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Michael frowned.
“Natalie…”
“No, Dad. She’s clearly distressed. I want to help.” Natalie sat on the sofa beside Paula. “I’m not going anywhere. Don’t treat me like a little kid.”
Michael knew it would be pointless to tell his daughter to leave; that would mean arguing with Natalie instead of listening to Paula. Sighing, he looked back at the woman in the green dress, trying not to look at her cleavage.
“Go on. What happened?”
“You also remember I spoke about this guy Sam? That he kept following me around and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“I remember. He turned up at training, didn’t he? He had to get removed.”
“Yeah. To say that was embarrassing was an understatement.” Paula swallowed. “He was at the wedding as well. One of the groomsmen. I had to walk down the aisle with him before and after.”
“What? Don’t your friends know that he’s harassing you?”
“Oh, they know. And they say it’s his way of showing he likes me.”
Michael severely disagreed with that. He remembered seeing the man in question up in the viewing area while they were swimming, and he saw how intensely he had been looking at Paula. It hadn’t been directed at him, and he had been uncomfortable. He couldn’t imagine how Paula had felt.
“I thought Sam was going to try something, but I never thought my friends would get involved,” Paula said miserably.
“What do you mean?” Natalie asked.
“They were going to hold an auction. All of the bridesmaids were single, and they were going to auction them off to the single guys in the wedding for money to go towards the bride and groom.”
Michael stared. He had never heard anything like it.
“Are you seriously saying they were pimping out their bridesmaids?”
Paula nodded.
“She called me out first. And the only one bidding was Sam. It was like everyone else had been told not to. Marley kept asking him to raise the bid, which he did. Finally, she declared that Sam had bought me.” Her hands were clenching in her lap. “The bitch…she knew that I had a bad feeling about Sam, and she made me go through that.”
Michael didn’t think it could get any worse. He felt nauseous just hearing that. How could they do something like that and not think it was a bad idea?
“What happened then? Obviously, you’re here and not with him. Did you get away?”
“I did. My brother came back just as Marley was declaring that I was sold to Sam. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that furious.” Paula swallowed. “He pulled me out of the room, shoved his car keys into my hand, and told me to get out of there while he dealt with the bastards. God, my ears are still ringing from the screams.”
Michael could imagine. At least she had someone on her side. But the thought of being in a wedding and nobody was standing up for her when she was being auctioned off to her stalker filled his belly with rage.
How could anyone do that?
A sudden ringing made Paula stiffen, and she whimpered. Natalie picked up a small black bag Michael hadn’t noticed and opened it, bringing out Paula’s phone. She held it up, and Michael saw the name ‘Marley’ flashing up. Paula shook her head.
“I don’t want to talk to her.”
“I’d say just switch your phone off tonight.” Natalie hung up on the call and handed it to her. “You’re not going to get any peace tonight.”
“I know.” Paula chewed at her lower lip as she looked at Michael. “I’m so sorry for bothering you, Michael, but Marley knows where I live, and also where Charlie is. I wanted to go somewhere she wouldn’t think to look and lie low for a while.”
“Of course.” Michael spoke without thinking. “You don’t need to apologise. Whatever you need.”
If they did find out where Paula was, Michael was going to deal with it. She didn’t need these fucking idiots coming after her for something she didn’t want. Who thought an auction was even good taste for a wedding?
Paula was still shaking. Michael touched her arm. She was cold. He silently cursed himself for not getting her warm.
