Valentine’s Billionaire Auction

Chapter 16

16

ROMAN

“ T he jewelry store?” Anthony asked.

“Yes.”

Kaira was sitting quietly looking just a little shell-shocked. The kiss might have been unnecessary. I could have just told the vultures she was my girlfriend. But once I saw her and the opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t resist.

Anthony eyed me with skepticism thinly veiled behind his otherwise impassive expression but he drove to the Beverly Hills area. There were paparazzi waiting outside the jewelry store. Someone had tipped them off, just like in the lobby. It was all part of the marketing push.

“Ready?” I asked her.

“I don’t know. What are we doing here?”

“Getting your engagement ring, my love.”

Once again, I shocked the hell out of her. “Seriously?”

“Can’t be engaged and not have a ring,” I said. “What kind of man do you think I am?”

She let out another loud, exaggerated sigh. “I don’t know if I’m ready for all this.”

“Just remember that none of this is real. Just try to have fun with it. I’m going to come around the car and get you out, okay?”

She nodded. “Okay.”

I stepped out of the car, smoothing my suit as I rounded to her side. The cameras began clicking immediately, capturing every move. I opened the door, offering Kaira my hand like a proper gentleman. She took it, her hand trembling slightly. As she stepped out, the flashbulbs intensified.

We walked together into the jewelry store. The manager, recognizing me instantly, hurried forward. I had called ahead and made sure we would have privacy while we browsed.

“Mr. Kelly, what an honor! How can we assist you today?”

“I need an engagement ring,” I stated, my voice calm and clear.

The staff greeted us warmly, their smiles polished to perfection as they welcomed us into the showroom. There was someone waiting to help us standing behind every case.

The store was well stocked with amazing pieces—glass cases lined with exquisite diamonds, emeralds, and rubies.

Kaira’s eyes widened as she took it all in, her lips parting in an unspoken gasp. For a moment, she looked like she might turn and bolt.

“You okay?” I asked, leaning in close.

“This is a lot,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s supposed to be,” I replied with a smirk. “Come on. Let’s find something befitting your beauty, huh?”

She rolled her eyes but I thought her cheeks reddened a bit. I led her to a counter where the jeweler had already prepared a tray of rings for her to choose from. The diamonds sparkled under the bright lighting, each one more dazzling than the last. Kaira hesitated, her hand hovering over the display.

“These cost more than I’ve made in my entire life,” she murmured, her tone somewhere between awe and disbelief.

“Nothing but the best for you,” I said, picking up a ring with a center diamond so large it could blind someone in direct sunlight. “Try this one.”

She hesitated but eventually let me slide the ring onto her finger. The diamond caught the light perfectly, throwing tiny rainbows across her skin. Kaira stared at it, her brow furrowing as though she couldn’t comprehend what she was seeing.

“It’s too much,” she said, her voice shaky.

“Nothing is too much,” I replied firmly. “Pick the one you like.”

“But—”

“No ‘buts.’ This is part of the deal, Kaira. You’re going to wear my ring, and if I have to choose it for you, it’s going to make a statement.”

Her gaze darted between the ring and the others on the tray. Finally, she pointed to one—a more conservative design, though still worth an obscene amount of money. The solitaire diamond was elegant and understated, just like her.

“Are you sure?” I asked as I picked it up.

She nodded. “That one is more me , compared to that other beautiful monster.”

I slid the more elegant ring on her finger and stepped back, taking her in. She looked radiant. It wasn’t just the way it sparkled under the light. It was the way her eyes softened when she looked at it, the way her lips curved into a small, hesitant smile. It felt so real.

“It looks good,” I said, my voice softer than I intended. “It suits you.”

Kaira stared at the ring, her fingers trembling slightly. “I can’t believe this is real.”

“It’s real,” I assured her, taking her hand in mine, playing along. She was a better actress than I had expected. “And now, let’s give them a real show, shall we?”

I gestured toward the windows, where the media was still buzzing. Without waiting for her response, I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, holding her gaze as the cameras went wild.

I pulled back. “Alright, let’s buy this.”

I pulled out my black card and quickly paid for the ring.

“Shouldn’t we put this in the box?” she asked.

“No, you should wear it.”

She looked down at her hand. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“What if I get mugged?”

I had to bite back my laugh. “For one, you’re with me. And we’re in Beverly Hills. You’re not getting mugged. Just try not to leave it on a sink somewhere and you’ll be fine.”

We left the jewelry store and continued our shopping adventure. I took her to one of the most exclusive boutiques in the city, available by appointment only. The staff greeted us with champagne. There were no price tags on anything because, if you had to ask, you couldn’t afford it.

She was hesitant, fidgeting nervously as the salespeople brought out racks of clothes for her to try. Good thing about the price tags. If she had any idea how much these outfits were worth, she’d run away screaming.

“Either you pick what you want, or I do it for you,” I said. “We talked about this. I figured you’d prefer to choose. You said you didn’t want me to dress you up like a doll.”

“I did.”

“See? I listen.”

“I just feel so silly, so much fuss just for me,” she said quietly. “I’m not used to it.”

“Just ignore everything but the clothes. Find yourself something nice.” I sat in one of the plush velvet chairs and shooed her away. “Or I’m just going to choose the shortest dresses with the lowest necklines.”

Kaira scowled at me. “Okay, okay. I’ll look.”

She pulled a few items and disappeared behind the velvet curtains of the fitting room. Meanwhile, I sipped on the cold champagne, trying to appear disinterested while my heart raced with every movement I heard from behind those curtains.

I had been joking before, but the thought of choosing slutty outfits for her to wear seemed appealing. Shopping was tedious on the best of days, but if she would do a little dress-up for me, I could sit here all day.

Minutes ticked by slowly until finally, Kaira emerged. The transformation was nothing short of stunning. The blouse draped elegantly over her, paired with a tailored skirt that accentuated her round hips and flowed gracefully around her legs. She looked refined and powerful.

“I vote yes,” I said, sitting up. “Add it to the pile and try on the next one.”

Kaira’s cheeks flushed. She looked away quickly. “Do you really think so?” she asked, her voice small. “Just like that?”

“Absolutely.”

With a timid smile, she looked at herself in the mirror again and nodded. Then she scampered off to try the next one, already more comfortable with the process. Good. No reason we couldn’t enjoy ourselves.

As the hours went by, I watched her transform. Her posture straightened, her eyes lit up, and she started smiling more—genuine, unguarded smiles that made my chest tighten in a way I didn’t entirely understand. She was getting used to the idea of dressing like she truly was my fiancée.

We moved on to the next store and it was the same process. I sat and waited while she carefully chose piece after piece.

“You look incredible,” I said as she stepped out of the fitting room in a sleek black cocktail dress that hugged her curves perfectly.

She frowned, tugging at the hem. “It’s too tight.”

“It’s perfect,” I countered, standing to adjust the fabric slightly. “Trust me.”

“It’s too short. I don’t wear things that show so much thigh. I look better in loose skirts.”

“The hell you do,” I said. “That’s perfect.”

“I don’t know, maybe I should look for something a little less—well, a little more.”

“No. That goes on the pile.” I gestured to another dress waiting on the rack outside the dressing room. “Try that one.”

She scrunched up her nose. “I don’t think girls like me should be wearing dresses like that.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“I’m not a model, Roman. I don’t have the legs or the butt for that. More like, I have too much of both.”

I gave her a slow, deliberate look, my eyes tracing over her form. “You’re exactly the kind of woman who should be wearing dresses like that,” I said firmly. “You’re real. You’ve got an ass and hips. Try it on. For me. Please.”

Kaira bit her lip, looking uncertain. “Fine. You don’t have to beg. Jeez.”

She turned to head back into the fitting room. I didn’t miss the fact there was a new sway in her step that hadn’t been there before.

As she disappeared behind the curtain once more, I leaned back in my chair and realized I had found a crack in her confidence. She was self-conscious about her body. Maybe everyone in the world was, at least a little bit.

Still, I didn’t like that. She had a rocking body. So, what if she wasn’t a size two. Watching Kaira grow into herself, buoyed by the expensive clothes and my occasional encouragement, felt like a victory.

When she emerged again, the dress she wore was a bold blue that clung to her in all the right places—the sort of dress designed to make a statement in any room it entered. As she stood there in front of me, nervously tugging at the edge of the sleeve, I had to wipe the drool from the corner of my mouth.

“It’s not too much?” she asked.

“Keep it on. You’re leaving in it.” I got up and paid for the dress and the other outfits that made her look like the confident, stunning woman I knew she could be.

By the time we left the last boutique, Kaira was practically glowing. Her arms were full of shopping bags, and her smile hadn’t faded.

“You’re spoiling me,” she said as we climbed into the car.

“That’s the idea,” I replied, unable to hide my satisfaction. “Now, how about we get some food?”

“I don’t think I should eat anything while I’m wearing this dress.”

“If you get something on it, we’ll just buy another one.”

“This dress cost four-thousand dollars!”

“So?”

She shook her head. “It’s going to take a minute for me to get used to your way of living.”

“I have a feeling it will happen faster than you think.”

Anthony drove us to a swanky restaurant. It was the kind of place where celebrities went to be seen. The ma?tre d’ practically tripped over himself to seat us. I couldn’t help but notice the envious looks I got from other diners as we walked through the room.

Kaira looked stunning in the dress, and I wasn’t shy about showing her off.

We sat and she seemed more focused on the menu, her eyes widening at the prices.

“Roman, this is insane,” she whispered, leaning toward me.

“Just order what you want. Or I’ll order you a plate of snails. I mean, they’re delicious here, but not everyone’s a fan.”

She caved and ordered the branzino. I even managed to convince her to order dessert, on the condition we share it. By the time we finished the sticky toffee pudding with ice cream on top, the restaurant staff had all but rolled out a red carpet for us. I left a generous tip before guiding Kaira back to the car, where Anthony was waiting. He’d eaten his steak in the car.

When we finally returned to my house, Kaira let out a long breath and leaned against the doorframe of the grand foyer. Anthony had helped carry in the many, many shopping bags. They were now all over the hall, adding splashes of unfamiliar color to my life.

“That was overwhelming,” she admitted.

“Good overwhelming or bad overwhelming?” I asked.

She smiled, and it was so genuine that it made my chest tighten again. “Good. Definitely good.”

“Good,” I echoed, my voice low.

“Thank you.”

“Only the best for my favorite gal.” I had said it as a joke, but they weren’t untrue. I had enjoyed spending time with her, making her smile and checking her out in different outfits.

Maybe it was a good thing I was attracted to my fake fiancée but I suddenly felt like I was in trouble.