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“Hurry, Daniel.”
“He’ll be furious at you.”
“He’s cute when he’s mad. Winning bid last time was two-hundred and fifty-six thousand,” she reminded him. She didn’t need to remind him. He knew the exact amount. “So…?”
“Bid this,” Daniel said and handed her a cashier’s check.
It was the same amountLe Grand Prixhad gone for last year, multiplied by ten.
* * *
Eleanor raisedher hand and in a clear strong voice called out, “Two million five hundred and sixty thousand dollars.”
The entire assembly gasped again.
“Did I do that right?” Eleanor whispered. “I hope I did that right. I’m shit at math.”
“Madam?” the auctioneer said as he turned to her. “Are you quite sure?”
Eleanor nodded. “Oh, hell yes,” she said toward Anya. “I’d hit that.”
From across the room Eleanor’s owner’s smirk turned into a furious steely-eyed glare.
“He’s going to kill you, isn’t he?” Daniel asked.
“Probably. Ask me if I care.”
From the stage the auctioneer announced, “Going once…going twice…sold to the young woman in the white dress who would hit that.”
Eleanor ran to the stage, took Anya by the hand, and dragged her toward Daniel.
“Don’t worry,” Eleanor was saying to Anya as she brought the girl to him. “I won’t make you put out. Unless you just really want to. Here’s the money man. I bought you but he’s my backer. See?”
“Pen?” Daniel handed Eleanor an ink pen.
“Give me a second…I want to enjoy this.” Eleanor held onto the check, gazing at it adoringly for a moment and kissing it with a dramatic flourish. Then, with a sigh, she said, “Okay. I’m at peace.”
She signed the check over to Anya. “Was nice while it lasted. Talk to Daniel. I need to go get flogged right now.”
With a wink, Eleanor ran off to her owner. They disappeared into Kingsley’s house and were gone.
Anya turned to him, and Daniel raised his hand.
“Let me speak. Please,” he said and Anya closed her mouth. “I’m an idiot. I said exactly the opposite of what I meant to say that night. All I meant was…I want you in my life. I want to take care of you. And all your brothers and sisters. I’ll take care of them like they were my own family. Even Leonard. I’m sorry for ruining things. Truly sorry.”
Anya smiled a little but he didn’t let her speak.
“Eleanor bought you, not me. You don’t owe me—or anyone—anything. I’m asking nothing of you but forgiveness. Anyway, you look beautiful tonight. You always look beautiful. And…no, that’s everything. I’m done making an ass of myself now.”
He stood there in silence and waited. Anya looked everywhere but up at him.
Finally she opened her mouth.
“I forgive you,” she said before turning on her heel and walking away into Kingsley’s house and out of his life.
11
He closed his eyes and leaned back against the trunk of the orange tree. All of his hopes for Anya…all of his dreams for them…he let them go. Because they were so low on his priority list compared to her safety that he couldn’t even begin to be sad yet. He knew he would be, tomorrow perhaps, and then every day of his life after. But she wouldn’t be giving her body to a stranger tonight, so he considered his idiotic plan a rousing success.
