Page 56 of The Billionaires' Prize

I don’t know for sure, but. . . “I’d bet money on it. He has a penis.”

Shon chuckles.

With my thigh highs on and my favorite suit in place, I glance at the wall of shoes. Time for the most important decision of the morning.

“What do you think?” I turn on the camera so Shon can see my reflection in the mirror.

She gives a purr of appreciation. “Slay! Or whatever the kids are saying these days.”

I laugh.

“You are the kids these days.” Aiming the camera at the shoes, I ask, “Which pair?”

“Hmm. . . You need something that says you’re not afraid of a scandal. That you’re a strong, confident woman.”

I like the sound of that. Even if the truth is more murky. I am afraid of scandal. I am petrified of it.

Which should have entered my mind before I slept with two men at once. Two incredibly prominent men.

A tendril of anxiety creeps up my spine.

“How about the black with the little bow at the ankle?”

“Hmm.” The sound is automatic. A non-response response.

“What’s wrong? Turn me around?”

I flip the camera around.

“You’ve got that wrinkle between your brows. What are you thinking?”

I smile because it’s nice when someone knows you so well. “Maybe this wasn’t my brightest idea.”

“What? The suit? You love that suit.”

I perch on my vanity stool, wishing I hadn’t fixed my hair already because I really want to run my fingers through it. “It’s not the suit. I meant. . . this.”

I wave a hand around, encompassing everything.

“Telling the auctioneer to offer two dates. Like that wasn’t going to attract attention.”

She gives a hum of agreement. My veins catch fire as my brain calculates and analyzes.

“So why’d you do it?”

The lights in my closet are so dang bright. Designed to showcase all the pretty things and colors, but now they don’t let me escape my reality. Or Shon’s questions.

“I wanted them to save face.” Beneath the hot stage lights, I’d made a calculated decision. Two dates so neither of them would lose.

“Or maybe you didn’t want to see who would win and who wouldn’t meet that final bid for you.”

17

KATHERINE

Roman escorts me to the office, and I think about Shon’s words the entire way.

Is she right? Was I subconsciously worried about one of them winning over the other?

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