Page 59 of Billionaire’s Promise

I stood there for a good minute without saying anything. Was that really Kai? Or someone who sounded oddly like him? Ten dates weren’t much, but a lot could happen in ten dates. Hell, even three. Or one.

A man in a tux approached the stage area and our eyes locked.

“Just say yes.” He mouthed the words at me.

“Yes, definitely.” I answered. Loud and clear. And I was amazed at how confidently the word came out of my mouth.

Had I just sold myself for half a million dollars?

The whole thing felt like a dream. I headed off the stage and left as the audience whispered among themselves. The girls were as shocked as me. Chloe had her concerns about Kai and his games, but she knew that I’ve had a crush on him forever. Wendy couldn’t stop talking about how romantic the whole thing was, and what I should do for Kai in return, in bed. Wendy had a way dirtier mind than the innocent, oh so serious look that she projected to the world. Chloe had never really said anything dirty to me, even though she was a stripper at one point of her life. Did I fail to mention that she was also part owner of a sex club? A prestigious and secretive one that only the elite knew about. I was sure Kai and my brothers were members.

Kai came through the back and the ladies made some strange teasing noise – oohing and aahing – at us.

“I think he’s come to claim his prize.” Wendy couldn’t stop herself from saying.

I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and prepared for battle. In the dress that he bought me. I smoothed my hands down my sides and waited.

“How did you manage to get a ticket?” I asked as we sat down at my table. My jaw felt tight, and I wasn’t sure if I was angry or pleased, but I hid it. For now.

“I made your assistant an offer she couldn’t refuse. I offered her $100,000 for her ticket, but she refused it. When I saw a giant vagina costume being taken into the back, I offered to donate the same amount if she stood outside taking pictures with your guest.” Kai opened the button on his tuxedo jacket as he settled back in his chair, looking rather pleased with himself. “She accepted the second offer.”

I was surprised that she rejected the money and chose to have the money given to charity instead. But then, she does support our charity work and is good at her job.

“I can see why she doesn’t like you.” I said nonchalantly.

“Ouch, I thought we were best buds.” He teased me. “She was just jealous that I’ve got you.”

Picking up my hand, he pressed it to his lips.

I frowned at his remark. “What are you saying?”

“That girl is in love with you.” He said it as if it wasn’t an earth-shattering idea.

“What?” I gasped, pulling back.

Really? Siti was in love with me? I had no clue. I had a peculiar curiosity about hot female celebrities – Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johanssen were among my favorites, but I had never explored the other side of my sexuality. If there was a scale for my sexual preference, I would still prefer men, ninety-nine percent of the time.

So, yes. There was one percent chance that I could be gay. It had to be someone as hot as Angelina or Scarlett though. Unfortunately for Siti, I didn’t feel the same way about her.

Kai stayed with me for the rest of the evening while I handled the mundane tasks, greeting and chatting to my guests. He waited patiently while I encouraged them to donate. He started to look a little bored when I thanked those that already had for their generosity.

Lincoln and Chloe headed back to Myrtle Beach right away on their helicopter. My brother was very serious when it came to parenting. He’d promised my niece a story before bed and that was the reason he was determined to be there. It was amusing to see him getting annoyed with Chloe and I – as we took our time to hug it out and say our goodbye.

I snickered as I remembered the way he glared at me. The big brother glare. But I couldn’t say I got the message he was trying to deliver. Was it a warning? Concern? Good luck? Or I know what you did last summer? I’d shrugged at him, hoping that he could get my simple message – your message is as clear as mud.

If I had to guess, Lincoln was trying to say something about the auction. I had kind of announced to the world that I would be going on ten dates with his best friend. His best friend, a bigger man slut than he ever really was.

I knew one thing though. I couldn’t handle him doing his big brother thing right now. His stern gaze would have no effect on me. Not today. I had wanted Kai for all this time. And now that he had made his move so clear and obvious, I had no other excuses to walk away from it.

Even if it was for ten fun dates.

I wasn’t the naive girl who dreamed of marrying Kai anymore. Ten fun dates could be the way to go. To fuck him out of my system. Forever.

By the time I was ready to leave, it was past midnight. I went back to our table and sat next to Kai – who was busy doing something on his phone.

“I am hoping that I can claim the first date with you tonight.”

I wanted to believe that what happened tonight was all real. With the kisses that we shared in the past, there shouldn’t be any doubts that there was chemistry between us. However, part of me still couldn’t believe it. “You can’t be serious right?”