Page 52 of The Lost and the Found

“Uh, no,” I stammered out awkwardly. I didn’t want Logan to think I wanted him to buy me something. Not when he spent enough money on me today as it was.

He smiled. “Well, if you change your mind…”

I wouldn’t, but I smiled anyway.

Christopher started waxing poetic about all the wonderful stuff everyone in the crowd was doing, and for such a good cause. He wished he could thank each and every single one of us personally.He was so convincing, I almost believed him.

As the auction began, I realized the women were probably going to be last on the lineup, being used both as eye candy and to let the men of the audience daydream about which woman they wanted to bid on. I could see more than a few of the men in the audience looking past the host… some of them even had dates with them. I knew Logan was probably looking at them, too—how could he not be? They were gorgeous.

I peeked over at him and my heart stopped short when I found his eyes on me.

Busted.

He grinned, and I scowled, looking back to the stage. I vowed never to look directly at him for the rest of the night, the cocky bastard.

One by one, each item was auctioned off. From nice, expensive paintings from up-and-coming artists that ran in the five-figure range, to trips, private beach houses, and even concert tickets.

Then onto the main event…

Each woman was as pretty as the next, but one woman stood out among the rest. A pretty blonde, with an amazing body and legs that went on for miles—something even I could appreciate as a heterosexual female.

A hushed chatter came over the audience when it was her turn on the stage. I looked at her, suddenly very curious about the beautiful women who obviously stole the spotlight. She smiled, and I knew she was going to have the highest bid.

Christopher introduced her as Clarissa Jones, and I didn’t know why that name sounded familiar until Christopher told everyone she was Eric Jones’ only daughter, the heir to the Jones Corporation, a multimillion-dollar company that was mostly known for its high-end cosmetics, but I knew in recent years that they had dipped their toes into other brands like baby products and clothing.

I had to write a paper on them for my Corporate Accounting course last semester. They were based here in Chicago and were one of the top three companies I wanted to apply to after graduation…

I took in the heiress as she smiled confidently at the crowd, as if she expected nothing less than to be the center of attention. And based on the soft murmurs that were coming out of the audience, she succeeded.

I bet she had never experienced a day without.A day without the basic essentials so many of us took for granted, like drinking water and food and warmth. I bet she was pampered since the day she was born, and I bet she could have whoever she wanted, so what the hell was she doing here, auctioning herself off as a date for charity?

Already, I felt a small pinch in my heart, something I recognized as envy. I had spent so long yearning for financial stability and a warm place I could sleep in without worrying about all the dangers in the world. And even with where I was now, I still didn’t have that.

And she had it in excess.

Did she ever take those things for granted? Because I sure as hell did when I was living with my mom.

I looked away just as her auction began, and I didn’t need to look up to know almost every man in attendance was bidding on her, save for the men at my table. I knew Mason wouldn’t because even though I had yet to meet his wife, I could tell he was a devoted husband. And Logan wasn’t bidding because he was with me—I wondered bitterly if he regretted bringing me here tonight.

I was surprised, however, that Gage wasn’t bidding. As far as I knew, he was the only unattached one of the trio, and as one of the founding partners, he had money. Was beautiful just not his type? Or was he doing this out of respect for his date—someone he had ignored for the majority of the dinner.

I looked to Gage to see how he was reacting to her, but he caught my eye instead. I smiled, and he smiled back, his eyes twinkling in what could only be described as amusement.

“You don’t want a date with her?” I asked, nodding to the stage.

Gage’s smile widened. “Ah, no. This isn’t my thing, and I usually don’t have to pay $20,000 for one.”

I grabbed my wine glass and took a healthy sip. I needed the alcohol to blind me as to just how effortlessly perfect all the women here were.

“Besides,” Gage said quietly. I turned to him, trying to hear him over the noise of the applause. Clarissa’s bid ran for $35,900 dollars, the highest of the night, that was certain. “I wouldn’t bid on my mate’s ex.”

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