Page 190 of Auctioned

Yeah, definitely my nerves going wild.

After James introduces me to his assistant, I ask him where I can find the bathroom.

“Hold on.” He hands his bag to Andrea, who’s quick to grab it. Same with my coat after he helps me out of it. “I’ll walk you there.”

“No, no, please.” My neck heats again. I’m his property, not his child, for Christ’s sake. But since he’s giving me thatnarrowed look ofremember who you belong to, I add, “I’ll be back in a second. Really.”

Andrea says nothing at our exchange. James hovers. His tattooed hand clenches at his side, out of her sight.

“Straight down the hall and to the right,” he grits out. “Hurry up. We have a lot of meetings and material to catch up on.”

“Of course, Mr. Hawthorne.”

His jaw tics. He has to be hard. It must hurt.

Too bad I can’t drop to my knees and help him…

Right this minute.

“Go.” My salacious mood must be evident because he dismisses me, the flick of his wrist humiliating and hot. “Where’s Topher?” I hear him asking Andrea.

“In his office, buried in work. That’s what he said. He also asked to see you.”

“I’ll go through my emails and call him. If he comes over here, let him in.”

“Will do.”

“About Miss Monroe’s papers…”

Their conversation continues out of earshot while I head toward the restroom. The ominous feeling from before lingers, and I keep chalking it up to nerves. Excitement of the unknown.

Fear? No. No fear over here. Not an ounce of it. I cross the hallway, tilting my head into this associate’s office. Nodding at and greeting a gray-haired woman who’s gripping a bunch of folders and passing by me.

I act like I belong here because I do. I’m James’s. I’ve been studying hard. I’ll study even harder at school—if that’s where our plans lead us.

I have and will earn my place here.

It’ll be okay.

No fear.

The restroom is the cleanest I’ve ever seen. And quiet. Empty. I do my business. Flush. Wash my hands.

About to reach for a paper towel.

“Hello, sacrifice.”

Frozen. I am so frozen in place that I can’t breathe.

Where’s my bravery when I need it?

Too late. Topher flips the lock on the restroom door. My ex-boyfriend stalks toward me until he’s standing behind me. Staring at me through our reflection in the mirror.

James would be outraged if he were here. At Topher’s audacity to cage me in between his arms.

He’ll be furious at me too for letting Topher get this close. I just gave my opponent a huge advantage. An absurd amount of it.

I’m sure that’d infuriate him more than anything. My failure.

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