Chapter 9

“This is going to be one amazing night”

Nathan sounded smug.

A tremor of nervousness ran through me but I fought it.

“I hope you're right”

“I am. I always am”

Just then, the host called out for everyone to gather. Slowly we headed to the grand opening in the middle of the building where black chairs were arranged facing a small stage. Glamorous art pieces lined the surrounding walls.

“Is this an auction?” my eyes roamed the place, watching people take their seats.

“Yes it is. Have you ever been to one?” Nathan led us towards the middle seats, our fingers still intertwined.

“No”

My fingers clamped unto the soft material of his suit jacket as soon as he reached for it.

A startled look crossed Nathan's handsome face. Suddenly I felt a bit embarrassed.

“I'll like to keep your jacket on… if you don't mind” I avoided his eyes.

“I wasn't going to take it Madeline”

He chuckled softly. “I thought you said you weren't cold”

“I'm not… it's just cozy”

The looming feeling of eyes on me caused me to glance over my shoulder.

Just like my gut feeling suggested, Annie Hills sat a distance away, eyeballing me from head to toe, as if assessing the worth of my outfit and every single item I had on.

“And she is?”

Nathan, being as observant as ever leaned in and asked.

“That's Annie Hills. My husband's— or rather, ex-husband’s side piece”

I made sure to maintain eye contact with her as I answered Nathan.

I'd prove to her that I could use my eyes even better than she could.

“Either your ex-husband is an idiot, or he's a really audacious fool. The audacity of him to bring his side piece to such a formal event”

“She's not exactly a secret anymore. The whole world knows about their little companionship”

Nathan scoffed in irritation.

The auction started on a good note. Nathan sat quietly. I considered partaking in it but quickly changed my mind.

Finally it was time to auction the last art piece. It was a beautiful smokey grey vase, handcrafted by a very popular sculptor.

Ethan was the first bidder, and being the arrogant oaf that he was, he started with a price much higher than required.

“Alright! We have a buyer bidding ten thousand dollars!” the host called out, excited by the price.

“Twelve thousand!” Another person bid.

“Fifteen thousand!” Ethan glared in my direction as he continued bidding.

“Seventeen thousand” a person at the far back bid.

Ethan made a face as he looked back.

“Twenty thousand”

The host cheered again “Twenty thousand! And it seems this is the final price— oh hold on!”

I was stunned to see the host staring straight at me.

People's eyes followed the host's and suddenly I felt like I was the vase on display.

“Um… Nathan—” I gawked at Nathan when I turned and saw his hand up.

Oh.

They were staring at him.

“Fifty thousand” his cool voice called out, clear and distinct in the quiet auditorium. A brief moment of silence followed as everyone comprehended what he'd just said.

“And sold! For the price of fifty thousand dollars, this limited edition vase has been sold to Mr. Nathan Tate!”

If looks could kill, I and Nathan would be a bloody mess on the floor right now. Ethan was shooting daggers from across the room. Nathan leaned back in his chair, a small smirk of contentment on his face.

The night went surprisingly smoothly. At some point I forgot Ethan and Annie were even present. Nathan introduced me to some influential people he felt I needed to know. I found myself enjoying the night, and Nathan seemed like he was too.

I glanced at Nathan's hand as we headed out. I waited for him to place his palm on my lower back or link our fingers. When he didn't I shyly grasped his palm.

The sudden contact caught both of us off guard.

He looked at me…and did something with his eyes.

It was like he was smiling with them.

In the brief period I'd known Nathan, I knew he had a very stoic expression on his face most of the time, but his eyes… they gave him away.

His eyes were very expressive, they bore his emotions like a crystal globe, but you would only notice if you looked closely.

“I'll be back in a bit, stay here” Nathan walked off to meet his driver. I stood a distance away from his BMW admiring beautiful people walking out to their cars.

“Madeline!”

My stomach dropped at the sound of the voice.

“Shit” I cursed under my breath.

“Fancy seeing you here” Ethan chuckled dryly as his eyes raked over me with lustful intent. An overwhelming feeling of disgust settled in my stomach as I watched him gawk at me, his eyes lingering on my breasts a bit too long.

“I understand that you followed me here to watch me and Annie. I know you're a bit jealous, but enough with your little game okay? Let's go home”

I couldn't stop the scoff that left my lips.

“You have some nerve Ethan. You think I came here because of you?”

“I know you came here because of me, come on it's getting late”

“I’m not going anywhere with you”

Ethan's hands rested on his hips as he stared me down. “You owe me an apology Madeline, but I'm being generous by letting it slide and forgiving you even without you begging for forgiveness like you should, so shut your trap and come with me”

“Where's Annie? Shouldn't you be with her?” shouldn't you be buried in her pants or something?

“Don't worry about her—”

“Hey” Nathan was by my side in a flash, his arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me into his side.

I subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Nathan didn't spare Ethan a glance, much to Ethan's dismay.

“Are you okay?” He lifted his finger to my chin and tipped my face up to face him.

“I'm okay—”

The words had barely left my mouth when Nathan pressed his lips to mine.