Victoria still didn’t move.
“Sold!” The gavel struck the podium.
“Ten million dollars to Mr. Callahan Sterling!”
Applause erupted across the ballroom. Victoria stood abruptly from her chair. Without saying a word, she turned and walked out. Vani looked at me slowly.
“You just spent ten million dollars on a necklace.”
I shrugged. “It’s for charity.”
She gave me a look that clearly said she didn’t believe that for a second. A staff member approached our table carrying the velvet box containing the necklace. They placed it in front of me before stepping away. I opened the box and carefully lifted the necklace out.
Then I looked at Vani. “May I?”
She blinked. “Right now?”
“Yes.”
After a moment, she turned slightly in her chair and lifted her hair away from her neck. I stood and fastened the necklace around her throat before sitting back down. The sapphire rested perfectly against her skin. She touched it lightly before looking at me again.
“You’re ridiculous,” she said softly.
“Probably,” I agreed. "But you love it."
The rest of the ball was spent having dinner, me doing an interview, and dancing with Vani on the dance floor.
Dinner passed quickly, the kind of polite, elegant affair expected at an event like this. Conversation flowed easily between guests, the clink of glasses and quiet laughter filling theballroom. Vani sat beside me, calm and composed, as if nothing about tonight had rattled her. If anything, she seemed amused by the entire spectacle.
I watched her more than I participated in the conversations around us.
Every so often, someone would approach our table to congratulate us, compliment the event, or offer a polite remark about the charity we were supporting tonight. Vani handled it all with effortless grace. She smiled when appropriate, laughed lightly when someone attempted a joke, and responded just enough to remain courteous without encouraging anyone to linger too long.
She was good at this.
Better than most of the people who had spent their entire lives in rooms like this.
Guests slowly drifted back toward their tables as the music faded, the evening beginning to wind down.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the MC announced, his voice carrying clearly across the ballroom. “Before we conclude tonight’s festivities, we have one final activity planned.”
A few curious murmurs passed through the crowd. Vani glanced at me, knowing what was coming now that the press was gone.
“We’ll be holding a special auction.” Guests exchanged curious glances. “And our auction item,” the MC continued cheerfully, “is a dinner date with the lovely Christina.”
All eyes turned toward Christina. She stood near one of the cocktail tables, clearly surprised but also pleased by the attention.
“Christina,” the MC called. “Would you join us on stage?”
Christina hesitated only briefly before making her way forward. She stepped onto the stage with a confident smile, smoothing her dress slightly as she faced the audience.
The MC turned toward her. “Before we begin the bidding,” he said, “it’s only fair that everyone knows exactly what they’re bidding on.”
Christina laughed lightly. “Well, now I’m curious.”
Behind them, the large screen flickered to life.
Her smile immediately faded when the first clip began playing. Christina stood with a small group of women, her voice clear through the speakers.
