Page 99 of His to Possess
“Wait,” I call out, panic bubbling in my veins. I need to get off this stage. I need to put a stop to this. I have no idea what I’ll do about the money. Maybe I can talk my father—or the man I thought was my father—into giving me a loan. Or maybe Veronica can lend me some money to take care of the medical payments for Chris. I can go back to work at the bar, or another just like it. It will be hard, but we’ll get by. Won’t we?
All I know is that I can’t dothis. I can’t auction myself off to some stranger. I can’t betray my heart like that.
I stood on this stage not even a week ago at the lowest point in my life. I had no options, no power. No strength. I’d allowed myself to be beaten down and defeated by the hard things in life.
Somewhere during my week with Philip, all that started to change. He helped me remember the parts of me that I had kept hidden for so long. The parts of me that knew how to dream. To hope. The parts of me that were strong. I’m not who I was a week ago. I guess I have Philip to thank for that.
And even though he hurt me, even though he betrayed me the way he did, it feels good to know I’m as strong as he believed I am.
“What do you mean, wait?” The auctioneer asks, his tone clipped and annoyed. I remember all the rules we were told when I was here with the other girls last week. Interrupting the auction is probably the worst thing someone on this stage can do.
But I don’t care. I don’t plan on being on this stage for much longer.
“I don’t want to do this,” I say, surprised by how calm and clear my voice is. “I’ve changed my mind.”
He rolls his eyes. “You just have cold feet.”
“No. It’s not cold feet. I’m done.”
His expression turns livid. “You signed a contract.”
I remember what Philip said that night. “You know that doesn’t hold up in court,” I tell the auctioneer, beginning to back up, to inch out of the spotlight. “I’m allowed to say no.”
Before I can blink, he lunges forward, grabbing me by the upper arm, his angry, red face inches from mine.
“It might not hold up in court but that doesn’t make it powerless,” he sneers. “There are people in this club who can make your life miserable.” He squeezes my arm harder, so hard I have to fight not to cry out. “Now stop embarrassing me. Stop wasting everyone’s fucking time. Get your pretty little ass center stage and let’s finish this.”
Fear and determination mingle in my gut. He can threaten me all he likes—hell, he might even be right. Maybe Rendezvous can make my life even worse than it already is. But it doesn’t matter. They’re not going to threaten me into going through with this.
Before I can tell him that, before I can shake him off, there’s a shout from the far side of the room and then the house lights flare on in sudden intensity. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the fully illuminated room, and by the time they do, I gasp at what I’m seeing.
There’s nobody here. Well, that’s not exactly true—there are a few men clustered at a single table right in the middle—but it’s nothing like what I expected. Where’s the crowd?
“Get your fucking hands off her,” a furious voice calls out, and I realize that he’s talking to the auctioneer, who’s still gripping my arm. In the next instant, I realize that voice is British. And incredibly familiar.
“Philip?” I gasp, trying to wrap my mind around what’s happening. And then I see him, rushing toward the stage, two of the owners we met last week following him.
“I said let her go,” he shouts, the rage in his voice palpable. “Right fucking now.”
Lilah
“What the hell is this?” one of the men at the table says. He turns to one of his companions. “What kind of circus are you running here? We had a deal.”
My eyes lock on the man at the table as he turns back to me, and I get my first good view at his face. It’s a good thing the auctioneer has yet to release me, because my knees go weak and I sway on my too-high heels.
“Howard?” I gasp.
His eyes lock with mine, a truly evil smile spreading over his features. “Hello, sweetheart,” he says in that drawl that makes me sick to my stomach. “Long time no see.”
Then Philip is on stage, putting his body between me and my stepfather. He grabs the auctioneer by the shoulder. “You have one second to get your hands off her or I’m breaking your jaw.”
“What the hell is going on?” the auctioneer barks, but he does release me. “Who are you?”
Philip ignores him, crowding in front of me, his hands going to my cheeks as he searches my eyes. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
I shake my head, even as my arm throbs. But I’m too overwhelmed and confused right now to do anything but gape at Philip.
“What’s going on?”
