Page 102 of Valentine’s Billionaire Auction

“Personal?” one of them asked, eyebrows raised. “This is new.”

I leaned forward, interlocking my fingers. “You all know about the arrangement I had with Kaira.”

The room shifted uncomfortably. Of course, they knew. They’d helped orchestrate it to salvage my public image.

“Had?” one asked with concern.

“Have,” I corrected. “Things have changed.”

I saw the expressions. Disappointment. Resignation. This was exactly what they had expected of me. They were waiting for me to fuck this thing up.

“Changed how?” one asked with frustration.

I exhaled, glancing at the table for a beat before meeting their curious gazes. “I’ve developed feelings for her. Strong ones.”

There was a moment of silence, and then a few snorts.

“You’re joking,” one said in a dismissive tone.

But I wasn’t.

There was a round of groans and a bit of laughter.

When I didn’t join in the laughter, the room grew quiet again.

“You’re serious?”

“I am,” I replied firmly. “And I think I want to propose to her. For real.”

That set off a chain reaction of disbelief. Murmurs turned to outright protests, questions flying at me like arrows.

“Roman, have you thought this through?”

“What if she’s playing the long game?”

“She could expose everything.”

“You have no idea if her feelings are real.”

My jaw clenched. I held up a hand, silencing the room. This wasn’t exactly the response I was expecting. I thought they might be happy for me.

“Enough,” I said, my tone commanding. “I know this sounds insane. I know it’s a risk. But this isn’t something I’m taking lightly. Kaira has been nothing but honest with me. If anything, she was the one hesitant to let things progress beyond the terms of our agreement.”

Julia folded her arms, leaning back in her chair. “But how can you be sure? Feelings can cloud judgment, Roman. We’re not saying this to discourage you—we’re saying this because it’s our job to look out for you and the company. You have always been very reluctant to get involved with anyone because you know you’re a target. Your wealth and name alone draw a certain degree of attention.”

“I appreciate that,” I said. “But this isn’t just about business. This is about my life.”

“Your life and the company are tied together,” someone pointed out. “If this goes south, it won’t just be you who suffers.”

His words sparked a flicker of doubt in me, a whisper of fear that perhaps I was being reckless. What if they were right? What if Kaira was just playing her role perfectly, a skilled actress who’d fooled even me? I knew her financial situation. She had been writing and I knew that was what she wanted to do, but until she got a publishing deal, she would have to work. If she was working, she wasn’t going to have the same time to dedicate to the book.

Was she using me? If I fell for her, she would be financially set for life. She could do whatever she wanted. I knew money made people do some crazy things. The idea of Kaira using me for money was a hard pill to swallow.

But then I remembered her laughter. The way she’d lean into me when she thought no one was looking. The way her eyes lit up when she talked about her book or teased me about being an asshole with a heart of gold. The way I would catch her looking at me sometimes. There was no malice or nefarious intention in those looks.

“She’s not using me,” I said, my voice resolute. “Kaira agreed to this arrangement as a favor to me. She didn’t come to me for money or fame. Hell, I had to convince her to stay when things got messy early on.”

Julia studied me for a long moment. “You really believe this is real?”