Page 11 of Bid For Me

But right now, she’s looking at me like I’m the biggest arsehole on the planet, and I can’t say I blame her. I probablyamthe biggest arsehole on the planet right now. And it’s not just because of what I said, it’s because of everything that led up to this moment.

I watch as Elle’s expression morphs from shock to anger, her eyes blazing with fury. She’s not one to back down easily, especially when she feels like she’s been backed into a corner. And right now, that’s exactly how she must feel.

“You’re crazy,” she says with a laugh, but there’s no humour in her voice, only bitterness and disbelief. “You can’t seriously expect me to agree to that?”

I run a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of her words like a punch to the gut. This was not how I wanted things to go down. I wanted to be honest with her, to lay all my cards out on the table and let her make her own decision. But now it feels like I’ve just manipulated her into a corner, and I hate myself for it.

“We have a contract.” I say, trying to keep my tone light despite the sinking feeling in my chest. “I paid to sleep with you and until that happens, we’re tied together…contractually speaking at least.”

“So sleep with me now. It’s what I was expecting. I don’t need to be wined and dined. I put myself up for auction and I expected to leave here tonight thoroughly fucked and debased.”

The words hang in the air between us, heavy with meaning and implication.

I shrug my shoulders even as my cock stirs to life at her words.

“I won’t sleep with you tonight,” I tell her apologetically, but firm in my resolve. “And if you sleep with anyone else, you’ll be in breach of contract.”

“So?” She laughs. “It’s not like our families don’t run in the same circles, Seb. I’m not afraid to pay you back.”

“Yes, but you’ll not only be liable to pay me back, but to pay the charity the same amount too.” The colour drains from her face and I hate myself for sticking the knife in, but know that I need to twist it too to seal the deal between us. “Can your family really afford four million pounds to bail you out of this? Especially after the scandal Aiden’s caused…”

As I watch Elle’s face contort with anger and loathing, I know that I’ve just made a huge mistake. But as much as I hate myselffor what I just said, I know that I can’t take it back. I’ve made my bed, and now I have to lie in it.

“I’m sorry, Elle,” I say softly, reaching out to touch her arm. “I went too far.”

She jerks away from me, her eyes blazing with fury.

“Don’t touch me,” she hisses, her voice filled with venom. “I don’t know what game you’re playing at,Sebastian, but you’re disgusting to me. Stay the hell away from me and my family!”

With that, she turns on her heel and storms out of the room, leaving me alone with nothing but the echoes of her words and the sinking feeling in my chest.

I know I’ve fucked up, big time. And now I have to figure out a way to fix it, before it’s too late.

I race after Elle, but she’s pretty much disappeared into the crowd of the club.

I curse myself for not handling things better, for not being able to let her go when I knew I should. But I’ve been obsessed with Elle for so long, and now that I have her in my grasp, I can’t let go.

I stumble out of the club, into the cold night air, and start to search the area. My heart is pounding, a mixture of adrenaline and panic. I need to find her. I need to apologise and make it right.

I spot her in the distance, hailing a cab. I take off in pursuit, weaving through traffic and ignoring the honks of impatient drivers. I fail to reach her in time and the cab pulls away as I stand there, watching the taillights fade into the distance. I’ve lost her, and I feel like I’ve lost a part of myself too.

But it doesn’t matter. So long as I have the contract between us, so long as I don’t succumb to temptation and seduce her, there’s time to fix this.

Stranded on the sidewalk, frustration boils within me. The cold air bites at my skin, a stark reminder of the mess I’ve made.I shove my hands into my pockets, trying to shake off the chill that seems to have seeped into my bones.

Regret claws at my insides, a relentless beast gnawing at my conscience. I should have known better than to push Elle like that, to back her into a corner she never wanted to be in. But desperation clouded my judgement, fuelled by a desire I couldn’t ignore.

With a heavy sigh, I turn on my heel and start to walk, my steps aimless as I wander through the city streets. Guilt and longing churn within me, a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions threatening to consume me whole.

I think back to the first time I met Elle, her laughter echoing in my ears as if it were just yesterday. We were just kids then, innocent and carefree, unaware of the complexities that would come to define our relationship.

But somewhere along the way, things changed. Our paths diverged, leading us down separate roads that seemed destined never to converge again. Until now.

I clench my jaw, frustration bubbling up inside me like a raging inferno. I messed up, pushed too hard, too fast. But I refuse to accept defeat, refuse to let go of the possibility of a future with Elle by my side. Anything else would be completely unbearable.

Determined to make things right, I pick up my pace, navigating the bustling streets with purpose. I can’t undo what’s been done, can’t erase the hurt I’ve caused. But I can try to make amends, can try to show Elle that I’m not the dickhead she thinks I am.

Well, notjusta dickhead.

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