Page 36 of Lost Love

My gaze shifted from the table and found Connor as he walked across the dance floor and toward our table. His long strides drew the attention of the many socialites in the room. He was sex on a stick, and I longed for his touch.

As he approached, he was stopped multiple times by women who monopolized him. My hands curled around the sides of my chair, gripping onto it until my knuckles stretched. He smiled at them, and I watched the women turn into puddles of mess around him. My stomach churned at the sight of the desperate socialites clawing at each other to get a word in. Unable to watch any longer, my gaze fell upon Francesca as she sat back down at her table beside her parents, the Duke and Lady.

A sullen expression spread across her angular features and her shoulders stiffened as she watched her soon-to-be-fiancé stride across the floor like Manhattan was his playground. But she had nothing to be jealous about. In two days, the world would know about their engagement. I, on the other hand, knew our arrangement was purely carnal, an escape from his work and pressures and for me to forget about Jake. I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that things were ending. And just maybe, I was a little envious of Francesca.

Connor appeared behind his sister just as Magnus and Ari dragged me into their debate about the hottest supermodel in history.

“Okay, so it’s out of Kate Moss and Gigi Hadid,” Magnus said.

“Both gorgeous,” I admitted. “I’d go with Cindy Crawford,” I said, settling the vote with a pick of my own.

But my focus was elsewhere as I overheard Lourde and her brother discussing Barrett.

“You can’t say that,” Ari exclaimed.

“Oh, of course,” Magnus cooed. “I grew up with pictures of Cindy on my wall.”

“I don’t care how much he donates. I don’t want him here for his money,’’ I overheard Lourde say.

Ari and Magnus continued the merits of each supermodel as my attention waned and shifted back toward Lourde and Connor.

“I know, sis, of course, I know that.” Connor threw Lourde a kind smile. “Look, auction time is about to start. Let’s just try to enjoy the rest of the night. After all, tonight is all we have. There is no guarantee for tomorrow.” I tilted my head, finding his blue eyes on mine as Lourde lowered her head in her hands.

“I’m not going up there with you tonight, Connor. I just can’t,” she said.

“Mom will have a fit, Lourde. Are you sure?” Connor said.

“I don’t care,” she let out tersely.

“Fair enough. Well, I still need someone to help me out up there.”

He stared down at me, his gaze momentarily swiping over my breasts wrapped in a red sweetheart-cup dress. “Want to be my sidekick?” Connor asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Are you sure?” I looked from Connor to Lourde.

“Why not?” Lourde shrugged. “Plus, you’ll be doing me a heck of a favor.”

I stood up, thrusting my chair onto the parquetry floor. “Okay, only if you’re sure.”

* * *

I was having the time of my life up on stage at Connor’s side, who was a natural in front of an audience. Commanding the room’s attention, he had them all in the palm of his hand, squeezing every last thousand out of them.

“So that concludes tonight’s auction items,” Connor said into the microphone before pausing and turning to his left. Alfred walked up on stage, whispering into his son’s ear as the audience grew quiet. Everyone watched as Alfred exited the stage, and Connor turned toward me, his eyes wide. I tilted my head and looked at him in confusion as his attention focused on the sharp-set crowd.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, it appears that wasn’t the last item up for auction. We have another last-minute item for auction. This item is not in the catalog and is a first for the Diamond charity. Men, get ready to sell some blue chips for this one as I’m sure it will be the most expensive item we’ve ever had.”

The audience gasped in rapture.

“Okay, okay. Settle down. Jimmy, can we go to the live item?” Conner requested.

The large screens on either side of the stage changed from the Diamond Logo to a ring.

Oh God, tell me he’s not proposing to Francesca!

My stomach lurched, and I gripped the podium for support.

Women in the audience chatted animatedly, no doubt trying to convince their husbands or partners to bid.

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