Chapter 31
CHAPTER 31
ELLIE
I want to leave. This life isn’t for me and Arman Romanov isn’t for me either. He’s made it perfectly clear where I stand with him, and being his paid whore isn’t what I pictured doing with my life. I wouldn’t mind, but I don’t even get to have the fun associated with that. It appears he wants to lock me in his penthouse to bring me out to play to his tune.
I’m done.
I’m done with trying to help him and I’m done with this sordid world my mother is involved in.
I battle the tears that reveal my weakness and head for the nearest exit, but a woman stands in my way looking anxious.
“Hey, can I have a word?”
I stare at her in surprise, noting how worried she looks.
“Oh, please help me, honey.”
“How?”
She is holding a clipboard and beckons me over before pulling me to one side, away from the crowds.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking you this, but I was told you were here, well, on business and I wondered if you fancied earning some extra money.”
I’m mortified as she appraises me and my face burns as she smiles. “Word is you are here in a professional capacity and please forgive me if I’ve got that wrong, but to be honest, a few of the girls aren’t either and are doing this for the adrenalin rush.”
“Doing what?”
Despite my mortification, I am curious and she says quietly.
“The charity auction. There are many lots to bid on, and the most popular one includes bidding on a person.”
“I don’t think–”
I shake my head and she says quickly, “Oh, nothing bad, honey. I mean, there are men taking part as well. It’s just a bit of fun. For example, it includes a socialite who will auction herself for an evening on board her daddy’s boat with canapés and her company. There’s a wealthy bachelor who is offering a dinner date and there is another man who many consider the catch of the season, offering to escort a woman to the opera. It’s all harmless fun and yet we are short of one lady. The program has been drawn up and I need someone to agree to um–” She peers at her clipboard. “Bidder’s choice. ”
“What does that mean?”
She shrugs.
“They get to choose, but you can rest assured it will involve a public place and no private arrangements. It’s in the contract they sign.”
She glances at her phone and her eyes widen. “Eek, oh my God, they are about to start. Please help me out, honey, it’s for charity after all and if you don’t like it, you can always decline the offer. Mind you, the charity would suffer because they would withdraw their bid, but it happens.”
I notice a man move in front of the exit, scanning the crowd, and my heart sinks. I recognize him as one of Arman’s men and realize my grand escape probably won’t happen, and the anger churns away inside me. Fuck him and his games. He has made it obvious what I am to him, so why not play him at his own game?
“Okay.” I say suddenly, spurred on by anger and resentment.
“You will?” Her face brightens, and she ticks one item off her list with a flourish and says with relief, “Thank God. Come with me, we don’t have long.”
As I follow her through a staff exit, I am powered on by resentment. Fuck Arman and fuck Burning Roses. Fuck my mother and fuck Mr. Reese who started all of this in the first place. I make my own decisions and there is nobody in my life now who cares enough to stop me and I can do whatever the fuck I want to, include swearing in public if that is what I want to do.
I head into a room where there are many men and women chatting and my heart sighs with relief. I recognize a few of the people from the ballroom and they appear to be having fun and treating this as an adventure, which tells me it’s above board, just as the woman told me.
I sense some curious glances and smile at an attractive woman who heads toward me.
“Hey, I’m Sindy. I saw you with Arman, you lucky girl.”
“Hey, Sindy. Ellie.”
I smile warmly and she giggles.
“You know, I am so excited. Don’t ask me why, but I never get to do anything like this. I’m surprised you’re here, though.”
“Why?”
“I saw the way he was holding your hand and that man never holds anyone’s hand.”
“You know him?” I’m curious and she nods, an appreciative gleam in her eye.
“Most of the women here know him by sight and reputation, and you are the envy of most of them.”
She sighs. “There aren’t many eligible bachelors around with both devastating sex appeal and an impressive bank balance. You’ve hit the jackpot with him.”
I shrug. “You can have him. He’s boring as fuck.”
She giggles. “Who cares about conversation when he looks at you with those sexy eyes?”
I shrug. “To be honest, he really doesn’t do it for me. I’d take a decent guy with no money over him, any day of the week.”
She grins. “Well, good for you. I like a woman who knows her own mind, unlike half of the women here.”
She peers past me and whispers, “See that guy?”
I turn and notice a handsome man surrounded by giggling women.
“Who is he?”
“Jared Benson. Son of Harvey Benson, the tech billionaire.”
“He’s handsome.” I whisper, and she nods, a dreamy expression on her face.
“I’ve had a crush on him for years but he’s out of my league. I don’t stand a chance.”
“Why not?”
I’m curious about Sindy and she blushes. “My family isn’t as rich or as popular and money matches money in any union in town. There are tiers you see and he is firmly perched on the top one. I’m nearer the middle and must be content with the guys who are scrambling to join my tier from below.”
“Then go and speak to him. You have nothing to lose.” I shrug. “I’m not even on a tier and I’m here. Miracles do happen, you know.”
She smiles and says with curiosity. “Tell me about yourself.”
“There’s nothing much to tell?” I shake my head sadly. “I’m a nobody in this world. Just someone who caught the eye of a billionaire when I was walking along the sidewalk.”
“You’re not–” Her eyes widen and I laugh.
“No, not that kind of walking, but to be honest, I may as well have been.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m extremely conscious why men like Arman Romanov want women, and I’m not interested in any of it. I want someone who wants me, not what’s on the outside.”
She rests a perfectly manicured hand on my arm and says sincerely. “Good for you. You do you as they say and to hell with the rules.”
The woman who railroaded me into this claps her hands for silence and smiles.
“May I have your attention, please? Thank you all so much for donating your valuable time for an extremely worthy cause. The auction is about to start, so I will hand out these numbers that you must wear on your arm and arrange yourself in numerical order. Good luck everyone, and let’s raise lots of money tonight for our worthy causes. ”
“Wow.” Sindy’s eyes sparkle. “We are really doing this. I hope I get someone decent.”
“What have you agreed to?”
I’m curious and she giggles adorably. “A date, of course. My ex just cheated on me with my best friend and I’m doing this to get back at him and have some fun in the process. There’s no point in crying at home. That would be him winning.”
It makes me laugh and she whispers, “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I was asked, and she was so sweet about it, I couldn’t say no.”
“You’re an angel. Good for you.”
Sindy smiles and stares at me with admiration, which leaves me feeling very good about myself. Yes, like her, I did it to make a point and I wonder what Arman will think when I stand under the spotlight and become everything he made me feel.