Page 64 of The Protégé

Ralph leaned into me. “What was that all about?”

I flicked him a gaze, and disapproval splashed onto his face. His reaction surprised me more than I expected. Ralph had never reacted this way with any woman I’d been with. But then again, he never cared for them either. How had Elena won him over?

“I’m bidding on the dress,” I said.

“Who are you buying it for?” Chantel pursed her lips.

“Can’t I buy it just because it’s a beautiful dress? I’m a collector of beautiful things.”

Ralph snorted, grabbed a fork, and ate his entrée, which the waitress had just placed in front of him.

“You have a lot of luxury apparel at your home?” Chantel arched an inquisitive eyebrow.

“You must have a beautiful collection of things,” Sabrina commented, not knowing how accurate she was.

“I’m very proud of my collection.”

“Is your collection open for visitors?” Chantel asked.

I submitted my bid and placed the tablet on the table. “Sorry, it’s private.”

What the fuck got into me tonight?

I looked over at Sam, and our eyes connected.

Stay away from her. She’s mine.

Seeing Elena with another man had unhinged me. I was unmoored from everything. At that moment an epiphany struck, and I knew exactly what I had to do. Consequences didn’t matter.

The only thing that mattered was Elena. I wanted her.

I oversaw several businesses in finance, communication, technology, and in the science arenas, but failed at relationships. Anxiety had crippled me, but Elena was the cure.

When the auction ended, Ralph went to retrieve the gown while I walked around the room, trying to scan the faces near Sam. I recognized a judge with silver hair. He was probably the one who had approved Sam’s bail. Did the city send the police to examine his fucking house? What exactly had they done?

The judge walked off with the young girl, and Sam strode over to a group of people in the lounge.

I texted Ralph to follow the judge in case something inappropriate occurred. Ralph would know what to do.

More people filled the room as I searched for Elena. Then Sam yanked her arm from the crowd and dragged her into the corner. She had changed back into the dress she’d worn to the office this morning.

Fear splashed on her face, and rage boiled in me. Someone called my name, but I didn’t hear him or her. With fury coursing through me, I stalked over to Elena.

“Let me go!” She sneered at him, trying to get away from him.

“You do as I say or?—”

“Let. Her. Go.” My words fell like heavy boulders.

“Who the fuck are you?” Sam glared at me.

“Her boyfriend.” I seethed. “Touch her again and you’ll die a painful death.”

He released her and she rushed over to me.

“Are you okay?” I studied her, and she nodded.

My fist itched to pound his face, to break his arms and legs, but there was a bigger fish to lure out. A dead body was useless to me. Who was watching us? I had to consider all the options and play it safe. Playing the part of a jealous man would suffice in this situation. Though I wasn’t pretending at all.

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