The Graham Heir—I Am Not An Adopted Nobody

Chapter 52: The Message Before the Auction

The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut sped through the afternoon traffic like it owned every bit of the road.

It didn't need to weave in and out of lanes or rev its engine to prove a point. It just moved with a power that made other drivers pull over just to watch it pass. 

People were literally hanging out of their windows with their phones out, trying to catch a glimpse of the ghost white car as it blurred past.

Robert guided the car toward the massive gates of the BGMH Resorts. The security guards there were used to seeing expensive machines— Ferraris and Lamborghinis were a daily sight for them— but this was something else.

This was a car that didn't just cost millions, it was a car that showed who was really at the top of the food chain.

One guard slowly slid his sunglasses down his nose as the Jesko approached. "Okay... I know we see some crazy cars every week," he muttered to his partner, his eyes wide. "But what is actually going on lately? First that Pagani this morning, and now this?"

His partner didn't take his eyes off the red badge on the hood. He looked like he’d seen a ghost. "We’ve had more high level hypercars come through these gates this month than we usually see in other months. Something is changing around here."

The Jesko glided past them into the hotel, the engine making a low, hungry growl.

"You think something big is about to go down at BGMH?" the first guard asked, turning to watch the security monitors. His partner didn't answer, he was still just staring at the disappearing taillights, wondering who was actually behind that tinted glass.

Robert parked in the private underground garage, the engine cutting off with a soft mechanical click. Silence flooded the space.

Parked right across from him, looking like a piece of jewelry, was a Pagani Barchetta in midnight blue with gold accents. It was Anna’s car, and even under the dim garage lights, it looked incredible.

He stepped out, straightened his jacket, and took the private elevator up to the penthouse.

When he reached Anna’s suite, the door was already open. He knocked lightly before stepping inside. Anna was sitting cross legged on the designer couch, staring at her phone with an annoyed look on her face. She looked exhausted, like she’d spent the whole day fighting a losing battle. She looked up the second she heard his footsteps.

"Finally," she said, tossing her phone onto the cushions with a huff. "How was school? Please tell me yours was better than mine."

Robert loosened his tie, feeling the weight of the day’s events on his shoulders. "Eventful," he said shortly.

She rolled her eyes and stood up. "Mine was just stressful. I couldn't walk five feet without feeling someone staring. And Jane? She was at her worst today. She came at me with her little group again, saying all kinds of nasty things about you, and about me.”

“They even tried to grab my phone and dumped my books on the floor like it was some kind of joke for their followers."

Her voice got a little harder, her eyes flashing with anger. "They really think they’re untouchable because of that deal you let them sign."

"And then what happened?" Robert asked, his voice calm but steady.

"The director walked in," she said, a small, satisfied smirk appeared on her lips. "Perfect timing. You should have seen their faces—they went from bullies to helpers in two seconds. It was pathetic."

A faint smile formed on Robert's face. "Good. At least someone is watching."

Anna leaned back against the arm of the couch, studying him with narrowed eyes. She was good at reading him.

"You’re way too calm, Robert. Even for you."

"I told you," Robert replied. "I’ll deal with Jane. She won't be a problem much longer."

"When?"

"Soon." There was something so certain, so cold in his voice that Anna actually stopped talking for a second.

But then, the tension snapped, and her whole mood shifted. She grinned—a huge, genuine smile that lit up her whole face. Robert looked at her suspiciously, taking a step back. "What are you doing?"

Without any warning, two party poppers exploded over his head, raining colorful confetti down on his hair and shoulders. Anna jumped up, spinning around in a circle and laughing. "You are officially the best brother in the history of the world!" she shouted.

Robert stood there, blinking as he brushed a piece of blue confetti off his sleeve. He looked like he didn't know whether to laugh or be annoyed.

"The car, Robert!" she said, pointing toward the floor as if she could see through the marble to the garage. "Do you have any idea how insane that Pagani is? Every single head in the school turned when it pulled up. Even the teachers were staring out the windows. Jane looked like she wanted to cry."

"I had a feeling it would help," Robert said, his voice softening.

She walked around him, looking him up and down like she was seeing him for the first time. "You really didn't have to do that, Robert. That's... It's too much."

"I wanted to. You shouldn't have to deal with people like that without having something to fight back with."

She stopped and gave him a quick, tight hug before stepping back, her eyes a little misty. "Thank you," she said softly.

He nodded once. "You're welcome, Anna."

They shared a quiet moment of peace, the first one they’d had in days. But it didn't last long.

Anna’s eyes turned mischievous again, and she stepped back into his space. "So," she said slowly, a smirk on her face. "How did your date with Avery go? I want details."

Robert walked toward the window, looking out at the city skyline as the sun started to set. "A lot happened, Anna."

"That’s not an answer. Was it a good a lot or a bad a lot?"

"It went fine. We had dinner."

Anna stepped closer, tilting her head to the side to get a better look at him. "You have a tiny scar on your lip. Right there."

Robert didn't react, but he knew she'd caught him. He was a bad liar when it came to her. She folded her arms over her chest, looking like a detective.

"That didn't happen at school. Your uniform is perfect. And if you’d been in a fight today, it would look much worse."

She leaned in, her eyes narrowing. "So either something happened last night... or you're hiding something big from me."

Robert exhaled, giving in a little. He knew she wouldn't drop it. "Just some guy Avery and I ran into. He had a problem with us being together."

"And?"

"It was a misunderstanding. He thought he could push people around."

"And?"

"It’s handled. I promise. Don't worry about it."

Anna studied his face for a few more seconds, looking for any sign of a lie, then slowly nodded. She didn't push him any further because she trusted him.

She knew that if Robert said it was handled, that person probably wasn't going to be a problem ever again.

Robert started unbuttoning his cuffs, his mind already moving to the next task. "I have an event tonight. We don't have much time to get ready."

Anna’s interest piqued immediately. "What kind of event? Is it fancy?"

"A private Grand Auction. The kind where people buy things most people can't even dream of."

Her eyes went wide. "Wait... is it the one everyone is talking about? The one partnered with the Bullion Corporation? The one where the invite list is secret?”