Page 55 of Use Me, Daddy

“I learned from the best,” she said, her tone just a shade shy of teasing.

I leaned in closer, lowering my voice even more. “Flattery, baby girl? That’s not like you.”

Her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t look away. Instead, she tilted her head up with a subtle grin, challenging me, teasing me…

What I wouldn’t give to drag her back to my office, bend her over my desk, and sink into her soaking wet little pussy right now.

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I grabbed it and glanced down at the screen.

A text from Ivan:Security feed glitching on the east wing cameras. Checking it out.

Damn it. I would bet money that the Orlovs were making their move.

I kept my expression neutral, not letting on that anything was wrong.

“Excuse me,” I murmured to Amy, giving her one last lingering look before turning away.

As I made my way toward the east wing, I caught sight of one of our wait staff, a new hire who seemed a bit too nervous to be serving champagne. I made a mental note to have Roman check him out after this.

Reaching the security room, I found Ivan hunched over the monitors, his fingers flying over the keyboard. “What’s going on?” I asked, my tone clipped. He paused and handed me an earpiece.

“Someone’s trying to loop the feeds,” he muttered, not looking up. “It’s a sloppy job, but they’re trying to cut out the cameras near the back entrance.”

“Lock it down,” I ordered. “And get Sergei on that entrance. If anyone so much as breathes near that door, I want them taken down.”

Ivan nodded, already working on securing the system. I turned on my heel, heading back to the main gallery and slipping the earpiece into place behind my ear. The guests were still blissfully unaware, sipping their champagne and admiring the art, but my pulse was thrumming with a steady, controlled rage.

I was ready.

If the Orlovs thought they could mess with me tonight, they were sorely mistaken.

I spotted Amy again, her brows furrowed as she spoke with a potential buyer. She looked up, our eyes locking across the room, and I gave her the smallest nod of acknowledgement.

I’d handle whatever this was. I’d protect what was mine.

By now, the auction was in full swing, the air thick with the scent of money and ambition. I stood near the side of the room, my arms crossed, trying to ignore the way my pulse quickened every time Amy threw a glance my way. But there was no time to get distracted. I had to stay focused, especially with the Orlovs sniffing around, looking for any sign of weakness.

Across the room, a bidding war broke out over the rare Degas, the numbers climbing higher with each raised paddle. Amy’s eyes sparkled, and I felt a swell of pride. She was in her element here—commanding, unflinching.

It was a joy to watch.

Then, just as the auctioneer called for one final bid, the lights flickered once, twice, and then plunged the gallery into darkness.

A murmur of confusion rippled through the crowd. Champagne glasses clinked as guests fumbled, trying to orient themselves. My heart rate kicked up, adrenaline flooding my system.

This was no ordinary power outage.

“Damn it,” I hissed under my breath, already moving. “Roman, Ivan—report!” I barked into the earpiece.

A crackle of static, and then Ivan’s voice came through. “Power’s been cut from the main grid. Backup generator should kick in any second, but… wait?—”

The line went dead.

Shit. I scanned the room, my eyes adjusting quickly to the dim red emergency lights that flickered on. My men were already in motion, moving through the crowd with practiced efficiency, but I couldn’t see Amy.

My gut twisted. I pushed through the throng of confused guests, my eyes searching for that flash of dark hair, the curve of her shoulders, that little black dress. But instead, I saw the telltale flash of movement near the far side of the room—a figure slipping through the shadows, heading for the storage area where the more valuable pieces were kept.

“Sergei, get to the storage room,” I growled into the earpiece, praying the line would hold. “Now.”

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