Page 16 of A Christmas Auction

I pointed right at his chest with purpose. “What did I say not ten seconds ago, Mister Grumpy Pants? You do not get to dictate what I do with my life. And why are you bothering anyway?”

He raised his hands and backed up a few steps, shaking his head. “Jesus, Holly, I’m sorry. Truly I am. It is not my place. I think you three have this covered. I don’t need to be here for this. I’m going to check in with my team. I’ll be in the conference room when you’re ready to leave,” he spouted and took off.

My shoulders fell, and the anger dissipated while my frustration still simmered. “What the heck has that guy’s panties in a twist?” I huffed and made my way back to Alana.

“God, it’s so obvious, girl,” Henrietta smacked her lips as she applied new gloss.

“What is?”

“That man is into you,” she said.

I frowned and gnawed on my bottom lip. “What are you talking about?”

Henrietta smirked but didn’t say anything, so I focused my attention on Alana. “Any help here?”

Alana simply smiled.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake child,” Henrietta blurted. “He likes you. So much so that he doesn’t want any man seeing you in that hot-as-fuck dress, or prancing around the auction in your skivvies.”

I waved my hand at Henrietta. “Puh-leeze. Bruno’s given me no indication he likes me. As a matter of fact, I’d have suspected the opposite if he didn’t save me a few days ago.” I shook my head. “Ya know, that’s probably what it is. He feels responsible for me somehow. Alana, what do you think?”

Alana batted her eyelashes and shrugged her shoulder with visible nonchalance. “I do not know one way or the other. Perhaps you should discuss it with him tonight in your shared suite.”

“Shared suite? You mean I’m rooming with him?”

Dread, thick as molasses, filled my gut. If Bruno was already mad—and I had no clue why he would be so upset—I’d chosen to participate in the auction, living with him for the next three weeks was going to be the pits. But no way would I complain; I was being offered an opportunity of a lifetime.

Alana narrowed her eyes. “Darling, I cannot keep you protected if he’s not sharing the same space. However, you have your own rooms with a living space separating them. Is that not acceptable?” she cooed.

“Uh, no, it’s…um…fine. I’ll make it work. How’s about we change the subject and I try on that dress?”

“Fabulous!” Alana beamed as she passed the gorgeous dress to me. “There’s a privacy screen over there you can use.”

“Awesome,” I said and took the dress behind the screen. “So, what’s this date tomorrow going to be like? Do they tell you in advance?” I shucked my clothes into a pile on the floor and stared at the most incredible dress I’d ever seen hanging before me. It stole my breath it was so beautiful. Reminded me of something a Hollywood starlet would wear, not a bartender from Las Vegas.

“Oui,chérie. We are informed of every detail. Colin is taking you to an industry charity event and silent auction in Los Angeles. Very luxe. Many celebrities will be in attendance. It’s red carpet so the dress needs to be fashionable and expensive. Alas, you needn’t worry about a thing. The price of this dress, your shoes, jewelry and everything included for the trip comes out of Mr. Omstead’s expenses. He chose the event and set the expectation specifically for the type of woman he wanted to have on his arm. You fit the request perfectly.”

“I’m going to Los Angeles tomorrow. As in, California?” I squealed as I pulled the dress up my body and stood as high up on tiptoe as possible so I wouldn’t drag the fabric along the ground.

Both Alana and Henrietta gasped at the sight of me in the dress when I came around the partition.

“You look like a Christmas present ready to be unwrapped, sister!” Henrietta exclaimed.

“Ohchérie, you are too beautiful for words. This dress was made for you,” Alana added.

I tiptoed over to the full-length mirror and inspected myself. I didn’t recognize the elegant woman standing before me. She was me, but not. She was the me I knew deep down in my soul I could be.

“It’s perfect. I feel like a million dollars.” I turned from side to side inspecting it from every angle, especially the daring open back. The dress showed everything and nothing at the same time.

Alana approached and gently grasped my arms on either side from behind. We both stared at my reflection in the mirror.

“It will be a Christmas affair to remember, my darling. Take it all in, Holly, because your entire life is about to change.”

Chapter 7

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

BRUNO

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