Page 53 of Masked in Deception
As I’m opening my mouth to tell him exactly where to fuck off to, the lights flash twice, signaling the auction is about to start. Before we can make our way to our side-stage area, where we had planned to observe and ensure everything runs smoothly, Aaron runs frantically up to Jack, carrying a clipboard.
“Boss, we have a problem!”
Frowning, Jack gives him his full attention. “What is it? We haven’t even started yet!”
“That’s the thing, we can’t start. Well, we can, but the printed order of events will be inaccurate. Our first date apparently has food poisoning. She was here and dressed, but after she had a bar snack, she started throwing up. Just her, though. Everyone else who ate it is fine.”
I swear I see my mom’s eyes sparkle, and I internally groan, knowing that even if she didn’t cause the poor woman’s sickness, she’s about to pounce.
“Well, this is an easy enough fix. Her date was for dinner only, right? Something light to get everything going. Margot, darling, you look beautiful. You’ll simply take her place. Jack will make sure nobody unsavory bids on you, won’t you, Jackie? Oh, look at the time, I have a plane to catch! I love you both, text me!” And with kisses to each of our cheeks, she’s gone.
Before I can even open my mouth to protest, Aaron leads me backstage, explaining the walk.
“It’s simple, just a slow sixteen-count walk to the mark at the end of the stage. Since her date isn’t themed and is only dinner, there weren’t any props planned, necessarily. I think there will be a chair at the end. Any pose you want to add is up to you. We’ll announce you as Miss M and bidding will start. No hard feelings if you don’t get a ton, I think everyone is super excited about the kinkier offerings later.” Aaron is rambling now, like I’m going to bite his head off for the fact that my mother has once again meddled in my personal life.
“Aaron, this is not your fault, and this is not my first runway. It’s fine.”
Just like that, the music shifts even slower, and I decide to go ahead with the show, immersing myself in the beat and thinking of exactly how I’ll sway my hips to match. I’m glad now that I decided to doll myself up a little extra tonight, and although myskin tone isn’t exactly that of the date I’m replacing, it should be close enough to look okay in the stage lighting.And my diamond collar should shine.Not a collar. I’m notcollared.My diamondnecklaceshould shine.
Finally, the announcer begins.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our auction begins tonight with a dinner date featuring the utterly gorgeous Miss M.”
I begin my walk, hearing more than a few approving murmurs from both sexes throughout the crowd.
“She works in design and lives right here in New York City.”
I arrive at the end of the stage after sauntering my way down, feeling more empowered than I was expecting. It’s a heady feeling to have the attention of a room and be desired in this way. I place a hand on the back of the chair and trail it across, beginning a slow circle while dragging my gaze across the audience. I can’t see details of faces thanks to the lighting, but I imagine a massive man in a black balaclava watching. Circling the chair gives everyone a full 360 view of my Pilates-toned body, and I gladly put it on display in the dress I designed myself. Finally, once I’ve circumvented the chair slowly, I primly sit down on the edge and cross one leg over the other, giving half of the audience a glimpse of my toned thigh and garters pulled taut. I hear a few groans from the side with the leg on display and smile.
“Wonderful, Miss M. What do we say, folks? Shall we start the bidding on this stunning lady at ten thousand?”
The following bidding is a blur, with people from all around the room driving up and up until finally it looks like a distinguished older gentleman is going to win with a bid of one hundred and fifty thousand. He looks kind enough and seems to be here alone, so maybe he’ll want to have dinner at a classic restaurant and…
“Two hundred and fifty thousand,” an achingly familiar voice enunciates. My head snaps to the bidding booth to see Jack standing there in black and looking like Hades, come to drag me back with him to the depths of the underworld.
The auctioneer is thrilled. “Splendid! There you have it, everyone! Going once…going twice…SOLD the beautiful Miss M to our distinguished proprietor Mr. Jack Carter! Thank you very much, Miss M!”
I recognize the dismissal, so I rise and slowly make my way back to the backstage area with my head held high. Once I’m backstage, though, I’m fucking pissed and ready for a fight. Luckily, my fight finds me quickly and is smart enough to lead me to his office before I blow up in front of his employees and guests.
“What theactual fuckis wrong with you! I already had a reasonable bid. I didn’t need your pity money, and I don’t fucking want to go on a date with you!” I hiss at him, feeling hot all over with how angry I am. Jack, however, is utterly calm and seems unaffected by my outburst.
“I don’t like that man,” he says quietly, holding up a hand and giving me a pleading look to hear him out when I open my mouth to attack again. I stay quiet and give him a chance. “I don’t like that man enough for him to be on a date with you, Margot. Even a fake one. He isn’t a predator, or he wouldn’t be allowed in my club. But he can be pushy, and I was simply afraid in the moment that once he experienced your absolute brilliance, never mind your beauty, you might find yourself with an ardent admirer you shouldn’t have to deal with.”
He looks at me so earnestly that it’s like I’m looking at the before Jack. The one who I thought loved me before he imploded my life. I guess I can’t be that mad that he protected me from a perceived threat.
“I’m not going on a date with you,” I say firmly, meeting his eyes and seeing them flicker into despair and then back to neutrality in the space of a blink before he looks down to pick at a nonexistent speck of lint on his pants.
“You certainly don’t have to. I’m happy to donate your bid to the charity of your choice, regardless. Or you can have it and give it to your staff as bonuses once your New York store opens to amazing success,” he takes a deep breath and meets my eyes again. “But would it really be so bad, Margot? I’m aware a lifetime of apologies won’t fix what was broken, but we live in the same city now. Ledger and Sloane are going to bind us all even tighter together as a family once LJ is born, and you’ve obviously moved on.” His eyes glance at my choker, then back up. “Couldn’t we have a nice dinner together as friendly business associates and soon-to-be aunt and uncle?”
As his words hit me, I feel some of my fight fade. He’s right. What’s broken won’t be fixed, but there’s no reason to continue to avoid an attempt to create a cordial new role in each other’s lives. For LJ’s sake, primarily, with Mom and the business as other important considerations.
Rolling my eyes, I think about the fact that tomorrow, I’ll see my masked man, and none of this will matter one bit. I won’t have to think about the past, or the future, or my complicated family dynamics at all.
“Fine,” I sigh, standing and getting ready to watch a bit more of the auction before I plan to call it an early night. “But it better be a stellar date, Mr. Carter.”
His smile is the last thing I see before I leave his office, but I’m already daydreaming of brown eyes, combat boots, and huge hands, holding a leash.
Chapter forty-five
