stepping inside.

"Edward, you're here so early."

"Yeah."

With everyone seated, Kyle started the car engine and headed toward the Grand Manor Hotel.

The bidding event was being held in the penthouse conference room of the Grand Manor Hotel.

Natalie, who had a late shift that evening, was anxious about possibly being late. "Edward, what time does the bidding event wrap up?"

Edward turned his head slightly and spoke in a reassuring tone, "Worried about being late for work?"

Natalie answered honestly, "Yes."

"Don't worry. It will be over before dinner. The results will be announced, and after that, I'll drop you off at the hospital."

"Oh, alright."

The entrance of the Grand Manor Hotel was bustling with activity as one luxury car after another pulled into the parking lot. The available spaces quickly filled up, indicating a significant turnout for the bidding event.

Reporters were gathered at the entrance, their cameras poised to capture the scene. Natalie couldn't help but feel a twinge of skepticism.

This was quite the spectacle!

Turning to Sherri, who appeared visibly excited. "Sherri, are you sure this bidding event is supposed to be small-scale?"

Sherri, sensing the discrepancy, swiftly changed the subject. "Oh, it doesn't matter. As long as I'm here with Edward, the event's size doesn't matter. Besides, we're both single, so let's enjoy ourselves, right?"

Natalie was momentarily at a loss for words. She did have reservations, mainly when it came to large-scale gatherings with a sizeable crowd.

But since they had already arrived, returning now wasn't an option.

Edward sensed Natalie's discomfort and leaned in to reassure her, "Don't worry. Sit beside me in a little while. Once the official list is announced, we can make our exit."

Natalie nodded.

As they stepped into the conference hall, their eyes were met with a sea of people, a dense crowd that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Even Sherri was taken aback, questioning the sheer number of attendees. Were they all here for the bidding? Was this event intended to be small-scale, or had it unexpectedly become something more significant?

Questions swirled in Sherri's mind. How had so many people managed to secure their presence?

Were qualifications not thoroughly vetted?

Kyle leaned closer to Edward and whispered, "There's a significant number of attendees from outside Athana today, which explains the large turnout."

Edward nodded knowingly, understanding the competitive nature of such events. "It's to be expected. Everyone wants a slice of the pie."

The four of them settled into their seats in the front row.

Soon enough,

a procession of individuals made their grand entrance through the doors. Leading the way was a distinguished man dressed in a sleek black suit. He casually strolled toward the front row, his hands nonchalantly tucked into his pockets.

Hackett, usually known for his laid-back demeanor, was followed closely behind and appeared surprisingly composed and focused. Like Frank, his hands were in his pockets, his face betraying no emotion.

Fate had intertwined their paths once again.

Trevon entered the room, his gaze immediately drawn to the woman seated next to Sherri in the elegant creamy hue dress.

Her lustrous black hair cascaded down her back.

Without hesitation, he sat beside her, his countenance calm and unruffled, as if they were mere strangers.

Natalie couldn't help but feel a momentary surprise. "Aren't there other seats?"

However, as she observed his composed demeanor, her apprehension faded.

Sherri, too, couldn't help but be intrigued by the situation. With several empty seats remaining, she wondered why he had deliberately chosen to sit next to Natalie.