AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Shall we start the bidding at ten thousand dollars? Ten thousand we have. Twenty thousand. Do we have thirty thousand dollars?”
The bids just keep coming. When the auctioneer finally taps his gavel to mark the end of the sale, the winning bid was one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. I breathe heavily and feel a little giddy about all those zeros.
The other lots are also paintings. Two are sold as a pair. Lot ten came and went. Then it was time for my picture. Lot number eleven. My painting is placed on the easel. It looks small and insignificant, but a hushed murmur infects the room. The auctioneer introduces the painting.
“Bartoli’s sketch for his only painting of the Ponte Vecchio, Florence. Highly successful court painter, student, and cousin of the esteemed Italian master, Canaletto.” The auctioneer takes a moment before continuing. “Ladies and gentlemen, who will start the bidding at fifty thousand dollars? Fifty thousand we have. Sixty, Seventy… One hundred thousand on the phones… Two hundred thousand I’m bid here.”
The stir of excitement whooshes with a momentum all of its own. The auctioneer is only just keeping up with the play as the bids climb higher and higher. Henry’s eyes are wide in astonishment. I reach over and grip his hand to steady myself.
“Three hundred thousand, I’m bid… Four, Five, Six…” There’s a pause and it appears as if the sale has reached an end, then suddenly the auctioneer says, “One million dollars is bid. An overseas buyer. Any advances… One million, one hundred thousand, Two, Three… One million, five hundred thousand dollars… Going once… Two million!” The auction house crowd gasps collectively. “I’m bid two million dollars… Two million, one hundred. Two hundred.” My heart is in my throat. I can’t quite believe what is happening. “I’m bid two million, four hundred dollars, going once, going twice. Two million five hundred I’m bid. Going once, going twice. Anymore?” The gavel hits the block with a resounding crack. “Sold to an international buyer for two million, five hundred thousand dollars. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Moving on to lot number twelve.”
The auctioneer’s voice becomes a background hum as Henry leads me out of Sotheby’s auction hall. Outside he gathers me into a smothering bear hug on the steps and squeezes me so tightly I can hardly breathe.
“Congratulations, Olivia!” he finally says. “My goodness, that was quite the most exhilarating sale I’ve ever been to.”
I’m still speechless and I think I may be crying. Two point five million dollars. I had no idea the picture that was in my drawer in my tiny apartment was worth anything like that much. Two and a half million dollars. However I frame the numbers in my mind they just sound too fantastical. Twenty-five hundred thousand dollars. How would that amount of cash look if it was heaped up in my living room? I feel faint. I need to sit down. I need to walk around. I don’t know what I need.
Henry steers me away from the auction house and I burst into tears. It’s a relief. I have the funds I need for the rest of my life. But, at the same time, I have let go of something so personal it could not possibly have had a monetary value. I am mourning the past. I feel I have cheapened a golden moment. I am disloyal to Gianni and don’t deserve him.
“Let’s celebrate!” says Henry with a massive grin as he links his arm through mine.
“Thanks, Henry. But, whoa. I’m a bit overwhelmed at the moment. I think I’m just going to go home and sit quietly… for about a week.”
Henry looks at me concerned for a moment, then holds me at arm’s length and says, “Sure, Olivia. Are you okay? You’re very pale.”
“I think it’s just shock. I’ll be alright. Ummm. Thanks again, Henry. I guess Sotheby’s will be in touch with the transfer and whatnot?”
“Yes. That’s usually what happens. So, call me… you know… if you need anything. And when you are ready, we’ll go out and celebrate. I fully understand. Take care.”
Henry hugs me warmly, then walks away with his hands in his pockets in the opposite direction. He’s whistling a tune that dies away into the distance.
Chapter 33
Gianni
Mymotherorganizedacelebration dinner at Trattoria di Stefano in Firenze. The table, set for three, overlooks the medieval town’s nighttime lights reflected in the surging Arno. It’s only when I sit down at the table, I remember the fateful night when Olivia revealed that she was, in fact, Libby. The thought creates a bubble of laughter which I turn into a cough to distract my mother’s questioning gaze. My father didn’t notice because he was greeting some friends at a neighboring table. The waiter brings menus, a carafe of water, three glasses, and lights the candle. My father orders a bottle of the best Prosecco.
“Marta, my beautiful wife, and Gianni, my son, this has been a great day,” my father says leaning back in his chair. The wine arrives and is opened by the waiter with a satisfying pop. The waiter then pours out three glasses of the effervescent bubbles, nods respectfully, and leaves, saying he will return shortly to take our dinner order. My father raises his glass to me and then my mother before sipping from it. He closes his eyes and smiles. “This is good wine,” he says. “I wished I owned this winery.”
“You do own the winery, Carlo,” says my mother laughing.
“Ah yes, my dear. You are right, as always.” His attention turns to me.
“So, Gianni. You are selling the New York gallery. Your mother is pleased about that. She doesn’t like it when you are away from home.” He reaches over to stroke his wife’s hand. She covers his with hers.
“Ah, yes. And you don’t like it either!” Mama snaps back at him.
“She is right again! I miss you. What can I say?”
I smile at my parents. “I miss you too. And I will still go to New York because Luisa is there and…” my voice trails off as I think about what it is I want to say but my father interrupts my thoughts.
“And what are you going to do now? I can’t imagine a son of mine sitting around at home watching daytime TV, haha, without a project to get his teeth into.”
“Ah, Papa! You know me too well.” I pause to sip my wine and to look out at the view of the river. “I have an idea. I didn’t want to share it with the board just yet, because I always want to run things past you first.”
“Alright. Go ahead.”
“The Moretti vineyard is going well. It’s the backbone of the company, I think.”
