Page 6 of Buying Angel

Just as he finished talking, Nico and Kristen came around the side of the house with Apollo and Titan bounding behind them.

“Nice walk?”

I could tell that Nico wasn’t happy. The look on his face said it all.

“If you call being pulled over twice by these two a nice walk, then yes, we did.”

Kristen couldn’t hide her laughter any longer as Nico turned around and glared at her, thus causing her to laugh even harder.

“You’re lucky I like your cooking and you are my best friend's sister-in-law. I’ve shot people for less than that.”

This caused us all to burst out laughing, even though I knew he wasn’t joking. He probably had killed for less. I got up from my seat to allow Kristen to sit down and walked over to my best friend, placing my hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad, Nico.”

He still had a stern look on his face, but it was slowly cracking, I could tell. He was trying desperately to keep the hard man act going, but failing dismally. Until he couldn’t hold it back anymore and started laughing right along with us as Apollo and Titan sat down in front of him. Looking around at the scene in front of me, I knew that I needed to at least try Trent’s suggestion. In front of me was the exact scene I wanted. Maybe not the two rottweilers, but having my loved ones close. No matter what happened at the auction, I was at least going to go there with an open mind.

Chapter Three

GABRIELLA-ROSE

I WAS CURRENTLY sitting in Edward's office somewhere on the outskirts of Detroit. I had been picked up this morning by a car and driven to a fancy office building. I was escorted into the building by my driver, and immediately taken to the office. I had already been for my medical last week, so today was just to go through my interview with Edward. I didn’t get time to look at my surroundings as I walked through the corridors and past other busy offices, before being brought into here.

I sat down in one of the brown leather chairs waiting for my interviewer to arrive. I had been told his name was Edward, and he would also be the emcee at the auction, but that was all. Looking around his office, I could tell that the club catered to the elite of Detroit and possibly further afield. The carved dark wooden walls and rows of books behind the ornate wooden desk screamed class.

The door behind me opened, and I immediately got up from my seat. A smooth voice spoke as I turned to look at who had walked in. I assumed this to be Edward; he was tall with salt-and-pepper hair, extremely handsome, and immaculately dressed. I wondered if he had ever made a purchase himself, because I wouldn’t have minded spending a weekend with him. I was quickly pulled from my thoughts as he continued to speak.

“Please take a seat, Miss Quinn. There is no need to stand at attention. My name is Edward, and I will be interviewing you today.”

He held out his hand, which I took, and then sat back down in the chair. Edward picked up a folder from his desk and took a seat to the right of me.

“Now, Miss Quinn…”

“Please call me Gabriella, or Gaby.”

“Well, Gabriella, you will be pleased to know that all of your tests have come back negative and your physical was perfect, so we can continue with the interview.”

I was surprised that they had managed to get the results of the tests so quickly. Then again, I guessed that was what money bought you, and with the fact that the starting bid was five hundred thousand dollars, I would have expected that level of service.

We spent the next hour going through the questions on my questionnaire. I guessed this was to see if I had indeed completed the questions myself or if I had been coerced into doing this – which, of course, I had by Vincent, but they didn’t need to know that. Especially since I was desperate to get into this auction. This was my one chance to escape the prison that he had put me into.

Edward listened carefully as I went through all my answers and made notes as he went along, nodding occasionally, which I took as a good sign.

“Well, that’s the end of my side of the interview. Are there any questions you would like to ask me?”

There was one important question I had, but I didn’t want to seem too eager. So I went with the least important one first.

“I have a couple. What am I expected to wear for the auction?”

Again, Edward nodded, obviously pleased that my first question didn’t involve money.

“We suggest you select the best underwear to show off your body and any assets that you have. I must say that you do have a beautiful curvaceous figure, which I am hoping you will take full advantage of on the stage.”

I smiled sweetly. At least someone thought I looked sexy, unlike my own fiancé.

“How and when will I know if I have been successful in gaining a place in the auction?”

“I am interviewing over the next couple of weeks, so you should know either way by the end of the month, which gives you around three weeks to get yourself ready for the auction, should you be successful. We will send you an email in the same way we sent you the invitation to this interview. That will also contain all the information you need regarding the auction and the weekend, including how you will receive the payment, if that was your next question.”

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