This woman has captured my attention ever since I laid eyes on her walking towards me in that stunning pink gown. But now, after she challenged me with her raised wine glass, she has snatched my concentration as well because I can’t stop looking at her. All the heaviness in my chest that was weighing me down ever since the event started has now disappeared as I enjoy this war of bids with her.

Each time I raise my placard, she raises hers, her eyes fixed on mine, a sexy grin on her red lips. I no longer suspect anything personal between her and Gabe, else she wouldn’t be eye balling me the way she has been for the last hour or so. That woman has fire in her and I know that sometime soon I’m going to light it all up and we’re going to burn together. She’s going to be mine and I’m going to bury myself so deep inside her that she’ll be screaming my name. My spirits soar as I look forward to that outcome. The evening ahead looks far more interesting and a lot more promising now.

The bid is now at fifty-six thousand pounds. She waits for me to outbid her, but I decide against it. Let her have the prize. I have a bigger conquest on my mind!

Aaliya

AND JUST LIKE THAT, he let me have his family’s necklace. He stopped bidding when I raised the bid to fifty-six thousand. I waited for him to raise the stake but he just stared at me and calmly took a sip from his whiskey glass. When I raised an eyebrow at him, he just shook his head in a subtle no.

There is stunned silence again as the auctioneer’s hammer goes down on the final piece. The man scratches his head and looks from side to side before marching to Damien’s table. He bends down to confer with Damien and his mother and Celia too leans forward to hear what they are discussing. Oh, I’d so love to hear that exchange right now. The Duchess and Celia throw a fierce look my way as they continue to whisper amongst themselves. Damien just sits there looking absolutely bored, letting them drone on and on until he slaps his palm on the table and both the women hush. He writes something on a piece of paper for the auctioneer who takes it after casting a last nervous glance at the Duchess.

“Unbelievable! You actually won! It was such a reckless idea, though!” Gabriel shakes his head at me as the auctioneer returns to his place and reads my name from the piece of paper that Damien has given him.

“Well, buying that necklace was indeed reckless, but capturing Damien’s attention was beyond priceless,” I tell him as I stand to accept the round of applause for winning the bid.