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They were a dangerous combination.
“What are those conditions, son? And can we believe you’re good for the money?” Sadly, the auctioneer brought me back to reality. He also had no clue who I was.
“I’ll be happy to contact my financier. He’s awaiting my call and the conditions are simple. I don’t want just one day. I require more.”
It seemed everyone was leaning forward. I changed my mind. One week wouldn’t be long enough with the spicy vixen but it was a good start.
“What are your terms, sir?”
“I require one. Full. Week. Starting immediately.”
CHAPTER8
Lark
Over my dead body.
A week with him would be like years in prison.
“No!” my father called, immediately jumping to his feet. “That beast will not touch my daughter.”
“Beast,” Lachlan repeated. “Such a harsh term. Don’t you think, Senator?”
The room was abuzz, so much so that I couldn’t hear myself think. I backed away from the light, a combination of excitement and horror jetting through me like rocket fuel.
Even worse, the auctioneer had accepted the winning bid without asking the contestant if she could tolerate being with the man for a day, let alone a week.
Was Lachlan out of his mind?
Evidently so.
My body started to sway, ugly visions of the night before swimming in my mind. The Scotsman wanted to make good on the words he’d tossed in my face. Oh, God. If I turned this down, I’d rob my favorite charity of money they desperately needed. On top of that, the press would hound me for a reason. This was bad, so very bad.
I glanced at my father, surprised at his actions. While I wasn’t fond of Lachlan even a tiny little bit, the public display wasn’t called for. A tiny part of me craved using this to defy my father’s plans, even derailing them completely.
As the auctioneer backed away from the podium, locking eyes with mine, I did something I hoped I didn’t regret.
I nodded in agreement.
“Going once. Going twice,” the auctioneer said quickly. Before I had the opportunity to object, he slammed the gavel down on the thick block of wood. “Sold!”
Sold. The word left a bad taste in my mouth. That’s exactly what happened here. I’d been sold to an arrogant bastard. I scanned the room, suddenly lightheaded. Standing smack in the middle of the light, surrounded by women who obviously adored him was my purchaser.
The man who owned me for an entire week.
Oh, hell, no. He’d railroaded the entire event. I refused to stand by and allow this to happen. I wasn’t some toy to be played with and tossed away.
My father shoved his way into the melee, yelling at the top of his lungs. Now that’s what would start the eleven o’clock news. This was getting better and better.
I was stunned at the number of reporters who suddenly appeared in the room. On top of the offending bid, it would be in the news tomorrow. I knew how the local television stations worked. They weren’t immune to attempting to grab ratings.
Not that I could blame them, but not at my expense.
At least their arrival offered a way out.
For now.
Without giving it another thought, I turned and fled.
