A pause.
Dmitry:You want me to pay for something that already belongs to me?
I bite my lip.
Callista:I don’t belong to you. We have a deal, nothing more. Besides, it is for charity. Be generous.
Dmitry:I am generous. I just do not like sharing.
Callista:Then win me. That way, you won’t have to share.
There is a long silence. I smile, knowing I’ve used his possessiveness to my advantage. I know Dmitry has deeppockets. I am not above twisting his arm to support a worthy cause. It’ll be penance for all the criminal work he and his family does.
On stage, Erin’s voice booms through the speakers. “Alright, people. Starting bid at two hundred.”
Bids begin to fly. “Three hundred.” “Four hundred.” “Five-fifty.”
My phone buzzes again. My heart races. Dmitry had better get here quickly or some other guy is going to win me. And he’s going to be mad.
Dmitry:I am already here.
I frown.
Callista:Liar.
Dmitry:Turn around.
I turn. He is standing right behind me. Towering over me like a dark king who came to claim his queen. That familiar stinging ache envelops my core. My pussy squeezes at the sight of him, so dominant, with irritation crackling around him like thunderclouds.
Dark sweatshirt. Eyes cold and focused. His expression looks carved from stone.
Every muscle in my body goes tight.
The crowd parts as he steps forward.
“Two thousand,” Dmitry says.
The room falls silent.
Erin blinks from the stage. “Two thousand, going once.”
No one dares to outbid him.
I can feel his eyes on me, burning through the lights and laughter.
He moves closer, speaking quietly so only I can hear. “You should have known better than to sell yourself. I’m pissed. You’ll have to make it up to me on that date.”
My breath catches.
“Sold to Dmitry Antonov!” Erin’s excited squeal pierces through the fog of disbelief. “For two thousand dollars.”
And just like that, the auction ends.
The room is still buzzing.People linger near the buffet tables, laughing, balancing plates of canapés and glasses of sparkling water. The music has softened to a mellow instrumental track that hums through the speakers.
A lot of people stayed after the auction to enjoy the food. Some of them are getting their items from the girls after paying for them. Dmitry wired the money to the charity and showed me the receipt. That means we’re good for our date. I can’t escape him.
“I owe you a dinner now,” I say. “Imagine that. We’re fake dating for real.”
