Chapter 26
Chapter twenty-six
Ivan
Her eyes pop wide. “What’s that supposed to mean?” she splutters. Her gaze flicks over the crowd, quick and wary, as if checking for eavesdroppers.
When I picked her up this evening, she’d knocked the air from my lungs. The moment she opened that door, my world spun off its axis. I’d never seen a more beautiful woman or had one on my arm. Suddenly, the night became about her.
Everything else became merely background noise.
“It can mean whatever you want it to,” I reply.
“I’m a decoy,” she says again. She keeps repeating it, as if convincing herself that it’s all an act. But the way the air is buzzing between us says this is anything but fake. Heat crackles, hot enough to scorch my skin.
“Let’s go mingle,” I suggest, changing the subject. “I’ll introduce you to the most affluent meatheads the city has to offer.”
She giggles, the sound unexpected.
“By the time we’ve met them all, you’ll be begging to get out of here.” I place my hand on the small of her back and direct her toward the largest group of people I recognize.
Virginia’s focus lands on me as we approach them, her eyes narrowing to slits. She’s holding court in a group of men and women, each one hanging off her every word. That laugh cutting through the noise, shrill and practiced.
Her red hair is pinned up, and she’s wearing a long black gown that clings to her curves, leaving nothing to the imagination.
She’s an attractive woman, especially out of her dress, but her personality leaves a lot to be desired.
Determined and focused on her task, she stalks her prey with persistence.
“Ivan,” she purrs, “lovely to see you this evening.” She extends her hand; I take it and raise it to my lips. Amy stiffens beside me. “And you brought…” She pauses. “I’m sorry, I can’t remember your friend’s name.”
“Amy is my partner,” I say with an edge.
“Partner?” she repeats. “My, my… things are getting serious.” She turns to Amy and places her hands on her shoulders. “It’s lovely to see you again, Amy.”
Virginia leans in and places bright red lips on her cheek, leaving a faint print like a claim. My hand tightens on Amy’s waist, and I tug her toward me. She submits to my request, her body fitting too easily against mine. It’s surprisingly calming, holding her. Natural, even.
The gentleman at the piano plays his final notes, and the crowd falls silent. A man in a tux steps into the reception area and taps a glass with a knife to bring attention to himself. “Ladies and gentlemen, please make your way through to the dining room. Dinner is ready to be served.”
Excited chatter buzzes across the room as people pick up their drinks and scurry toward the now-open doors.
Inside, tables set for ten extend across the room, each one with a huge display of holly and poinsettia at its center. The scent of roasted meat and mulled wine heavy in the air.
As I look up, there are swathes of garlands hanging from the ceiling, giving the whole place a festive feel.
At the front of the hall is a stage set for a large band, an abundance of instruments and microphones ready to be played.
I glance at Amy, who is following my lead without question.
Her head turns, taking in her surroundings.
“What do you think?” I ask.
“It’s magical,” she whispers.
Her words surprise me. Upon reaching our table, I pull out her chair; her dress brushes my legs as she sits, and my pulse jumps.
I hate this kind of event normally, and avoid them at all costs, but I suppose, it does look wonderful.
I feel a small surge of satisfaction, imagining she is enjoying herself here with me tonight.
Virginia drops into the seat beside me. Her presence isn’t a surprise, but it is unwelcome. “So, Ivan,” she purrs, “tell me how you two met?” Her eyes dance with mischief. She doesn’t believe my story, but with the part I’m going to play now, she bloody will by the time we leave.
“Amy is a competitor on the bodybuilding circuit. We’ve known each other for a few years, although only recently started spending time together,” I say.
“How long have you been dating?”
“Two months,” I reply, and Amy glances at me. “Actually, is it nearer three now, sweetheart?” I turn to her in question.
“Yes, it will be three months tomorrow,” she says softly, her lashes lowering just enough to look coy. My cock hardens as I watch her. Fuck, she’s a stunning woman. Her snarky mouth is in complete contrast to the little Miss Perfect act she’s playing just now.
She leans in and places her lips on my cheek. “And it’s been the best three months of my life,” she says in a stage whisper.
I turn back to Virginia, whose eyes are popping from her head.
“Well, Amy,” she says with a smirk, “I wonder if you’re the one who’s finally been able to tame Ivan Harley.”
“I’ll give it my best shot.” The two women focus on each other, then Virginia drops her gaze. Round one to Amy.
Plate after plate of delicious cuisine is brought to our table.
We gorge ourselves on prawn and langoustine cocktail, organic turkey, and indulgent Christmas pudding.
Amy chews each mouthful slowly, closing her eyes as she swallows.
I watch her lean neck muscles in awe, imagining my lips on her skin.
She has me mesmerized. This is torture disguised as a meal.
The conversation around the table is stuffy. Most of the guests are business owners or retired, so topics covered are limited to work or grandchildren.
The man in the tux walks up onto the stage and taps the microphone, and the chatter around the room dies down.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he calls, “I hope you have enjoyed your meal and had plenty to drink. It is time for our charity auction. Dig deep. All funds raised go to Great Ormond St. Children’s Hospital.
The catalog is on your table, and we will commence in five minutes.
” Soft music starts to play while we wait.
I pluck the list from the center of the table, holding it between Amy and me. Virginia leans toward me, and her shoulder touches mine as she scans the prizes.
“What are you fancying tonight, Ivan?” she asks. “Perhaps you could treat your new partner to something. Auctions are your specialty, if I remember correctly.”
“You normally buy one of these?” Amy studies the list where nothing dips below four figures. “They’re so expensive.”
“Auction lots are normally sold for more than the value shown,” Virginia chimes in. “Rich people like to give money away at these events. For tax purposes as much as to help the needy.”
“Do you consider yourself one of those people?” I ask her. “If I remember correctly,” I repeat her earlier words back to her, “you are fond of a bid yourself.”
“Always,” she says with a smile. “I am the epitome of a country club woman.”
I shuffle my seat closer to Amy’s, further from Virginia, then drape my arm across her shoulders. She’s still scanning at the list when the master of ceremonies starts the auction.
“Which prize do you like the sound of?” I whisper, my lips close enough to stir the tiny hairs at her temple. She glances at me, and a rosy-pink blush covers her cheeks. “Pick one.” She shakes her head. “Why not?”
“Because I won’t be able to enjoy it with you,” she mumbles.
“Why not?”
“Because this isn’t real. And we don’t like each other in real life.”
Virginia is talking animatedly to the poor woman on the other side of her, having lost interest in us.
“I’m a decoy,” Amy adds quietly.
“What if you weren’t?” I ask. “What if we wiped the slate clean?”
She stills, fingers twisting the edge of the tablecloth.
“Just pick a prize, Amy. We’ll sort out the details later.”
She scans the options, then points at number three.
“Go big or go home,” I say with a laugh, and she smiles.
“If we’re going to take the pretending to the next level, I may as well spend as much of your money as I can.”
She grins, and I look at number three. Five nights in a private beach house in Thailand. The woman has taste.
The first two auction prizes―a dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant in London and a whole new designer wardrobe―are sold for above the asking price.
I throw in a few bids to ensure I’ve been seen by the MC, but number three is mine.
And the woman sitting beside me is coming with me to enjoy the white sand and blue sea of Thailand.
“Now, ladies and gentlemen,” he announces, “lot three, courtesy of an anonymous donor, is five nights in a private beachfront villa on the beautiful Thai coast. Shall we start the bidding at two thousand pounds?”
Virginia raises her hand.
“Four thousand,” a man calls.
“Five thousand,” Virginia counters.
“Six,” retorts the man.
“Fifteen,” I chime in. Virginia turns to me, cocking an eyebrow.
“Game on,” she mouths. I smirk. Amy tenses beside me, her fingers sliding into mine on instinct.
“Twenty,” calls Virginia.
Silence stretches; the audience hangs on each bid.
“Fifty thousand pounds,” I announce. No one is beating me tonight. Not when Amy is the prize on offer.
The room gasps. Virginia’s plastered smile falters before she shrugs.
“Any more bids?” the MC asks. He waits. “Sold.”
I turn to Amy, her jaw almost on the floor.
“You just paid fifty thousand pounds for five nights in Thailand?” she stutters.
“I did.”
“That’s insane.”
“Possibly, but would you like to come with me?”
She stares at me.
“Come on, I’m sure we could keep this fake relationship going for a while longer. Seems a shame to waste the vacation,” I whisper.
She gives me a soft smile. “Sure, I could put up with you for a while longer.”
“There’s one condition,” I tell her, and her eyebrows draw together.
“You need to come with me to my family dinner on Christmas Eve.”
“Why?” Her face is a mixture of confusion and excitement.
“Because my uncle, three tables over, just watched me drop fifty grand. And Virginia’s making a beeline for him.”
She laughs, full of warmth. My heart leaps in my chest. I'm thrilled at the prospect of more time spent together.
“I can agree to that. You really have boxed yourself into a corner, Mr. Harley, haven’t you?” she says, giving me a cheeky wink. “But don’t be getting any ideas about fake proposing to me. That would be going too far.”
I grin, but her words lodge deeper than they should. For the first time in my life, the idea doesn’t sound entirely like a joke.