Page 8 of Reckless Promises

I hang up.

Nine hundred thousand is a significant amount. It’s more than I’ve seen a girl sell for at one of these auctions, which means Sascha has positioned himself to win.

“Six hundred.” A man calls out from the back.

The price on Odette is increasing, but she hasn’t so much as flinched. Her hands sit relaxed at her sides, and her expression remains passive. It’s as if she’s gone somewhere in her mind, and for her sake, I hope it’s better than here.

Her family has trained her well. I’ve seen girls stand up there and break. Cry. Fight. Not realizing it only makes most men bid higher.

The blonde woman checks her tablet, where she confirms every bid, nodding once to verify the funds.

“Six fifty.” Sascha tips his drink up.

He leans in and says something to Gabriel before they clink glasses and share another drink.

“Seven hundred.”

“Seven fifty.”

The man bidding against Sascha finally quiets at that, shaking his head and indicating he’s done.

The room silences as Sascha sets down his glass and adjusts his jacket. He sinks back into his seat, smug and comfortable. And in the quiet, Odette finally breaks her cold gaze to glance down at Sascha, who blows a kiss at her.

The fire that ignites in her green eyes might as well set the whole room ablaze.

“Seven fifty.” The blonde reviews her tablet and then nods, confirming Sascha’s bid.

Sascha leans forward like he’s prepared to stand and claim his prize, and Odette doesn’t take her eyes off him, even if her chest sinks as realization settles that this is over.

“One million.”

All eyes in the room snap in my direction, and I go from being on the sidelines to the center. A place I avoid when I know what a terrible idea it is to draw this much attention.

But all I see is Odette, with her wide green eyes looking down at me from the stage. Her flushed cheeks painted bright red in surprise. The first reaction she’s shown all night.

Sascha turns in his seat, his jaw clenched as he looks at me.

“Cillian…” Mom whispers. “She’s a Ba—”

“I’m aware.” I take a step forward, nodding to the blonde on stage. “One million dollars.”

The blonde woman’s eyes are wide as she stares at me for a moment before looking down at her tablet to confirm the bid.

The money’s there. I found it when I was going through my father’s finances. He had two million set aside in a Pembrooke account, likely for this exact reason. I planned to transfer it out and put it to better use but hadn’t gotten around to it yet.

The blonde looks back up and nods, glancing only once around the room, even though we all know no one else will bid.

All eyes are on me, the full room’s attention, and Odette at the center of it.

“Sold.”

3

Odette

Someone guides me offthe stage, and only then do I blink.

Only then do I exhale.

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