The Auction: A Dark Romance (Club Indulgence Duet Book 1)

The wheels screech on the ground, and the plane comes to a stop. I softly stroke Blakely’s cheek. ‘Pet, wake up.’

She stirs but snuggles closer to me.

I chuckle. ‘Come on, sweetheart. Time to wake up.’

Her eyes flutter open. It takes her a moment to realize she’s on the plane. She sits up, claiming, ‘Oh, I fell asleep.’

I kiss her on the lips, replying, ‘Yeah, you were tired. We need to get going.’

She rises, and we get off the plane and into my Porsche, which is waiting on the tarmac. It’s only four in the morning, but I can’t avoid reality anymore.

We stayed in Hawaii for two weeks. Hugh’s been going crazy over the phone. He even told me about the safe and the rampage he went on. He fired the security team, and since he hired them, I didn’t care. I don’t trust anyone on his payroll.

He had the security footage reviewed. Our techs told him it had been tampered with but they were unable to trace the source. Still, Hugh’s blaming somebody from the night security.

He spent the last ten days ordering me to get into the office and continuing to ask for my location. I kept it brief, telling him via text I was dealing with personal shit. Then I stayed in Hawaii longer to piss him off. But in all reality, I was enjoying my wife more than the joy I got from angering him further. Yet the time has come to finish Hugh off. Plus, I must ensure that Blakely gets her deal signed with one of these agents.

It’s barely five when we arrive in Malibu. I debate about taking the surfboard out for a few rides but decide against it. There’s too much to do today.

I shower, then go out to the kitchen.

Blakely pours a mug of coffee and hands it to me.

‘Thanks,’ I say.

We sit down at the table, and she sips her coffee.

‘Okay, pet, you have to make a decision. Which agent are you choosing?’

She groans and puts her hand over her face. ‘Can’t you do it for me?’

‘No, we’ve gone over this,’ I remind her.

I’ve done everything possible to steer her toward Jack Secroy over Noah Kingsley. Both are offering the same deals at this point.

Blakely wants complete freedom over her music, so I made sure both contracts clearly state she has full control. There’s no doubt in my mind that Jack and Noah can take Blakely to the top. But something is telling me not to trust Noah.

It first happened when I caught him checking out Blakely’s ass. It pissed me off. And then he had the guts to flirt with her in front of me. She was oblivious to it, but I’m sure as hell not. And while I won’t trust any guy with her, something tells me that Jack is a better bet than Noah.

‘Please just decide for me, Riggs. You’re better at this,’ she whines.

I internally fight not to decide for her. I firmly answer, ‘No. Everything you said you wanted is in these contracts, and I’ve ensured you won’t get screwed financially. But this is your career. So listen to your gut. What does it say?’

Please don’t pick Noah.

She hesitates.

I wait, my heart racing.

She finally says, ‘Jack’s really nice, but—’

‘But what?’ I question, my gut dropping.

She cringes, claiming, ‘He’s a tad ruthless, don’t you think?’

I grunt. ‘Yeah. I like that about him. What’s wrong with ruthless? It gets you places in this industry.’

She winces again.

I repeat, ‘What’s so bad about being ruthless?’

She looks toward the window, tapping her fingers on her mug.

I take her hand and lace my fingers between hers, gently demanding, ‘Tell me.’

She squeezes her eyes shut. She confesses, ‘Something about him reminds me of my father. I don’t think I can work with him.’

It’s a bomb exploding inside me.

I should have picked for her.

No. It’s wrong. This isn’t my decision. This is her career.

For God’s sake, she can’t work with somebody who reminds her of her father.

But Noah…fuck.

‘Okay, but you don’t have any bad feelings about Noah? Nothing in your gut is saying that maybe he’s the wrong one?’

She shakes her head. ‘No, and Noah’s younger. I don’t know if Jack will be alive my entire career. Won’t he be retiring in a few years?’

I can’t argue with her, nor can I say it hasn’t crossed my mind. But I figured we’d deal with that issue when it happened. My pet is smart. I should have guessed she’d also be concerned about the same issue. Still, I don’t like it. I stay silent, with my chest tightening.

‘He can’t work forever. Right? And how old is he?’ Blakely fires.

I finally admit. ‘No. And you’re right. He’s in his late sixties.’

She wrinkles her nose and cautiously declares, ‘If you’re making me choose, I pick Noah.’

I clench my jaw, counting to ten.

‘You don’t like my choice?’ she asks worriedly.

I silently vow to have a little chat with Noah about the rules, as well as an extra clause I’m adding to the contract. I answer, ‘No. Noah’s fine. If that’s who you think you need to work with, then that’s what you should do.’

I can’t believe I’m saying this shit.

‘But you look upset,’ she says.

I rise and lean over her. She looks up, and I see the worry in her eyes. I assert, ‘Don’t stress about this. I’ll call Noah and give him the news. I have work to do at the office. I’ll text you when I’m on my way home.’

‘Okay.’

‘What are you going to do all day?’ I ask.

She smiles. ‘Sing.’

I grin and kiss her again. ‘Write something nice about me.’

She laughs. ‘Maybe I will.’

I lightly tap her head. ‘I gave you a lot of material on our honeymoon, didn’t I?’

She laughs again. ‘Maybe.’

I kiss her again. ‘Okay, pet, I have to go. Have a good day.’

‘All right, you too.’

I leave the house and call the attorney I use for personal matters. It’s another contact Hugh doesn’t know about.

Marco booms, ‘Riggs!’

‘I don’t have a lot of time to chat, but I need a sexual harassment clause added to Blakely’s contract. The one that’s with Noah,’ I relay.

‘Okay. Has he done something?’ Marco questions.

I keep it vague, replying, ‘Not yet, but I won’t put it past him.’

‘All right. When do you need it by?’

‘The next thirty minutes would be great.’

He groans. ‘Jesus, Riggs.’

‘Can you not get it done?’ I push.

‘I’ll get it done. Check your email in a bit.’

‘Thanks.’ I hang up and dial Noah.

He answers, ‘Riggs. I hope you have good news for me. I’ve been waiting.’

I assert, ‘We have some things to discuss.’

‘What now? I thought we got all the details worked out?’ he questions.

‘There’s one quick thing that we have to discuss. It shouldn’t be a big deal. If you agree, Blakely is willing to sign with you,’ I inform him.

‘Great. I’ll be at the diner on 45th and 8th. Can you meet me in an hour?’ he asks.

I internally groan. It’s going to take me the entire hour to get through traffic. But I state, ‘See you then.’

I fight through the smog and rush hour traffic and arrive at the popular breakfast spot. Noah’s in the back corner, sitting in a booth.

I slide in across from him.

He sticks his hand out. ‘Riggs.’

I take it, squeeze it hard, and shake it. ‘Noah.’

He pins his eyebrows together. ‘What’s going on?’

I announce, ‘Let’s put it this way. We both know my wife’s probably the most beautiful woman you’re ever going to lay eyes on.’

His eyes widen. ‘Your wife?’

‘Yeah, my wife,’ I firmly state.

He stutters. ‘O-oh. Congratulations. When did this happen?’

‘A couple of weeks ago.’

He nods. ‘Right. So what do you want to discuss?’

I sit back in the booth. ‘There’s a new contract in your inbox. Why don’t you take a look? Section eighteen. My attorney just added it.’

He picks up his phone, reads the screen, then glances back at me. ‘Why is there a sexual harassment get-out-of-the-contract clause in here? I’ve never done anything inappropriate with Blakely.’

‘Yeah, and you’re going to keep it that way,’ I declare.

He crosses his arms. ‘Riggs. I want her for her talent. I’m going to take her to the top.’

‘You better, or I’ll find another way to get out of this contract because that’s where she belongs,’ I warn.

He affirms, ‘I’ll get her there.’

I grin. ‘Great. Then you won’t have any issues signing that contract.’

He huffs. ‘You can’t be serious. I’m not an amateur. I’m not going to put the moves on her.’

I rise. ‘Once again, it shouldn’t be a problem signing it if you have no intentions of anything inappropriate happening.’ I lean down into his ear. ‘Also, if you ever touch her, the contract will be the last of your worries.’

He turns his head. ‘Is that a threat?’

‘No.’ I squeeze my hand on his shoulder until he winces. I add, ‘It’s a solemn promise. Hands off my wife at all times. If I find out you’ve touched her, all of L.A. will be searching for your body. Understand me?’

He clenches his jaw, his face turning a tad red.

‘Thought so.’ I release his shoulder and leave the diner. I go directly to work, and when I get to our floor, I go to Hugh’s personal office.

He’s drinking scotch, pacing the office, and growls, ‘Where have you been?’

‘I told you I was taking care of personal business,’ I calmly state.

‘My life is falling apart, and you skip town? Don’t you care about our company?’ he accuses.

I pretend to look concerned. ‘Why? What’s happened with the company? Has money been stolen from our bank accounts?’

He snaps his mouth shut and spins toward the window. Then he runs his shaking hand through his hair. He quietly states, ‘No, the business accounts are fine.’

I offer, ‘You might want to lay off the booze. It’s ten A.M.’

He angrily spins back to me. ‘Do you have any idea what I’m going through?’

‘Do you need a loan? I’ve got plenty of money if you need it,’ I taunt.

His face turns purple. He spits, ‘This isn’t a joke, Riggs.’

I hold my hands up in the air. ‘Never said anything of the sort. I’m only trying to help my partner and friend.’

He peers at me, interrogating, ‘Where were you for the last two weeks?’

‘Sorry, but none of your business. You know my personal life is off-limits,’ I remind him.

His eyes turn to slits. ‘That’s convenient for you.’

‘Meaning?’ I challenge.

There’s a knock on the door. My assistant has a nervous look on her face. Her eyes dart between Hugh and me.

I ask, ‘What’s going on, Connie?’

She clears her throat. ‘The CEOs from Windemere are here in the conference room.’

‘Is the paperwork in order?’ I question.

‘Yes. I sent it to you last night.’

‘I reviewed it on the plane. Please tell them I’ll be right in.’

She gives me a tentative smile. ‘Okay, thank you.’ She leaves.

I watch her walk away, then turn back to Hugh.

He finishes his drink, then states, ‘Let’s go.’

I step between him and the door. ‘No.’

‘What do you mean no?’

I declare, ‘You’re in no state to go into that conference room.’

‘This is my company,’ he claims.

I cross my arms. ‘It’s your company? The last time I checked, we were fifty-fifty partners.’

‘The last time I checked, I had the final say,’ he throws in my face.

‘So what? Your personal life’s blowing up, so you’re going to blow up our company as well?’ I accuse.

He scowls.

I add, ‘Do you think if you go in there drunk at ten in the morning, they’ll sign the paperwork, trusting their life’s work to us?’

Hugh squeezes his eyes shut, then rubs his forehead.

I soften my tone. ‘I know you’re in the shitter here, but you need to be smart. You are not going into that conference room. Now, sober up.’ I shut the door and go into the meeting.

I shake hands with the CEOs. We get into all the details, and while they’re signing the paperwork, I pull out my burner phone under the table. I send Hugh a photo of the back of Blakely in her wedding dress. It’s one of my favorite pictures of her. She’s turning her head and blowing me a kiss.

I also send a message with it.

Me: She’s mine. Forever.

He replies with a slew of messages, but I don’t look at them. I turn off my phone, slide it back into my pants pocket, and finish the meeting.

Once everything is secure, I see the clients to the elevator, then go to my office.

Hugh storms into the room, seething, ‘That bastard’s at it again.’ He shows me the text messages and photo.

I pretend to look shocked. ‘She’s married?’

‘Motherfucker,’ he utters.

‘You better figure out who that is.’

‘Like I don’t know that. What do you think I’ve been trying to do?’ he barks.

I sigh. ‘Hugh, you need to go home. You’re not in any shape to stay at the office. The last thing we need is business going down or the staff scared.’

He shakes his head and starts pacing in front of my window.

I reiterate, ‘Hugh, this isn’t the time to be here. Go home.’

He finally gives up and leaves.

I sit back in my chair, staring out at the L.A. skyline, thinking about how sweet revenge is when karma bites those who have it coming to them.

I pick up my phone and text Blakely.

Me: Put on the black leather one-piece and garter. Wear your wedding collar.

Blakely: Where should I kneel, Sir?

Me: On top of the piano.

Blakely: Yes, Sir.

Another text comes in from my pet. It’s an emoji face with heart eyes.

My cock grows harder. My pet loves playtime as much as I do.

Yep, life is perfect. Nothing could ever break us.