Page 86 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Surgeon

I took my time in the restroom. I fixed my hair, sat on a cushy settee, and basically just wasted time.

Finally, when I felt like it would be rude to wait any longer, I walked slowly back to the dining room. I could hear their voices long before I arrived at the room.

And what I heard made my stomach drop.

“Dear, you can’t possibly think someone like her is good enough to be yourwife,” Paolo’s mother was saying.

“Who ever said anything about getting married, Mama?” Paolo asked. “Jelly and I are not about to tie the knot.”

Gia and her mother laughed. “Certainly not,” Mrs. Santorodeclared.

“Could you even imagine?” Gia said snidely.

“Son, seriously. There’s one thing that girl’s good for. And it’s not being the future mother of my grandchildren.”

“There’s no need to be crass, darling,” Paolo’s mother said, but she chuckled as she said it.

My face burned with embarrassment and fury. What assholes! But why wasn’t Paolo saying anything?

“You can’t have really thought you’d be together long term with this woman?” his mother asked.

Now I would get to hear him defend me.

“No. No, of course not. I thought I already answered that. She’s just beautiful and someone fun to pass the time with.”

My mouth dropped open. He’d said I was so much more than that. He’d said I really mattered to him. He’d… lied.

“She does look nice in formal wear, I’ll give you that,” Paolo’s dad said. “But Gia does, too, and she fits in your world. There’s really no comparison.”

“No, I suppose there’s not,” Paolo said. I had to cover my mouth to keep the gasp in.

“And I know I make you happy in the bedroom,” Gia whispered loudly.

The bedroom? When had he had time to sleep with her? How long had she been in town? Did he fuck her while he was supposed to be with me?

I looked up and realized she’d seen me standing there. She’d said that on purpose to let me know I wasn’t the only woman he was fucking, no matter what he’d told me.

“Of course you do,” Paolo said, not even trying to hide that he’d been with her.

And my heart shattered.

I stepped back and leaned against the wall, trying to decide what to do. Should I go back in there and act as if I’d heard nothing? Or should I call a rideshare service to come take me to my condo?

I turned to the poor woman who’d been waiting to take me back to the dining room. She looked at me with compassion inher eyes. “Could you, um, please let Paolo know that I wasn’t feeling well and that I took an Uber home?”

“Of course, miss.” She laid her hand on my arm. “You’re better off,” she said. “Mr. Paolo is a nice man, but the rest?” She shook her head and made a face.

I smiled at her. “Thanks.”

I decided to wait and hear what Paolo would do when he knew I’d left. This, if nothing else, would tell me what he really thought of me.

“Excuse me,” the servant said as she walked back into the room. “The young lady asked me to let you know she took a car home. She wasn’t feeling well.”

“Oh. Let me go and see if she’s okay,” Paolo said.

“Sit down, Paolo,” his father said. “Enjoy the rest of your dinner with your family and the Santoros. You can check on your date later.”

“This is even better,” Gia trilled. “Now I don’t have to share you with your ‘date.’ Really, Paolo. How could you even be seen in public withher? She’s pretty, I suppose, but not a very good conversationalist. And would she even know the right things to say?”