AllFreeNovel
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Dessert is being served when I grab the microphone to tell everyone who the winners are for the silent auction. All his work done for the night, I see Jackson sitting with Charlotte now. Law and Sophie beside them. Ezekiel and Jeremiah between the two couples. They're huddled together, and I almost laugh, knowing they are, no doubt, coming up with a plan to be able to find me tonight.
After I announce the winners, I call for any final donations, happy when I see the checkbooks come out. The band plays while checks are collected and the dessert plates are cleared. The night is almost over and nearly all the tension from everything leading up to tonight has bled away. Now, I just hope we raised a decent amount for the hospital charity.
I'm at the front, making sure the valets are prepared for the rush of people that will be leaving all at once as the event ends when I see Heather racing towards me.
"Oh no. What happened?" I urgently ask.
"Nothing." She smiles. "I just wanted to see your face when I told you."
My brows furrow. "Told me what?"
"The donations broke a record."
Brows raising high now, I exclaim, "Are you kidding me?"
She turns her phone so I can see the final numbers from adding up the donations. $653,000.
"Oh my God!"
"Everyone will be booking you for their galas now." She grins.
"I can't believe this."
"Believe it."
"Go up and announce it."
I hurry through back into the hall, and up to the stage.
"If I could have everyone's attention, please," I say, and then I wait a moment before continuing, "Thanks to all of your generous donations, we have broken a record this year." Applause rings through the hall. "We raised $653,000 that will go towards helping numerous families be able to get the care they wouldn't otherwise have access to. I want to thank each and every one of you for coming out tonight, for giving so much, and I hope you all enjoyed yourselves. Everyone, please get home safely. Goodnight."
Another round of applause thunders as I leave the stage. The band begins playing the last songs in its set. Some people begin getting up to leave while others have one last dance. Law and Sophie come over to me, though.
"I knew you would blow me away, but you really went above and beyond," Law says. "This was amazing from start to finish."
"Thank you. I'm glad everything came together so beautifully."
"I have no doubt we'll be calling on you again next year."
"Are you going home for the night?" Sophie asks.
"No, I got a—" I cut off, narrowing my eyes at her. "Did they tell you to ask me that?"
She only grins.
"Traitor." I chuckle.
"Listen. My sister got engaged. We have a babysitter for the night. So, it's only right that you get some loving tonight, too."
"And they'll have to find me all on their own to do it."
"Fair enough." She smiles. "All right. We are off. Law promised me a foot rub after being in these shoes all night."
I hug them and then Jackson and Charlotte find me next.
"Let me see this ring on your finger!" I exclaim.
It looks even more beautiful on her. An oval pink diamond. Simple, gorgeous, totally her.
