Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 23796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
“So you know what happened,” I state in a flat tone.
The plump young woman nods.
“Yes, because I’ve worked with a lot of ladies before. I don’t mean to be Pollyanna, but by and large, the women at the Citadel enjoy being auctioned. Without fail, they walk away rich, and not only that, but several of the women have met and married their billionaires buyers. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” the spa attendant asked, practically clapping her hands with excitement. “Maybe you could even hold your wedding right here, at the Citadel. It would be such a special event.”
I smile wanly at her.
“No, I don’t think that’s happening for me,” I say in a slow tone. “I’m just here to make money.”
“And that’s okay!” Katie chirps in a cheerful tone. “That’s a totally legitimate reason as well.”
Suddenly, a knock sounds on the door and the plump young woman perks up, a smile lighting her face.
“Your buyer’s arrived,” she whispers with excitement. “That’s my cue to vamoose.” Then, she grabs her jacket and work bag, and nods at me. “Enjoy yourself, Miss Monroe,” she murmurs before scurrying to the door and opening it. “Welcome, Sir,” she greets the dark, ominous figure hidden behind the slab. “Miss Monroe is ready for you. I was just leaving.”
Then, with one last backwards wave, Katie vanishes from the dressing room and a huge man steps inside. I sense, rather than feel, his presence because I’m so embarrassed that I can’t look up.
“Welcome,” I say in a wooden voice, still staring at the floor. “Congratulations on your purchase. I hope you enjoyed your time at the auction.”
There’s a pregnant pause and then a deep male voice.
“Haley, is that any way to greet your stepfather? Or should I say, ex-stepfather?”
With that, my eyes fly up, my expression astonished because before me is none other than Chase Wheaton himself. At first, I don’t compute.
“What are you doing here, Daddy?” I stammer, cheeks flushing. “I didn’t know you were a member of the Citadel!” I gasp while pulling the lapels of my thin silk dressing gown closer. Oh my god, he can probably see everything because the material is pink, slippery, and highlights my big bust. Not only that, but it stops right at the tops of my thighs, revealing my long legs. Yes, I’m wearing a tiny g-string beneath the robe, but there’s no bra, and my feet are currently pushed into sparkly high heels adorned with feathers. Katie said the feathers add to the overall “boudoir” look, and I reluctantly acquiesced.
But Chase merely smiles wolfishly at me, those blue eyes gleaming.
“I’ve been a member of the Citadel for a long time,” he drawls in a silky tone. “I didn’t come very frequently in the past, but you know that my company’s taken off, right? AI is everywhere these days, which means my face is in the news. As a result, I need somewhere private and discreet to while away my time, and the Citadel is perfect for that.”
I stare at him.
“So you’ve been a member for a while.”
Chase stares right back at me, the corner of his mobile mouth twitching.
“Yes, I have,” he says in a light tone. “I was at the auction tonight, Haley. I must say I was surprised when you stepped into the limelight because I’m not sure what would drive a quality young woman like yourself to sell your curves. But hey, different strokes for different folks, and you and I haven’t spoken in years. I have no idea what you’ve been up to, Haley, but I’m interested in finding out how you got to this point.”
At that, my mouth snaps shut because this man is the enemy!
“You left my mother,” I say in an accusatory tone. “Brenda was going through a medical crisis, and you left her! What does that say about you? I guess marriage vows don’t mean much to a billionaire like you, do they?”
At that, his jaw tightens, and the skin around his temples flexes a bit. But Chase maintains his equanimity.
“I did divorce your mother,” he says in a slow tone. “But there’s more to it than you think. You can’t see inside someone’s marriage, Haley,” he says, his tone oddly dangerous. “So don’t judge without knowing the facts.”
But I already know all I need to know and lean forward with angry spots on my cheeks.
“What I know is that my mom suffered a terrible back injury that she never recovered from. She blew up like a balloon from all the drugs they pumped into her, and started resembling a pincushion. No, it wasn’t pretty. No, Brenda didn’t like it, but that doesn’t mean that divorce was the answer. Husbands and wives are supposed to stick it out, through sickness and through health! What part of your marriage vows did you not understand?”