“There’s a lot one will do for love. And everything I’ve done has been for that.”
With those words, she walks to the side of the stage and into the shadows. I hear the announcer's words echo through the room, and I feel a chill run up my spine.
“Let’s begin, gentlemen. The girls are ready, and we are beginning with a very sweet treat.” There’s a short pause, and then he continues. “Tonight I present to you, Peaches.”
I don’t have time to decipher what Samantha means as the curtains part and the spotlights hit me.
Chapter Ten
Don
I finally get to the auction house and make my way towards the room. I’ve never been here before, but security guards are everywhere. It makes me feel somewhat at ease knowing that while Georgia has been in Sam’s custody she’s at least been well protected.
I walk to the back of the room and stand in the shadows, waiting for the Auction to begin. I clench my fists as I look around at the men, thinking about who’s going to see my girl. I don’t know what she’ll be wearing, but from what I’ve heard, it could quite literally be nothing.
I threatened Samantha with bodily harm if she sent her on that stage naked, but I wouldn’t put it past her to do it just to spite me.
“I never thought I’d see the day when Don Cortez attended a Mistress Auction.”
I look to my right and see Leo Ramsey leaning up against the wall. He’s so far from the action, he’s nearly in the dark.
“And yet here is the reclusive Ramsey making an appearance. I guess lightning struck twice today.” I extend my hand, and he shakes it. “I saw you at dinner the other night. It’s strange that the last two times I’ve seen you, Samantha has been nearby.”
I’m wondering if I’m jumping to conclusions, but when I see his eye twitch a little, I see that I’ve hit the nail on the head.
“I just enjoy watching the Auctions. Speaking of, I’ve heard there might be a nice southern girl to bid on in the first round.”
He hit his intended mark, the dig going straight to my heart. As much as I want her off that stage, I have no control over it. The one thing I do have control of, however, is how she walks out of here.
Taking a step closer to Ramsey, I feel the need to remind him of who he’s speaking to. “You so much as look in her direction—”#p#分页标题#e#
Leo puts his hands up, taking a step back. “Don’t worry, Don. I won’t be bidding on her. I think you and I have our eyes on very different women.”
I relax just slightly, straightening my suit coat and trying to shake off the tension. I keep reminding myself that the deal with Sam is in place. Things will go according to plan, and I will walk out of here with Georgia.
The lights brighten and then dim a little, signaling that the Auction is about to start.
“Will you be taking a table?” I ask Leo, wanting to know if he’ll be participating in the Auction.
He shakes his head slightly, sinking further back into the shadows. “I’m only watching to make sure the one I want isn’t up there.”
I nod and turn, walking away from him to the front of the room. There’s definitely more to his story, but I don’t have time to dwell on it right now. I’m here for one thing, and she’s about to walk out onto the stage.
I take a seat at the front table, the name Cortez on a place card there. Leave it to Samantha to make my presence known. I look around the room and see only a handful of men in here. It’s still too many for my liking, but I know that I’ve got the money to triple whatever their top dollar could be.
The announcer comes out and takes his place at a podium to the side of the stage.
I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, and I want to jump to my feet to stop this from happening. But the only thing I can do is play along until this is over. When I spoke with Sam, I agreed to bid and not to cause a scene. She said she had a bad experience at a Halloween Auction with someone bidding against himself, and she didn’t need that to happen again.
“Let’s begin, gentlemen. The girls are ready, and we’re opening with a very sweet treat.”
I want to punch the announcer in the face for calling my Georgia that. But I don’t have time as he continues and the curtains start to open.
“Tonight I present to you, Peaches.”
The curtains part, the spotlight comes on, and there she stands. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
I’ve been to Europe and seen the Sistine Chapel. I’ve watched the sun set over a volcano in Hawaii. I’ve looked at thousands of things in this world that are considered beautiful, but I can say for certain they all pale in comparison to the woman standing in front of me.