Page 41 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 1

“Twelve.”

My heart pounded so hard in my chest it was as if I’d run a marathon. I chanced a glance at Gio, and as I feared, he was beyond angry. His arms were crossed over his chest, his jawline firm and unmoving. His nostrils flared as he glared daggers each time a new bid was called.

Why was he even here?

He didn’t want to marry me. He barely looked at me as anything other than his vice president and his best friend’s little sister. After we’d crossed that intimate line on the best and most embarrassing night of my life, I’d kept myself scarce through college. Sure, we’d seen one another at family gatherings over the years, but I often brought a friend or a boyfriend in order to keep things between us completely copacetic and platonic. After years had passed, our relationship became strictly about business. He trusted me to bring in new, lucrative clients and help lead the business in the direction our parents set out for us.

Giovanni hadn’t shown romantic interest in me since we were teens. He certainly hadn’t made any advances after that night over a decade ago, and I didn’t push it. There was no way I’d embarrass myself again, even if he was the most attractive man I knew. And a gifted lover, if memory served.

The bidding had slowed, the last number at twenty-four million from the handsome cowboy.

I winked at him, and I could have sworn his cheeks pinked up but the shadow from his hat made it difficult to see.

“Twenty-four million going once…” Madam Alana said. “Twice…”

“Thirty million.” Giovanni stood, looking ridiculously handsome in his tailored Tom Ford suit. He turned away from me and faced the other men. “None of you will be leaving with this woman tonight. You can offer any amount of money, and I will beat it. Try me if you dare,” he growled.

The cowboy looked at me, opened his mouth as if to counter the bid, and finally shook his head.

Alana had her hand at her throat, her dark eyes darting from me to Gio. “Do I have thirty-one million?” she croaked.

Not a single person spoke.

The silence was thunderous and filled with tension that pressed against every last one of my nerve endings. When Gio turned around and looked me straight in the eyes, I could hardly breathe. It was as if the very air had been sucked out of the room by his fury, determination, and resolve.

“Sold to Giovanni Falco for thirty million dollars.”

Episode 16

Say Yes

GIOVANNI

I leaned against the wall waiting for the remaining four bidders to exit. Alana approached me, and I held up my hand. “I do not want to hear how she convinced you to put her in the auction,” I snapped before turning to Julianne who was rubbing her arms as though she was cold. She seemed small and vulnerable. There were only two times I’d seen her look that way. One was at her parents’ funeral. The other was the day after I took her innocence and pretended it never happened.

“What in the fuck were you thinking?” I barked, my focus on Julianne.

Her shoulders fell, but her eyes narrowed and shimmered with white-hot rage at my outburst.

“Why are you even here?” she fired back.

I spread my arms out wide, gesturing to the empty bidding room. “To make sure you didn’t make the biggest mistake of your life!”

“It wasn’t a mistake. And even if it was, it was mine to make,” she sneered.

“What on Earth would give you the idea to put yourself up for auction? You don’t need money. You have means.”

“Really?” She laughed dryly and crossed her arms. “You must not have gotten the memo. Brenden fired me as VP of FM Enterprises. Told me to pack my bags and never come back.”

“What?” I pushed off the wall, anger fueling my every step.

“Excuse me.” Alana clapped, the sharp sound echoing around the empty room. “I’m going to need you both to sign the final contract. Julianne, as previously discussed, the commission has been waived and added to your deposit. It will be entered into your account tonight. But only once the contract is signed. I must leave for the next auction. I’ll touch base with you both after. Good luck, my darlings,” she cooed and left the room.

“I’m not signing anything,” I stated with conviction. “If it’s money you want, I’ll back you in whatever it is you need.”

“I need the thirty million you bid.” Julianne snapped. “And if you’re not going to sign that contract,” she pointed to the document Alana had placed on the podium, “I’m going to go hunt me down a cowboy who was willing to marry me for twenty-four million.”

I watched as she hiked up the swaths of fabric around her legs, and headed toward the door.

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