Episode 18
Episode 18
May the Best Man Win
SUMMER
Madam Alana met the rest of the candidates at the stage after returning from the private auction she held for her goddaughter, Julianne. That had to be awkward as all get out. But then again, the connection I had with my family was strange to most people. Maybe Julianne being put up for auction was no big deal. I mean, my mother suggested The Marriage Auction to me. I’m not even sure how she heard about it or got me an interview. Regardless, I was here, dressed like an expensive fashion model, feeling like a million bucks. Or I should say, three million bucks.
I snickered to myself at the internal joke. Maia, the petite little brunette who stood next to me, frowned.
“What? Are you freaked out?” I asked her.
“Um, yeah?” She gave me big eyes. “How are you not?” The girl shuffled from foot to foot as if the high heels she wore pinched her toes. Either that or she was about to bolt.
I shrugged. “The stars, the moon, and the universe have all aligned. My mother called me earlier and told me today was the day my life would change.”
“And that doesn’t freak you out? What do you mean your mother told you? She some kind of psychic?” Maia asked, saying more words than she’d spoken all day.
I shook my head. “Nah, that’s my sister, Autumn. She also called and told me she saw a tall, dark, handsome man with an accent in my near future. Which she was right about because I met one yesterday in the elevator.”
Maia twisted her lips and cocked her head to the side. “And you believe this mumbo jumbo? The stars aligned. You will meet a handsome man, blah blah.”
“I’m happy with whatever the universe puts in my path. If it’s meant for me, I’m going to accept it, enjoy the present as much as possible, and be hopeful about tomorrow. What will be, will be, ya know?”
Maia made a huffing noise. “No, I don’t know. The universe surely hasn’t provided me with jack shit. As a matter of fact, fuck the universe. They can suck a bag of—” Her words fell away abruptly.
“Ladies, you look beautiful.” Madam Alana approached smoothly, gliding across the carpet in her sky-high heels without problem. I was doing okay in mine. I’d worn stilettos before, just not recently. As soon as I could take those puppies off though, bare feet it was. I could already imagine the relief I’d feel.
“Thank you for the makeover. I actually feel beautiful,” I gushed, planting my hands to my hips and showing off the red velvet gown that made me look like a blonde version of Jessica Rabbit.
Maia’s gown was bold and short, but the small woman totally pulled it off.
“Yeah, thanks,” Maia grumbled and looked down at her feet. She wore a pair of black patent leather stilettos with blazing red bottoms that gave her a solid three to four more inches in height. At five eight, I was above average in height for a woman, but in heels, I felt ten feet tall and powerful, ready to take on the world.
Madam Alana reached out and cupped Maia’s cheeks with both hands. “Are you certain you are ready for this step? You’ve been hesitant for a while.”
“It’s time. I need the money. You know how it is.” The young girl stared into Madam Alana’s coal-black gaze.
“I do. And I’m proud of you. I will not let anything untoward happen. Not on my watch. I protect my candidates. I am but a call away and have many means to access the people I care about rather quickly. Oui ?” Her tone was not only confident but final. Madam Alana had the girl’s back. Had all of our backs. I was happy for Maia. She seemed like she needed someone to care for her. I didn’t know her situation, but I hoped perhaps to be friends with her in the future.
Maia nodded quickly and averted her gaze almost as if she was uncomfortable with the scrutiny.
“You look perfect, chéri . Keep your chin up.” Alana tapped under her jaw.
“And you, Ms. Belanger, are the belle of the ball.” Her gaze took in my gown from top to toe. “You are definitely wearing that dress, it is not wearing you.” She winked.
“I know, right?” The velvet tied in a bow around my neck, accentuated my breasts, dipped in at my waist, hugged my hips, and flared out when it hit my knees. I turned from side to side and then showed her my bare back where the dress was open all the way down to the top of my bum. My body looked amazing.
Madam Alana smiled. “Be sure to turn around like that on stage,” she encouraged.
“You got it. Did, um…” I bit into my bottom lip. “Did you think any more about giving a sign to that bidder you thought might pair well with me?” I brought my fingers together and twisted them anxiously.
“Well, I decided that was up to you, my dear. If you’d like me to share a bit of what you are looking for in a bidder, I can do so when I introduce you. However, stating so might limit those who may have originally been interested.”
“Bah!” I waved my hand in front of us. “I don’t care if it’s only one man who bids on me, as long as it’s someone who is open to tutoring me in business.”
“And if that person is interested in finding a woman they can keep and build a family with?” She repeated a bit of our conversation from yesterday.
“As I told you before. I love kids. They are not a deterrent for me. Sure, I’d like to wait a little while so I can get ahead in the business, but I am open to kids. And regarding the long-term marriage possibility, I’m totally here for it. Either way, I’m excited about tonight.” I rubbed my hands together.
“Indeed.” Alana tapped her blood-red lips. “It’s a welcome change. You are incredibly unique and rather refreshing, Summer. I look forward to seeing how your pairing works out.”
“Madam Alana,” Jade called from the top of a set of stairs leading up to the stage. “It’s time.”
The Madam squeezed my shoulder as she walked by.
I waited as each person approached the stage while humming “Hotel California” by The Eagles in my head. By the time my name was called, I was ready to go.
I excitedly made my way up the stairs and smiled as the curtains opened.
“Our next candidate tonight is Summer Belanger.”
* * * *
JACK
I stared stupidly as the knockout blonde I’d met in the elevator breezed across the stage looking absolutely breathtaking. She stopped when she got to the center.
Summer Belanger.
“She told me her name was Rebecca,” I growled under my breath then promptly tugged at my necktie which felt more like a noose than an accessory. I couldn’t believe she’d lied to me when asking something as simple as her name. Then again, she’d also given me the wrong phone number, so I shouldn’t be surprised. And there she was looking like a dream, strutting across the floor as if she owned the place.
“Summer is five foot eight, has blue eyes, and is…wealthy.” A shared gasp and rumbling murmurs picked up throughout the bidders around me. Madam Alana pressed her lips together coyly. “Summer has not entered into the auction tonight because of the money she will receive. She has entered because she wants a husband who is willing to mentor her in the art of running a successful business.”
My heart beat a million miles an hour as Alana shared intriguing facts about the woman I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about.
“Summer is self-made, has a very involved family unit, and is not opposed to a long-term marriage or having children in the future,” Alana continued.
My entire body quickly overheated as I stared at Summer and really heard the words that Alana was saying.
Involved family unit.
Not opposed to a long-term marriage.
Willing to have children.
These were the exact things I’d requested in my own interview. And all Rebecca—I mean Summer—wanted in return was a man to help mentor her in business? It was unbelievable. Beyond incredible. It’s almost as if…
Suddenly, Madam Alana reached up and tugged on her right ear.
Holy Moses. That was my sign.
My mouth went dry, the rest of Alana’s words disappearing along with all other noises in the room. I focused on nothing but the woman on stage. She was the one who Alana believed I’d be happiest with. The same woman I’d met in the elevator and had felt such an intense connection to. The one I’d been trying to force out of my mind since we met.
It was as if the universe opened its mighty hands and dumped her straight into my path.
I watched as Summer turned around and placed her hands on her hips before looking over her shoulder with a sultry smirk. Her entire bare back was on display, from the big red velvet bow tied around her neck, all the way down her delicate-looking spine to the roundness of her arse.
Physically the woman was stunning. Personality-wise, quirky, awkward, with a heaping dose of adorable. I think our time in the elevator barely scratched the surface of what the future could hold for us. Because we would definitely have a future together.
No matter what it took, or what I had to bid, Summer Belanger would be mine.
I grabbed my remote and punched the Yes button as fast as I could. Then I fidgeted in my seat as the numbers tallied.
Madam Alana turned to the large screen at the back of the stage.
Yes – 5
No – 30
Maybe – 15
“These are encouraging numbers. Summer, darling, please exit the stage and we’ll see you back for the second portion of the evening’s festivities,” Alana said.
Summer moved to leave the stage and her heel got caught in the fabric. Her arms pinwheeled in the air as she wobbled on unsteady feet like my late friend Troy’s baby did when he first started walking. Eventually she got her balance, yanked the fabric from her shoe, rolled her eyes, and shrugged at the audience.
Several bellows of laughter could be heard echoing through the room.
“She is cute as a button. I’m going to bid on her,” a blond man I didn’t know nudged my shoulder from where he sat beside me.
“You’ll have to fight me for her, brother,” I announced coolly.
“Then may the best man win.”
“I will,” I stated flatly, staring him down as I would any true opponent.
He dipped his head, politely ending our little chat before turning to the side and leaving me to my thoughts.
All of them were about Summer.
I chuckled and shook my head. I’d given her the nickname “s olskinn” when we’d met yesterday, because she exuded such a bright light. Now I found out her name was Summer. The endearment I’d called her meant sunshine in my language. Another startlingly clear sign that this woman was meant to be my bride.
After what felt like eternity, Summer appeared back on stage. She wore a red satin robe that came to mid-thigh and tied at her waist. Her hair was still piled up in a mix of intricate swoops and curls on top of her head. For a moment I wished it was down so I could see those long locks flow over her shoulders. Then I remembered I was the only one here who had seen her a little more wild and free. I was deliriously happy my competition wouldn’t ever get the chance to see her that way.
“Welcome back, Summer. Please remove your robe, chéri ,” Alana announced.
Summer untied the bow, shimmied a shoulder until it was bare, and then repeated the process on the other side, still clutching the satin to her chest. She was absolutely putting on a show with exaggerated facial expressions and moving her body in a manner which I’m sure she believed was seductive, but came off entirely comedic, rather than sexy. The woman was positively charming as she gave her best mini-strip tease of the single item.
Then she let the fabric fall and my mouth dropped open. I knew she had a knockout body, but standing in a strapless red bra that her breasts were practically bulging out of and a tiny scrap of red satin that had a t-strap that went straight up her arse in the back, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination? Priceless.
Before I knew it, I was standing and yelling, “Three million dollars.”
Madam Alana chuckled lightly. “It seems we have the first bid. Please don’t forget to use your paddle so that my team can record who is proposing an amount and when. Merci ,” she finished.
I grabbed my paddle right as the guy sitting at the table next to me held his aloft. “Three and a half million,” he offered.
I snarled, my nostrils flaring. “Four million.” I clicked my paddle on.
“Four and a half million,” the man countered.
Irritation poured through my veins as another bid came through from somewhere on the opposite side of the room.
“Five million! She looks as sweet as apple pie,” a man with a cowboy hat yelled in a booming voice.
I watched in horror as Summer’s cheeks heated, turning rosy pink as she grinned at the compliment.
Absolutely not. No way. I was not leaving this event tonight without a bride on my arm, and that person would be Summer Belanger.
“Six million!” I waved my paddle angrily, skipping the halfway point monetarily in the hopes I could nudge these suitors to leave well enough alone.
“Six and a half million,” the man next to me growled, and craned his neck from side to side.
“You really want to tangle with me?” I scoffed in his direction. “I’m Jack Larsen, the CEO of Johansen Brewing. You know, the largest supplier of beer in the world. Ring any bells?” Usually all I had to do was share my position and the company I worked for and people backed off.
The man’s eyes widened, and he lifted his hand to rub at his jaw. “Still any man’s game. I don’t care who you are,” he boasted weakly.
I took a moment to assess the male before me. His suit was adequate but nothing of the caliber mine was. His hair was swept off his forehead neatly, but the sweat beading at his hairline and the way he was constantly fidgeting was telling. I suspected the bravado he was spouting may not be backed financially. My best guess was that he probably wasn’t planning to offer much more.
“I can go all night.” I crossed my arms with my paddle lit in front of me, staring him down, and hollered, “Eight million.” I skipped right over another million and a half to let him know I was serious.
The man scowled as he grated, “Fine. You can have her.”
“Excellent. I was planning on it.”
“Going once…going twice…sold to Number 5 for eight million dollars,” Madam Alana stated. “Please exit the stage, Summer.” My bride-to-be crouched to grab her robe and slipped it on.
“Can’t wait to meet you, Number 5!” she called out and waved.
I couldn’t help but laugh. No matter what happened from here, at least I knew I was not only marrying a gorgeous woman who seemed to want what I did, but she would also fill my life with laughter. There wasn’t a price high enough one could put on that.
I stood up, buttoned my coat, and left the bidding room. I was met by one of Alana’s employees.
“Come this way, Mr. Larsen. We’ll have you sign the final marriage agreement which includes your bidding details and payments over the next three years, the 20% commission for our services, and the $250,000 deposit that must go into the candidate’s account tonight after she agrees to the same terms as you.”
I could hardly wait to see her face when she found out who’d bid on her.
“Excellent. Bring me to my bride.”