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It’s like the stars have aligned in my favour, and this is my one chance. I can’t blow it.
As she draws closer, my heart pounds so rapidly against my ribcage it’s almost painful, like a bird in a cage that’s desperate to break free. Anticipation mingles with more than a hint of apprehension. Will she acknowledge my presence, or will I fade into the background like just another face in the crowd?
I watch her as she moves with purpose through the crowd, her gaze fixed on something – or someone – across the room. My stomach tightens with a sudden surge of jealousy.
Is she here with someone else? The thought sends a pang of longing through me, a sharp reminder of how much I’ve missed her.
As she nears the auction, my eyes narrow in on her, my curiosity piqued. What could she possibly be bidding on? My jaw clenches as she raises her hand, her voice cutting through the noise of the crowd, as she shouts out a bid for a stunning gold chain body harness, displayed on the auction block.
My heart skips a beat as I watch her, my mind racing with a million questions. Who is she buying it for? Is it a gift for someone special, or is she simply indulging in a bit of self-care?
The idea of her wearing it sends a surge of desire through me, igniting a fire that burns hot and bright in the depths of my soul.
But then, a wave of anger washes over me, threatening to drown out the flicker of desire. Is she here with someone else? The thought gnaws at me, filling me with a sense of possessiveness that I can’t seem to shake.
I’ve spent months pining for her, longing to hold her in my arms again, and the idea of someone else laying claim to her sets my blood boiling.
I clench my fists at my sides, my nails digging into the flesh of my palms as I watch her bid, my heart torn between wanting to claim her for myself and knowing that I should probably just let her go – especially if she’s moved on.
But how can I, when every fibre of my being longs for her, yearns to feel her touch once more?
The auctioneer’s voice drones on in the background, the sound little more than a distant buzz in my ears as I watch Angelica with a mixture of longing and despair.
Will she even want to speak to me after all this time? Will she give me the time of day? A chance to explain? Even if she does, will it change anything?
As she cuts through the room, many gazes follow her. Everyone who lays eyes on her falls under her spell, she’s that enchanting.
When a guy stops her to flirt, I grit my teeth, only releasing the tension in my jaw when she shakes her head and moves on. But the guy doesn’t accept her rebuttal, reaching out to grab her wrist, yanking her back against him and grabbing her hips as he grinds against her ass.
I see red.
Without thinking, I push my way through the crowd, my feet moving of their own accord as I make my way toward her. Every step feels like an eternity, each second stretching out before me like an endless abyss. But I press on, driven by an instinct I can’t quite explain.
What am I doing?
I ask myself, the question echoing in the recesses of my mind. Am I really about to throw caution to the wind and risk everything – including my job – for a chance at happiness?
Happiness and murder.
I’m saved from having to be rational by my phone ringing again. Cursing, I check the caller display. It’s Wint. Shit. I have to take this call. I hit answer as I bring the device up to my ear to hear the latest crisis, turning my back on Angelica for a second.
When I finish the call and hang up, she’s gone.
Clenching my phone in my fist so hard, the plastic case protecting it starts to crack, I head for the bar and order a large Jack Daniel’s on ice. As soon as it’s placed in front of me, I knock it back in one, savouring the burn.
I need to find the motherfucker who thought he could put his hands on what’s mine.
ChapterTwenty-Nine
Angelica
“Angelica?” a familiar voice says. I blink and look up at Mr Alpine – the client from my old agency. My jaw drops.
“What are you doing here?” I ask at the same time as he smiles and asks, “Are you enjoying our opening night?”
Holy shit, this ishisclub? I gape like a fish out of water, mouth opening and closing as I struggle to find something to say.
“Our?”
