Page 60 of The Image of You

“Oh? Do tell.”

“Someone is going to walk out of here with that picture. That lovely, enchanting picture—the subject, who obviously means so much to you.” She narrowed her eyes. “And you have to sign it for them, I believe.”

I lifted her hand and brushed a kiss along the paper-thin skin. “Madame, you underestimate me.”

She shrugged as people returned to their seats to start the bidding. “We’ll see, boy. We’ll see.”

I watched the action around me during the auction. Most of the items hit high numbers, but I knew mine would blow them all out of the water. I didn’t like everyone ogling the image of Ally in my photograph. I knew they had no idea who it was, but it didn’t matter. No one would ever see it again after tonight.

Except me.

My item came up for auction, and I sat back, relaxed. Her parents had walked past it, barely sparing it a glance. Bradley had looked at it, not knowing what he saw, proving to me he didn’t know her intimately at all. Ally had stared, her eyes wide, shocked. She knew.

And the brilliant, all-knowing Elena knew.

The bidding started at five thousand. It jumped to ten fast. I remained relaxed as it continued to escalate. When it hit twenty-five thousand, I smiled benignly and sipped my scotch.

“I hope you’re ready to sign your name soon.” Elena frowned.

“Not a problem.”

Thirty.

Forty.

I tapped one word on my phone.

Now.

“One hundred thousand!” a voice shouted from across the room.

There were gasps of disbelief, a round of applause, and just like that, it was done.

Elena shook her head, then grinned. “You are good,” she mused.

I snickered into my glass. Thanks to my business manager, John Reynolds, I had bought my own piece.

“She’s so worth it.”

She sighed and offered me a smile. A rich, honest smile.

“Finally,” she murmured. “She finally has someone real.”

I nodded. “She has. And no matter what anyone else thinks, I’m here to stay.”

“I like you, boy. I want you to come for tea.”

“Make it coffee and scotch, and I’ll bring the scotch.”

She laughed, a boisterous sound loud in the quiet hum of the room.

“Soon,” she insisted.

“Done.”

After the last few auction items were sold, people began to mill around. I stood, once again kissing Elena’s hand. “I’m going to go and mingle. I look forward to coffee.”

Her gaze drifted over the table where Ally sat with Bradley and her parents. “Watch yourself, boy. They bite.”