Page 14 of Auctioned To Be Mine

“Charming.”

“Right?”

“Did you get his number?”

I snorted. “I just said he bowled me over.”

“But you also said he was hot.”

“That adjective described a real jerk. He could have been hotter than the sun and it wouldn’t have mattered.”

“You really should be dating,” she said.

I rolled my eyes. She was always trying to get me to date. Like I was another charity she needed to worry about.

“It’s the men in this city.” I took another sip of shitty coffee. “I’m sure there are good men out there somewhere. Probably somewhere with trees and fresh air and people who don’t film themselves eating.”

Betty laughed again. “You sound like you need a vacation.”

“What I need is a miracle.” I set the coffee down and looked at her seriously. “What are we going to do, Betty? If Montana backs out, we’re in trouble.”

I could see her mind working, running through options. That’s what she did and she was damn good at it. She was the entire backbone of this whole charity. She could make two cents into two hundred dollars. It just took a little finessing.

Finally, she sat up straighter and looked at me with renewed energy.

“Okay,” she said. “Here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to talk to Max Blackwell.”

I blinked. “Max Blackwell?”

“Yes.”

“The Max Blackwell? The guy whose family name is on half the buildings in LA?”

“That’s the one.”

I stared at her. “Betty, I can’t just call Max Blackwell.”

“He’s a philanthropist,” she said. “A big one. He gives to a lot of charities, and he knows people. Big people. Stars bigger than Jack Montana. If anyone can help us pull this together, it’s him.”

“And you think he’ll just take a meeting with me? A random person calling to ask for favors?”

Betty smiled. “I think he’ll take a meeting if you explain what we’re trying to do and what happened with Jack Montana. The worst he can say is no.”

“Or he could ignore me completely.”

“Then you’re in the same position you’re in now,” she said reasonably. “But if he says yes? He could connect us with people we’d never get access to on our own. He’s got pull in this town. Look, I’m not just randomly suggesting him. I’ve gotten some donations from him before.”

I wanted to argue. It was a long shot. But she was right. We had nothing to lose.

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll try. How do I even get in touch with him? I don’t think I can just Google his number.”

Betty was already pulling up something on her computer. “His assistant’s name is Lauren. She’s good people. I met her at a fundraiser a few years back.” She scribbled down a number and handed it to me. “Call her. Tell her who you are and what you’re trying to do. Be honest. Be yourself. That’s your best shot.”

“Okay,” I said again. “I’ll call her today.”

“Now,” Betty said.

She knew me too well. “I will. I’m getting more coffee.”