Page 27 of Checks & Bonds

"Rebecca."

She stepped into the room with an air of defiance. Her honey-brown hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, and her blue eyes blazed with determination. She wore a dark green dress that hugged her curves and ended just above her knees, making her look like a goddess stepping down from her pedestal. Rebecca always knew how to command attention.

She locked eyes with me, and for a moment, the room seemed to fade away. Her gaze bore into me, willing me to make a move.

"Starting bid is ten thousand," Collins announced.

I felt my pulse quicken as I considered my options. Rebecca was right there, willing and ready. If I claimed her now, it would be over. I wouldn’t have to wait for Freya any longer.

But what if Freya did show up? What if I missed my chance because I chose the safer option? The thought gnawed at me like a persistent itch I couldn’t scratch.

"Fifteen thousand," someone called out.

Rebecca’s eyes didn’t waver. She looked at me as if daring me to act. My mind raced. Could I risk it? Could I really let this opportunity slip through my fingers?

"Twenty thousand," another voice joined in.

Rebecca's gaze grew more intense, practically pleading now. But deep down, I knew what I had to do.

I clenched my fists inside my pockets and took a deep breath.

No.

I decided to take my chances. My gut told me that waiting was the right choice, no matter how uncertain it felt. Rebecca deserved someone who would claim her wholeheartedly, without hesitation or second thoughts.

"Thirty thousand," came another bid from across the room.

Rebecca’s shoulders slumped ever so slightly as she realized I wasn’t going to step forward.

What did she expect after what she did?

Collins continued with the ritual as another man stepped forward to claim Rebecca. My heart hammered in my chest as I cast one last glance at the door, hoping—praying—that Freya would walk through it before it was too late.

The door creaked open, and there she was—Freya. Her presence hit me like a freight train. She wore a deep blue dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, the fabric shimmering under the lights. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, framing a face that could stop time. Her eyes, usually so warm, now held a fire that burned through the room.

She stepped forward with an air of defiance, chin up and shoulders squared. She wasn’t just walking into this room; she was making a statement. The tension in my body ratcheted up several notches. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to do whatever it took to get her.

Collins' voice broke through my reverie. "Freya," he announced with a sly grin. "Henry's fiancée, if my information is accurate." He glanced at me. "I didn't realize you'd want to bid on something you already own."

"Henry doesn't own me," Freya snapped back, her voice like a whip crack.

Collins chuckled, clearly amused. "She has a mouth on her," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Extra training will certainly be required." He paused for effect, letting theanticipation build before delivering his final blow. "Starting bid—twenty thousand."

The room buzzed with murmurs of surprise and curiosity. No one had ever commanded such a high starting bid before. Collins was doing this on purpose, trying to squeeze every penny out of the society by leveraging Freya's defiance, knowing she was already mine.

My teeth clenched so hard I thought they might crack. The injustice of it all made my blood boil. I could feel the eyes of everyone in the room shifting towards me, waiting to see what I would do.

"Twenty thousand," Jensen said immediately.

Fucking hell.

"Twenty-five thousand," I declared without hesitation, my voice steady and resolute.

Freya’s eyes met mine, and for a split second, something passed between us—a mix of hope and defiance that made my heart race even faster.

"Thirty thousand," Jensen called out from across the room.

I barely heard them; my focus was solely on Freya.

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