He didn’t look angry or beaten by the sudden jump in price.

He just looked completely indifferent.

He shook his head slowly at the auctioneer to signal he was finished.

The margin was simply too thin for his portfolio.

The corporate budget had a firm mathematical limit, and my sticky note had just beaten it.

Denny pointed his gavel straight at my raised hand and brought the heavy wooden mallet down on the wagon rail with a sharp, echoing crack.

“Sold to bidder forty-seven!” Denny yelled.