Page 53 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 1

“Dear one, I will never let anything bad happen to you.” Alana looked me straight in the eyes, and a soothing balm spread over my frayed nerves. “You have my word,” she promised.

I held her gaze with my own for as long as it took for me to believe her. And I did. Madam Alana and I were kindred spirits. I didn’t have to share the horrors I’d survived, or learn all of hers, in order to know that we’d had similar pasts, or at the very least, shared trauma that contributed to shaping who we were today.

“You’re going to be okay.” She smiled gently and reached her arm out to Jade who was waiting at the end of the stairs.

“Come on, Maia. I’ll be with you the whole way,” Jade offered with a rare smile as if she were trying to calm a frightened animal.

I took Jade’s hand and looked into her pretty eyes.

“What have I done?” I gulped.

“You’ve changed the course of your life in every way possible. Doesn’t it feel great?”

Other than being absolutely terrified of what came next, I didn’t know how to feel. Maybe after I met the man I was to be married to, and if he was a good guy, I could find some semblance of normalcy again.

I let out a long breath I’d been holding. “Let’s get this over with.”

Episode 20

Mr. Davenport

MADAM ALANA

I watched Maia accept Jade’s hand as she shakily took the steps down from the stage. I mouthed “Thank you” to Jade.

She nodded, wrapped an arm around Maia’s shoulders, and lead her to the signing room we’d chosen for her and her bidder. With my coolest, calmest, mask firmly in place, I smoothly turned around and approached the podium.

“That was exciting! I want to thank you all for being here tonight. This concludes the evening’s auction. Those of you interested in attending the next event in four months know how to reach me. Now, please, feel free to return to the meet-and-greet room where we have a complimentary beverage service and additional noshes to tantalize those eager palates. Until next time,merci!Au revoir.” I smiled as the stage lighting dimmed and the lights over the audience brightened.

“How dare you talk about a woman like that!” I heard Rhodes holler from the middle of the room.

Christophe stood with his arms outstretched to separate Manny and Rhodes. “Now, now. It’s over. You won Maia’s hand, Rhodes. Calm down.”

“Only because I let him!” Manny blustered, wiping his hand over his balding head. He was laying it on far too thick and continuing his act well beyond what we’d agreed upon.

As the rest of my guests were straggling out of the room, I lifted my hands, fingers forward, and shooed them on like baby chicks. “Nothing to see here, please exit,” I called out, waiting until the last person left. “Gentlemen,” I called out as I approached.

“Alana!” Rhodes seethed, his face reddened in obvious anger. “This man needs to be kicked off your list of eligible bidders.” He pointed a jaunty, accusing finger in Manny’s direction. “You should have heard the things he said about Maia,” he snarled.

“Oh?” I fluttered my lashes and played along, wanting to hear why Rhodes felt the need to defend her honor.

Manny grinned in my direction. “It worked, didn’t it?” He stepped away from Christophe, lifted his hand to his forehead, and ripped off the wig he’d worn. “Ah, yaassssss. That damn thing was itching something fierce.” His beautiful black hair was slicked back beneath the wig. He shook his large belly with both hands. “Jesus, this damn thing is soooo heavy,” he griped.

“What the hell is going on?” Rhodes snapped, his lips twisted into a snarl as he watched his nemesis.

Manny unbuttoned his blazer and his dress shirt, then dropped both onto an empty chair. “I’m sweatin’ buckets in this thing!” he complained.

“You chose the costume, not me.” I shook my head and crossed my arms.

Manny removed the large belly and chest mold that was looped around his shoulders and shrugged it off. Then he stood in a white T-shirt and slacks, stretching and arching his back. An audible popping sound filled the room, and he groaned in relief.

Rhodes stood there, eyes wide, hands resting behind his neck. His mouth dropped open in an expression that could only be labeled as shock.

“Darling, how did Manny do?” I asked my Christophe.

He moved to my side, put his arm around my waist, and kissed my temple. “Mon couer, Rhodes was ready to start a brawl right in the middle of the auction. He was so angry.”

“Nailed it!” Manny laughed, pumping one fist in the air while ripping off the bulging nose prosthetic that covered his much nicer, natural Romanesque one with the other hand.

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