Aria's POV
At the same time, shocked gasps erupted from the people behind us.
Almost instantly, every eye in the hall turned to Damon.
The auctioneer heard the bid and looked at me, my hand still raised. "Miss, would you like to bid higher?"
I swallowed hard, stayed silent for two seconds, then said, "…I pass."
I never saw this coming. I had considered the possibility of miscalculating, but I never thought it would be because of Damon.
In all my memory, he had never once shown the slightest interest in auctions.
Damn it. My whole plan—winning James over with something he'd like—had just fallen apart completely. I'd have to think of another way.
"Thirty million." Noah, seated beside me, placed his bid in a voice that left me stunned.
"Oh, no, Noah, it isn't worth that."
"Forty mil
