Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
EDWARD
“Third call for five hundred thousand.” He slams the hammer down. “Sold to Mr. Edward Prescott.”
The crowd cheer and Theodore holds his hand out. “You crazy fucking bastard.” He chuckles. “I’m positive you’re insane.”
I dip my head with a smile.
“What in the world are you going to do with that?” Hermione laughs as she claps in disbelief.
“Donate it to the Royal Scholarship Scheme.”
Theodore laughs and shakes his head. “You could have gotten this for forty thousand.”
“It’s a charity auction.” I shrug. “Everyone is a winner this way.”
“Auction number twenty-five,” the auctioneer calls as the next item comes up. “We have a diamond pendant.”
My eyes roam across the room to land on Alora; she tips her head back and drains her glass of champagne, she’s clearly rattled and I roll my lips to hide my smile.
I hope that helps her cause.
One of the good things, no…the best thing about having money is being able to help people. Donating this prize will make a difference and hopefully bring some much-needed media attention to the Royal Scholarship Scheme.
I take another sip of my scotch and I feel a tap on my shoulder. I glance up to see Pascal leaning down to speak into my ear. “A word outside,” he whispers.
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and unable to help it, a broad smile covers my face. “What do you want?”
“Now,” he growls before walking off through the crowd and disappearing out of the ballroom.
I chuckle and finish my drink; this will be fun.
Stupid prick.
“I’m going to the bathroom.” I excuse myself, stand and begin to walk toward the exit, my two security guards begin to follow me and I subtly shake my head. “No,” I mouth. “Stay here.”
They exchange looks and then make their way back to take position by the wall.
Walking into the reception hall, I see Pascal pacing, he looks like he’s about to have a heart attack.
“What are you doing, you fucking idiot?” I whisper.
A couple walk out of the ballroom and he points to the stairs. “Up here.”
“What?” I frown.
“Come up here where we can talk in private,” he snaps.
My eyes hold his and I know this visit up the stairs isn’t going to be half as enchanting as my last one was. He stomps up the stairs and walks down the hall to the exact library, and I smirk and follow him in.
He turns on me like the devil himself. “How fucking dare you!”
“What are you talking about, you imbecile?”
“I see what you’re doing.”
“And what is that?” I sigh as I lean my behind against the desk and cross my feet in front of me.
“If you think that Alora’s respect can be bought you’ve got a rude shock coming.”
I roll my lips as my eyes hold his.
“I’ve seen you, watching her all fucking night, and then you make this ridiculous bid on her stupid internship.”
“Stupid?” I raise an eyebrow. “Nice.”
He’s rattled.
“You know what I fucking mean,” he stammers. “Alora is with me. Alora is in love with me.”
I smirk at his delusion, that’s why she was kissing me in this very room two hours ago.
“Stay away from her, do you hear me?” he growls.
I like this game; my smile gets wider. “Or what?”
“Or you will have me to deal with.”
“How terrifying.” I smile as I put my hands into the pockets of my suit pants.
What is she doing with this loser?
“I know what you’re doing and you make me sick,” he spits.
“What am I doing?”
“You’re going to use her to get back at me.”
“I don’t need Alora to get back at you.”
“Yes you do. You know that I have power over you and your sleazy casino and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Our eyes are locked, contempt runs between us like a river.
“Taking innocent people’s money through gambling addictions does not make you powerful,” he sneers.
I lift my chin, angered. “I was donating that prize to the Royal Charity but…I just changed my mind.”
“To what?”
I don’t reply.
“Well?” He’s panicky and talking fast.
“I’m going to fuck your girlfriend so good and so fucking hard that she won’t even remember your pathetic wimpy little name.” I push off the desk and stand and straighten my bow tie. “You can watch me do it if you like.”
His face falls, his chest heaves as he struggles for control. “You go near her and see what happens to you,” he whispers angrily.
“I believe I just started an internship.” I smile with a wink. “The Paris trip is going to be especially fun.” I put my hand on his shoulder as I walk past him. “Commiserations, my friend. We both know you’ve already lost.” I walk out of the library and back down the stairs.
I walk in through the ballroom doors and I have to concentrate to keep the smile from my face.
This one is going to be especially fun.
ALORA
FIFTEEN MINUTES EARLIER.
“Sold, to Mr. Edward Prescott.”
The crowd cheers and I fake a smile as I feel my heart drip into a puddle under the table.
No, no, no….
This is all wrong, what is he doing?
“Oh my god,” a lady at our table exclaims. “This is simply incredible. Congratulations, dear.” The clapping goes on and on and on.
I glance over to Pascal; he sips his drink and rolls his lips, his eyes straight ahead, the anger radiating out of him is palpable.
Great, now he’s pissed at me. This isn’t my fault, he’s the one who suggested I do this stupid charity event.
The next auction starts and my face is so flushed and damn it I need to get some fresh air before my head explodes. “I’m going to the ladies’,” I push my chair out as I whisper to Pascal. He nods but doesn’t reply.
You know what…. Fuck you too. How is this my fault?
I weave through the chairs as I make my way to the exit. Okay, so we kissed…. But he doesn’t know that…yet. Of course I am going to tell him…. I imagine having that conversation and how it will go.
Argh, I kissed him.
My god, this is the worst night of all time.
I’m a ho.
I make my way out of the ballroom, take my phone from my purse and hold it to my ear as I pretend to take a call as an excuse to leave the party. What I really want to do is get on a plane and get the hell out of here because damn it, in three hours flat my life just got stupidly complicated.
I walk out the front doors and find a chair in the garden and sit in the dark.
Echoes of the party inside float through the air.
Though the sound of my heart beating in my chest does nothing to comfort me; if anything it just reminds me that a cardiac arrest is near.
In through my nose and out through my mouth…. In through my nose and out through my mouth. I repeat the mantra to try and calm myself down. In through the nose and out through the mouth.
I cannot fight with Pascal tonight, who knows what I will say in the heat of the moment. I need to think this through, and tonight is not the night to tell him what happened in that library.
Especially now after the auction. Five hundred thousand euros….
Fuck.
“You okay, miss?” I hear a voice from behind.
I turn and see a doorman walking toward me. “Yes.” I stand. “Just getting some fresh air. I’m going back inside now.”
He gives me a kind smile and turns and walks back to the doors with me as a silent escort. I make my way back into the ballroom and as I walk toward my table I see an empty seat.
Where’s Pascal?
I look around and I lock eyes with Edward who is sitting at his table, he gives me the best come-fuck-me look of all time and I snap my eyes away.
Don’t even….
Your girlfriend is sitting right next to you, you know.
Ugh…why the hell is she so beautiful anyway? I take a seat at the table and pick up my glass of champagne and take another gulp. Yep…. This is turning into an outright disaster.
Where is Pascal?
I subtly look around, what if he knows what we did?
Eventually he appears through the crowd and he takes a seat beside me. “You okay?” I whisper.
He smiles and takes my hand in his. “Just at the bathroom.”
“Okay.” I squeeze his hand in mine and it’s familiar and safe and exactly what I need in my life. Just having him beside me is comforting, and no matter what happens….
I can’t ever forget that.
EDWARD
Glenfiddich Grand, has there ever been a better-tasting drop? Sitting in front of the open fire with my feet up on the ottoman, I sip it slowly and feel it all the way down. I type into Google:
Who is Alora Sorenson? Nice Antiques
I wait for the answer to come up.
Alora Sorenson is an antique dealer. Owner of Sorenson Antiques in Nice, France.
Although reasonably new on the scene to the antique world, she has already cemented herself as a force to be reckoned with.
Known for her impeccable taste and timeless style, she’s often referred to as the modern-day Audrey Hepburn.
Alora Sorenson has garnered somewhat of an online cult following for her classic beauty and love of vintage designer clothes.
I sip my scotch, well well….
“You coming to bed?” Hermione asks from the hall.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” I reply without looking up.
“Okay.”
I wait for her to leave and then click on images.
A gallery of photographs appears of the enchanting Miss Doe and I click on them all one by one. Long dark hair, perfect posture, the most perfect face, and a beautiful smile.
Angelic.
I get a flashback of her on her knees in front of me, her eyeliner smudged from near choking. Her lips red raw…her big eyes pleading for me to go easy on her.
My cock twinges with excitement and I smile and sip my scotch.
Found you.
ALORA
The clock ticks over as I watch Pascal’s back, he’s lying on his side turned away from me and has said all of three words since the auction. “You okay?” I ask softly.
“Just tired.”
Although he hasn’t said anything, its crystal clear that he’s upset about Edward.
Well get in line, motherfucker, because that makes two of us.
I close my eyes and I feel Edward’s hand on my cheek, I feel his lips against mine and my heart free-falling from my chest. Every emotion in technicolor perfection.
The way he looked at me, the fire behind his kiss.
Sadness fills me at the realization that I don’t know if I feel like that with anyone else.