SEVENTY-ONE
Gigi
I can’t wrap my head around the fact the man in front of me would spend a million pounds on one night with me. The idea seems completely absurd, but then … also completely plausible.
I guess if it was going to be anyone …
It would be Hudson.
My body almost tumbles over in relief at the sight of him, and I’m forced to catch myself on the back of the sofa. Like a tidal wave the floodgates open, and he walks towards me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.
“Happy to see me?” he mumbles into my hair.
My fingers grip the fabric of his shirt, and his hands run down my arm in comfort as my body shakes with tremors. He cautiously leads us towards the living space.
We sit down on the cream sofa, and he claps his hands around mine to stop them from shaking. It takes me a while to pull myself together, but when I’m finally able to compose myself, I wipe my tearful eyes against my shoulder.
“What were you doing there—?”
“Are you okay?” he asks, soothing me.
I nod despite feeling anything but. My fate feels like an utter fantasy compared to the less fortunate girl who met my gaze with panicked eyes. Heart stinging at the thought of her, I barely recognise the sound of my own voice as I ask, “What happened?”
“There was no other choice,” Hudson says. “The alternative was just unthinkable.”
“How could you spend all that money? There were other girls—”
His expression falters, and I tilt my head, confused.
“You were the highest bidder, right?”
He squeezes at my clasped hands. “Not quite.”
My brow furrows at the statement before someone with an even bigger presence in such a large room catches my attention, standing in the doorframe like an angel sent down from above. The light shines from behind him, emitting a glow over his body that almost looks like a halo atop his head.
Time seems to stop as I look at him.
All-black hair swept to the side except for that damn stray strand. He’s dressed in a full black suit, the top few buttons undone, his hands tucked into the front of his trousers as he rocks back on the heels of his shoes. The sight of him brings a fresh layer of tears to my eyes.
“Hey, baby,” Harry whispers.
Tears scold my cheeks, and I rise to my feet slowly. I’m stunned into silence, afraid my sight is betraying me. Pressing a hand to my chest, I double-check my heart is still beating.
It is.
Barely.
As if every minute catches up with me in that very second, I’m suddenly rushing over to him like we don’t have a second to waste. Throwing myself into Harry’s embrace, I almost knock him off his feet, but he catches my hips with steady hands.
His arms slip around to my back, clutching onto me with everything he has left as he brings me closer to his chest. I squeeze my eyes shut, digging my face deep into the crook of his neck to unleash every emotion in the comfort of his hold.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you. I’m not letting you go.”
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,” I confess.
He pulls back and cups my face in his hands, his thumbs dancing across my cheekbones. I lean into the touch instinctively, aching for nothing but time.
Seeing I’m in safe hands, Hudson leaves me and Harry alone. We sit on the large sofa, a glass coffee table in front of us, and I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m really here.
“Why would you do that?” I ask. “You-you should’ve …”
Harry smiles sadly, his eyes bearing the weight of a thousand emotions. Leaning forwards to clasp my knee, he says, “The truth … no more secrets.”
I nod slowly as his hand flexes around my skin. Encouraging him, I thread my fingers through his.
“I’d die tomorrow if it meant I could have just one minute of normal life with you, and that we weren’t part of this fucked-up world I’ve wrapped us into.”
“Don’t make promises like that.” I shake my head. “You almost did.”
“I’m speaking from experience.” Harry brushes the pad of his thumb over my skin. “So that’s why we’re getting out of here.’
My eyes widen. “Sorry?”
“The rules are that the highest bidder has one night uninterrupted with you. So, technically, you’re mine until tomorrow. While he may not like the idea, there’s nothing Richard can do about it. It goes against everything the Circle believes in. As far as they know, you’re Hudson’s anyway,” he says, his jaw ticking.
I shake my head. “This is crazy.”
“Experience one night of a normal life with me.”
One last night .
We owe it to ourselves at least.
Harry stands, offering me his hand. “Go on. Entertain me.”