Page 102 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Surgeon

Several more awards were given. Then came a couple of the big ones.

“Now for our three most prestigious awards. The internship awards for medical doctors, nurses, and physician’s assistants will now be given out.”

“Let’s go,” Gia whined. “This is soooo boring.”

“I want to hear this.”

“And for physician’s assistant the award goes to Jelly Pinkoe!”

I clapped louder and longer than anyone. I was so fucking proud of her, even if I had no right to be.

Jelly stepped up behind the podium. “Thank you so much. I won’t take up much of your time. I just want to thank all the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who have given me advice, taken me under their wings, and just treated me with such kindness over the past several months. This is anexperience I’ll never forget. And I’d like to thank my friends,” she gestured to the audience where Nia, Daisy, Nadine, Carmen, and several of the other Cinnamon House girls were seated. I saw tons of male attention going out to that table, and I couldn’t blame them. In the history of hospital galas, I didn’t think there could possibly have been a more attractive table of women in attendance. I don’t know how I missed them, but I had.

“It’s somewhat of a cliché at this point, but it’s so very true in my situation,” Jelly continued. “You can’t choose the family that you have. But friends truly are the family you choose. I’m blessed with great ones. Thank you.”

Everyone clapped again, and I could tell that if she wanted a job at the hospital, she’d have no trouble whatsoever getting hired in any of the departments. Now that Gia’s blackmail threat had been neutralized? The sky was the limit for Jelly.

I was glad for her. I really was.

But I was also kicking myself for having had her and not being able to keep her.

Nadine happened to be walking past me at that moment. “Oh, hey, Paolo. How are you?” Nadine was well within her rights to treat me like crap on behalf of Jelly. But she was too nice for that.

“Doing alright.”

Gia had laid her head down on the table and was softly snoring.

Nadine made a face. “Is that the girl you dumped Jelly for?”

“It didn’t exactly go down like that, but yeah. I guess so.”

“Yikes. Well, that was not a good choice, but I’m guessing you already know that.”

“I do.”

She nodded. “Right, well it’s good to see you.” She gave me a blinding smile and started to walk off.

“Wait.”

She stopped and turned back to me.

“Does he treat her well?”

She frowned. “Does who treat her well?”

“Dr. Chadwick.” I motioned to the dance floor where he and Jelly appeared to be doing a choreographed routine to a song from theGreasesoundtrack.

Nadine laughed. “Oh, yeah. They have so much fun together.”

I winced inwardly and it must’ve shown on my face.

“You’re not over her,” Nadine said, looking at my face.

“Not even a little bit,” I admitted.

“Well, honey. She’s not over you, either.”

I gestured again to the couple everyone was watching basically have a party on the dance floor. “Could’ve fooled me.”