Chapter 61
CHAPTER 61
NORTH CAROLINA
“ I wanted to thank you, Adria. For the opportunity,” Frances said.
Adria offered a tight nod. She had selected Frances to facilitate the auction bidding and distribution for two reasons: one, Loretta’s business always handled her sales. Two, the company was neutral. Unbiased. Clean.
But this was the third time Frances had approached her, eyes wide and full of too much energy, gushing gratitude like it was something Adria had time for.
Adria’s gaze drifted—inevitably—to Bryson.
He moved with an ease that made her teeth grind. Graceful. Fluid. Almost comfortable under Kate’s hands.
Adria forced her expression into something polite, saying, “Frances, I have the utmost confidence in your ability.”
“So, you’re not having second thoughts, then?” Frances asked, her tone light, but her words digging deeper than she probably realized.
Adria’s chest tightened.
Why did it bother her so much that Bryson was handling Kate like he was born to it ?
She looked again. The redhead’s hand slid over his shoulder, and Bryson didn’t flinch.
Didn’t even glance her way.
“Adria?”
The sound of her name snapped her back. Frances stood frozen, a deer in headlights, clearly unsure if she’d overstepped.
Adria blinked. “What?”
Frances shifted nervously. “I just—wanted to be sure you’re still comfortable with everything.”
Adria exhaled slowly, tightening her control. “Everything is staying as planned. You give me the numbers, and I’ll tell you who to contact as the winner. Understood?”
Relief washed over Frances’s face. She nodded, practically bouncing in her heels. Too young. Too eager. Maybe, Adria should’ve gone with someone more seasoned, but it was too late to change now.
“Okay, I just wanted to be sure. Thank you so much,” Frances repeated.
Adria cut her off before she could go into another round of appreciation. “You have the unmarked car, with the security I set up, ready for pickup tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.?”
Frances nodded vigorously. “Yes. Yes, everything is set up exactly as you asked.”
Adria gave a curt nod, dismissing her.
She watched the girl bounce away like this was a game.
As if lives weren’t hanging in the balance.
Everything was going according to plan.
So why did she feel like it was all unraveling?
Adria’s eyes found Kate again, and a knot formed in her throat. The woman was magnetic, poised, and devastatingly precise in the way she moved .
She was a ghost of something Adria couldn’t quite name.
Either way, she couldn’t look away.
Pulling out her phone, pretending to send a text, she angled the phone so she could take a photo.
This woman says her name is Kate. I want to know how she was invited to my party?
She didn’t have to wait long for X to respond.
X: I’ll look into it and get back to you.
Hurry, I’d like to know before she leaves .
X: Have you spoken to Teo?
Adria had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. It seemed every man in her life believed they knew the next best move— her next best move.
And for the first time in a long time, Adria wasn’t sure what that was.
Stuffing her phone in her pocket, she moved through the crowd. Finding Teo at the far wall, near a collection of Steven Kasher photos.
“Wonderful party. I am so greatly pleased that you’ve had a change of heart. As is my buyer,” Teo said, tipping his hat in her direction.
“I need assurances that they will not be injured. Not just that. I need to know they will be treated well.”
Teo raised an eyebrow at her candor.
“I assure you, Miss, they will be well cared for.”
Something about his confidence put her more on edge. Everything he and his mysterious buyer were offering was more than she had dared to hope for. Callen’s land would be rendered worthless, and in exchange, she was being handed a new property.
It was a golden ticket. The cost was just… them .
“Thank you,” she said, moving further into the room.
She continued past a group now playing their own games with their submissives on her platforms.
Her phone buzzed.
X: The woman’s name is Elena. She is married to Sota Kings, and she was invited by you.
No, I don’t know her.
The next text was a screenshot of her phone bill. Circled in red was the date of the phone call, time and name, Elena Kings.
Adria’s world shrank in on itself as she recognized the date of Jonathan’s attack.
One of the boys had called Elena that night.
And she didn’t need three guesses to know who.
They say a person goes through five stages of grief. Adria flew through denial and moved right to anger. Marching into the hall, she zeroed her attention on Bryson. He was the ringleader of their little operation. Anything that happened, happened because of him.
Seeing him at the feet of Elena, the woman he had called while she clung to life, poured fuel on the fiery rage that already burned in her center.
Marching to him, she was stopped mid-step by Matilda, a frumpy brunette and a player at Club Shale.
“I have to say, Adria, after the performance at the club, I wasn’t sure these boys would see auction.”
Fury boiled inside her. “Why, didn’t you think I was capable of bringing them to heel?”
Matilda’s eyebrows bunched together. “No, they just responded to you so well. I thought maybe you might keep them for yourself.”
She considered Adria. “Are you all right, you seem…”
“I appreciate your concern, I just haven’t been myself since Loretta passed away.”
Matilda relaxed, understanding dawning her face. “Of course, we were all very sorry to hear about the accident. You never know how much time you have.”
“I agree,” Adria said, sidestepping the woman. She looked at Bryson, still at Elena’s feet, and she wished like hell she could change things.
Steeling herself, she approached the pair, acutely aware that upon her approach, Bryson looked anywhere but at her.
“Adria.” Elena gave her a curt nod.
“I was wondering if I could borrow your prize for a moment?” Adria asked her .
Elena looked at Bryson, who Adria noticed gave the slightest of nods, but Elena hesitated with the leash.
“If you wouldn’t mind, I would like to have a moment in private with him,” Elena said.
Adria felt her jaw drop, the shock reverberating through her body like a slap. The refusal washing over her, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth and a red flush on her cheeks.
“I won’t be long,” Elena assured her. “He has piqued my interest.”
“For your buyer,” Adria said flatly.
Elena brushed some of her shiny hair behind her ear. “Yes, for my buyer.”
Adria pointed to a room they could have to themselves and watched as the two of them moved away.
A soft hand tapped her on the shoulder, and she rounded. Why did everyone always need something from her? Couldn’t she just have a moment of peace, just one ?
The anger on her face melted away as Cole’s soft brown eyes came into view. He wore a tailored black suit, and it fit him in all the right places.
“Cole,” she said in surprise. “Your hair?”
He trailed his fingers along the side of his face. “Yeah, I wanted a change.”
He peeked at her from the bottom of his long black eyelashes. “Do you like it?”
For a ridiculous moment, she thought about reaching out and touching his newly shortened hair. Her fingers would no longer be able to tangle within it.
She blushed at the intrusive thought, and Cole looked down.
“I do. It looks very grown up,” she said. “Where is Mistress Eve?”
He looked through the crowd before pointing. “Our year is up. She wanted me to come as a guest, not a sub. Start getting my sea legs back. ”
Adria nodded. Eve was a great Mistress. Acclimating Cole to his pending transition was an excellent idea.
“Are you two going to continue seeing each other?” she asked, hopeful. She could really use a win right now.
“No,” he said quickly.
Glancing over his shoulder, he said, “We’re better as friends.”
She gave him an understanding smile.
Cole fidgeted. He couldn’t seem to decide what to do with his hands, before finally settling on putting them in his pockets. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” he said, his eyes shifting. “Now that my contract is up. I wanted to ask you out. Officially . Maybe we could meet at Club Shale, or go out for dinner?”
His face was full of light. Her Black knight in shining armor.
“Cole, I’m sorry, I can’t,” she said.
He shook his head.
“Why not?” he asked, his hand reaching to grab hers. Adria waved her bodyguards away and put her hand on top of his. Cole felt so warm and safe in her grip.
“Adria, I would be devoted to you. I can protect you, help you, work with you. I can be everything you need,” he pleaded.
But you are not what I want.
“ No, you can’t,” she said, firmer than she meant to, and his face fell.
She hated the pain that flashed in his eyes. Hated that she had caused it.
A flash of red caught her attention, and she watched as Elena and Bryson left their private room.
“I don’t date my submissives,” she said. “Ever.”
The certainty in her voice made the party slow down around her. Clarity finally reaching her. Bryson and Elena was a good thing. The boys had someone. She didn’t need to be torn.
Adria could let go.