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And then another voice joins the auctioneer’s, “Five hundred thousand dollars. Closing bid.”
I squint into the crowd, trying to see the man standing at the back of the hall, holding his paddle high. The lights are dimmed and I can’t make out his face, but I’m almost sure I recognize his voice.
“Going once. Going twice. Sold to bidder number seventeen for five hundred thousand dollars. Closing bid.”
How much?
“Thank you, miss,” the auctioneer says, but I can’t move. My limbs are frozen. I hear a few people chuckle, and I snap out of my frigid state and quickly turn to exit stage right.
Curtis is waiting for me, arms open and his white teeth blazing on his smiling face. “You, babe, are four hundred and fifty thousand dollars richer!”
“I-I am?”
“Tomorrow morning you are,” he says, hugging me.
“What happens now?” I ask.
Why isn’t my brain working?
Steven materializes out of seemingly nowhere to take the opal from my clutches. Only when he pulls on the crystal, do I realize I have a death grip on it.
“It’s normal to be in shock, Elle,” Steven murmurs. “Your security detail will be here shortly to accompany you to the bidder. Once you retire for the evening, he will remain close by in case you need him. There is a small panic button on the wall next to the bedside table on the right side of the bed. If you feel unsafe or your partner makes any demands you do not feel comfortable with, use the button. Security will be there to help you. Your safety is important to us.”
“Wow, okay, thanks.”
Steven turns and gestures to a man dressed in a black suit. “Eddie will show you to your bidder,” he says, then turns to help the next girl as she exits the stage.
“Good luck, babe,” I say, hugging Curtis closer before I follow Eddie to meet my bidder.
CHAPTER6
Elle Cartwright?
My Elle?
My ex-best friend’s little sister … here?
Auctioning herself off?
Why?
Her family isn’t hard up. She can’t possiblyneedthe money.
Fuck me, what have I done?
I just bought Elle Cartwright.
I just spent half of my fortune. Six years' worth of hard work—fuck.
Jared taps his finger on the table, drawing my attention to him, stopping my mind from spiraling, and trying to figure out why Elle was here.
“Didn’t follow my advice, did you?” he says with an obnoxious smirk, and I groan in response.
“Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us. I spent a quarter-million my first year here. That was over ten years ago and a heavy chunk of change. But I came back the next year, and the next, so I think you’ll agree it isn’t a bad investment,” he says, smiling. “And here comes your prize now.”
I turn to look to my left and see a big guy weaving through the tables, and then I catch a glimpse of golden hair behind him. The man moves behind us but stays close.He must be her security detail,I think before I’m arrested by a vision from my past.
Her blonde hair is long and loose, draped over her shoulder, exposing the slim column of her throat. The black dress molds to her body, accentuating her full breasts, luscious hips, and fantastic legs. She’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, more so with the years she’s had to grow into her beauty. She doesn’t look like a teenager anymore.
