Page 124 of Valentine’s Billionaire Auction

“Until they get me alone,” I said.

“Stop it. Any woman would be thrilled to get the chance to sit down with you.”

I scoffed. “I don’t know about that. I tend to turn them away once I start talking about the one that got away.”

“Then don’t talk about her tonight,” she said gently. “This is a chance for you to meet someone new. I think it’s time. You’ve come a long way. You’re ready.”

I knew that was what everyone thought, but that was not the way I felt. I was still hung up on Kaira. I wasn’t sure I would ever forget about her. I wanted to, but I couldn’t.

“I should go,” I said. “Anthony is waiting.”

And he was. He opened the car door for me. I slid in, trying not to dwell too much on how much I hated stuff like this. It was just a few hours and the money was for a good cause. I could suck it up for kids with cancer.

The ballroom was a hive of activity when I walked in. It was filled with the glittering elite of Los Angeles. The same characters that were always at these things milled about with champagne flutes in hand. They were decked out in their finest gowns and jewelry. I saw many familiar faces. And they saw me. I felt the eyes on me as I moved through the crowd.

Staff in sleek black uniforms darted between tables, balancing champagne flutes and hors d’oeuvres. I found a quiet corner at the bar, watching the interaction from a safe distance. A woman laughed too loudly at a joke beside me, her pitchy voice setting my nerves on edge. I ordered a scotch and turned slightly, trying to block out the noise. I took a sip of my drink and scanned the room once more, steeling myself to join the fray.

I mingled. Shook hands. Accepted congrats on my new business venture and said all the right things. It was like the same playbook with the same bits of conversation recited over and over again.

It wasn’t long before a young woman dressed in all black came to retrieve me. I felt a tug in my gut, remembering last year it was Kaira who had been sent to find me.

“This way, Mr. Kelly,” she said.

I followed her through the crowd to the same holding area as last year. It was bringing back a lot of memories—good and bad. I took my spot backstage, glad to be out of the ballroom with all the eyes on me. The break wouldn’t last long but I would enjoy it while I could.

From my vantage point backstage, I watched the chaos with a mixture of amusement and disbelief. Had it really been a year since the last charity auction? It felt like a lifetime and yesterday all at once.

The buzz of conversation in the crowd was a dull roar. My name was already circulating in whispers, the anticipation palpable. I noticed the same two guys from last year were going up on the auction block.

“Gentlemen,” I said, shaking their hands. “Good to see you back in the hot seat.”

“Let’s hope we survive another round.”

The other billionaire grinned. “At least we didn’t pretend to marry our bidder.”

I smiled back, feeling a flicker of nostalgia. “If Kaira had bid on you, believe me, you might have tried.”

Her name wasn’t a secret—not after the media circus earlier this year—but it still had the power to make my chest tighten.

The first billionaire was introduced, his dating history poked fun at as the bidding war began. Numbers soared higher than last year, the energy in the room contagious. Maybe the organizers were onto something when they changed it to before Christmas. He was “sold” for an impressive figure. Then it was the second billionaire’s turn. Once again, I was being saved for last, like the grand finale. No pressure or anything.

I watched the bidding, impressed to see him actually go for higher than the first.

Then it was my turn.

The emcee gestured for me to stand. I adjusted my jacket and rose to my feet. The applause was deafening, and I swept my gaze over the crowd, my expression carefully neutral. Faces blurred together, a sea of designer gowns and tailored suits.

My wealth, my business, and my looks were all listed as the many reasons people should bid on me. It was a little cringey, but it was part of the deal. I flashed my most charming smile and struck a few poses. Then the bidding started.

The numbers climbed rapidly, echoing around the high-ceilinged room. Each bid seemed to thrust me further into a spotlight I wasn’t sure I wanted but couldn’t escape. Fifty thousand… seventy-five… soon it was close to a hundred grand.

I stood there watching and happened to notice something. The crowd shifted.

A ripple passed through the room, heads turning in the same direction. The people in the back moved aside, creating a clear path down the center aisle. My pulse quickened as a figure stepped into the light.

It was her.

Kaira.