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SERAPHINA
I’d really hoped it wouldn’t take every penny of my savings to win the date with Noah Ridge. Not that I cared about a dune-buggy ride or dinner at his family’s winery. No, as soon as we were able to talk in private, I would tell him what I really wanted, and that was help finding my sister.
If ten thousand wasn’t enough, I wasn’t sure what I’d do. Maybe he’d at least point me in the right direction to start looking for her. Or maybe he’d be able to convince the sheriff to help. One thing I knew without question; Noah wouldn’t turn me down flat. He wasn’t the type in the same way his father hadn’t taken advantage of my family when the opportunity presented itself.
When Samantha Marquez, someone I’d interviewed when Addison Reagan was mysteriously unavailable to meet with me, approached the table and motioned for me to follow, I walked in the direction she had. I didn’t bother saying goodbye to the other two people at our nearly empty table since they hadn’t said a word to me when I was seated.
“I only need to confirm your bank account information,” Sam said once we were a good distance away from the other guests.
“Of course,” I said, taking out the checkbook I’d brought with me. “Do you want me to write it out now?”
“A check? No, we don’t do any of that here. You’ll receive a request from the foundation to wire the funds, along with instructions as to where to send it.”
I felt foolish for asking, but I certainly had no idea how these things worked. Sam, though, seemed sympathetic.
“After the lines became impossibly long following the silent auction two years ago, Alex decided it would be much easier for everyone to handle payment this way,” she said as she entered my bank account information on an electronic tablet. “And here’s your date now.”
Sam smiled, but when I turned around to face Noah, he appeared angry. “Are you finished?” he asked Sam.
When she nodded, wide-eyed, he took my arm and led me toward the door.
“What are you doing?” I gasped.
“You first. What in the hell are you up to, Seraphina? And don’t think for a minute you’ll get away with it. By the way, I’ll cover the cost of your bid since I have no intention of honoring the date and I’d hate for the charity to lose out because you were the winning bidder.”
As hard as I tried to blink them away, tears spilled onto my cheeks. “I had no intention of going on a date with you, either.” His hand still gripped my arm, so I wrenched it away and stormed off in the direction of my car. Not that I could remember where I’d parked or see where I was walking through my tears.
What hurt the most was that I had been so wrong about him. His reaction was the last thing I’d expected. My tears, though, were for my sister and the powerlessness I felt, realizing I had no idea what to do next to find her.
At least I’d still have my ten thousand dollars. Maybe I could use it to hire a decent private investigator.
“Wait,” I heard Noah say, but I kept walking, not wanting him to think my tears were because he’d said he wouldn’t go through with the date.
I hit my key fob, relieved to see I was only a row away from where I’d parked, when I felt Noah’s hand on my arm again.
“Let go of me,” I screeched, attempting to wrench away a second time. However, he was better prepared and held on tight.
“Wait. I’m sorry, okay?”
“Not okay. Now, let me go.”
“It was unexpected. Particularly after your threat the other day.”
“Yeah, well, now, it’s over. Go back to your party, Noah, and leave me the fuck alone.”
He spun me around to face him. “Why did you say you had no intention of going on the date, either?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
His grip on my arm loosened, but he didn’t let go. “It does. Tell me.”
I looked up at the night sky, knowing if I refused, I’d be blowing what could be my last chance to get his help. If my sister weren’t missing, there would be no way I could swallow my pride. However, I couldn’t put myself before her. I’d never been able to, but now especially.
“My sister is missing,” I blurted.
“I see.”
“I bid on the date because you wouldn’t return my calls. No one would. At least Sheriff Krouse answered when I contacted him. He told me you’d probably be here tonight like everyone else. It was my last-ditch effort.” I raised my shoulders and wiped my tears. “I can’t afford to pay the ten thousand dollars and try to hire someone else to help me, so I appreciate your offer of covering it for me.”
