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“She’s a passionate spitfire. I got lucky.”
“Aye.” I looked around, trying not to be seen from where I stood behind the large curtains. I couldn’t see Ella, but like I’d told Dorian, she was around. We had a plan. She would let everyone else bid, then jump in at the last minute. I hoped this would work. I could see Celeste in the crowd along with a few other familiar faces.
Gods be damned gold diggers.
Thankfully, Dorian and I were toward the end. I could only hope that some of these women ran out of money fast. Good thing was they could only ‘win’ one bidding war. Had to keep it fair.
Glancing at my watch, I started to fidget. There was no sign of Ella at all. She wasn’t answering her cell. I wasn’t as worried a few minutes ago, but seeing May and Mum walking around talking to people at different tables, worry on their faces, I got a bad feeling.
“Dorian.”
“Aye, what’s up?”
“Ye have security on the doors. No one without a key or an invite got in?”
“Aye. Why?”
“Ella isn’t out there, and she isn’t answering her cell. It could be nothing, but it’s not like her to not answer me.”
He pulled his cell out and hit a button. “Gavin, Ella isn’t in the ballroom, find her. Aye, thanks.” He turned back to me. “Gavin is going to grab an employee and check the room, then work his way around if she isn’t in there. Don’t worry. I’m sure she’s all right. Ye said she wasn’t coming straight in.”
“Yeah. I should go myself.”
“If you go running out of here, you’ll start a panic. People will get?—”
“What if?—”
“No, ye said she wasn’t coming straight in. Let the boys do their jobs. We will do ours. Okay?”
I looked at the door behind us.
“If they aren’t back in twenty minutes, I will go out of that door with ye. I get it, pal. I’d do anything for my Kandy. This is a secure facility. I’m sure she’s okay.”
Twenty minutes later, the men before me were moving out onto the stage. The bidders were nuts.
“Let me just tell ye now, if that lady with the fur wins, I am giving her a refund. She has a reputation that my wife would go to jail to keep me from.” Dorian chuckled.
As the line moved, I straightened my suit jacket. “Yeah, that’s for the best.” Chuckling, I rolled my neck.
Dorian stopped just shy of the stage and pulled out his cell. “Aye? Thanks, Gavin.”
“Gavin and Ella will be down in a few minutes. She’s fine, just a wee bit pissed off.”
His features were tight. But before I could ask more, he was announced. The crowd of ladies cheered; some of them had husbands beside them, some were alone. There were a few I was sure had hired their dates. To each their own, I guess.
I had my girl coming to save me from this mess and not a moment too soon.
Chapter Nine
Gisella
Panic was my friend when I came to laying on the floor of the suite’s bathroom.
I remembered opening the door to let the dress delivery woman in.
Celeste!
I’d caught a glimpse of her as she swung something at my head.
