Chapter Twenty: Keith For Auction
Ella’s POV
“Ouch,” I clutched my back, brushing off Keith’s remark. It was just another one of his flirtatious comments, and I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered. Instead, I focused on the dress I was wearing, which suddenly felt tighter and more uncomfortable than before.
“This dress is so tight,” I complained, adjusting the fabric around my waist and hips. It hugged my figure perfectly, but it wasn’t exactly comfortable.
Keith, noticing my discomfort, raised an eyebrow in concern. “Do you need help with any part of it?” he asked, his tone a mix of genuine curiosity and that familiar teasing edge.
I shook my head, wanting to handle it myself. “No, I’m fine,” I replied. But I knew him well enough to see that he wasn’t about to let the moment pass.
“Well, if you don’t need help with that,” he said, stepping closer with that playfui glint in his eyes, “maybe you could help me with something else.”
Before I could ask what he meant, he held up his bow tie, dangling it
Chapter Twenty Meth For Auction
between us. “Think you could manage this?” he asked, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smile.
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. “You mean to tell me the five–star styling service didn’t include tying a bow tie?”
He chuckled, his eyes bright with amusement. “It does, but only if you‘ re not here. And today, I’m very willing to have your help.”
Taking the tie from him, I moved closer, standing on my tiptoes to reach around his neck. “You’re impossible, you know that?” I teased, looping the tie around his collar.
Keith bent down slightly to make it easier for me, his tall frame towering over me even as he leaned in. “Or do you just like having an excuse to get close to me?” he murmured, his voice low and teasing.
His words shot dangerously through me, but I refused to let him see how much he was affecting me. “You wish,” I shot back, concentrating on tying the bow as quickly as possible. But it wasn’t easy with him standing so close, his breath warm against my cheek, and his perfume intoxicating. My fingers fumbled slightly with the fabric, my heartbeat quickening.
When I finally finished, I took a step back, hoping to put some distance between us. But before I could move further, Keith gently pushed me against the dressing table, his hands trailing down my sides. His touch was soft, yet it sent a wave of warmth through me, making it difficult to think straight.
Chapter Twenty Keith For Auction
“We only have thirty minutes left until the event,” I reminded him, my voice a little unsteady as I tried to regain control.
Keith’s lips curved into that slow, dangerous smile I was beginning to recognize all too well. “We don’t have to go, you know,” he said, his fingers tracing lazy circles on my skin. “We could just head back home, forget about the event, and focus on… other things.”
For a brief moment, the idea was tempting. The thought of being alone with him, away from all the pretenses and tension, was almost enough to make me say yes. But I knew better. This was a game to him, and I wasn’t about to let him win so easily.
With all the willpower I could muster, I gently pushed him away, creating a small but necessary distance between us. “Nice try,” I said, giving him a small, teasing smile. “But we’re going to that event. You didn’t go through all this trouble just to back out now.
Keith’s eyes sparkled with amusement, “As you wish,” he said, his voice soft but carrying another undercover tone. “Let’s storm the yard,”
He was riding his Ferrari today and was it so lovely to see the stars above our heads as Keith drove fast past the streets in his usual confident style. He was probably racing against the time we had spent teasing and testing each other. The city lights blurred past us, a figment of colors and motion that only added to the sense of urgency in the air.
“By the way,” I said, breaking the comfortable silence between us,
36.535
Chapter Twenty: Keith For Auction
“what exactly is this charity gala for? I’ve never attended something like this before since I am not among the rich ones.”
Keith glanced at me briefly before returning his focus to the road. “My family participates in this event every year. It’s aimed at raising funds to protect endangered wildlife.”
I nodded, impressed but also curious. “Where do the funds come from?
Is it like an auction?”
He smiled, a hint of mystery in his expression. “Exactly. People auction off all kinds of things—artwork, experiences, even dinners with wealthy individuals. Sometimes it’s something as simple as land or as unique as memorabilia.”
His words hung in the air between us, the weight of them sinking in. Before I could ask what he meant, he turned back to the road, his focus shifting as we approached the venue.
Not that I understand everything going on,it was my first time been among the rich ones and their games were strange to me.
I wasn’t sure if he was joking or being serious, but something about the way he said it made me think there was more to the story. As much as I wanted to press him for more details, I decided to let it go for now. There would be time for questions later.
We pulled up to the entrance, the reality of the evening began to set in. This wasn’t just a casual event–it was something much bigger,
Chapter Twenty: Keith For Auction
something that held more significance than I had initially realized../ as much as I had tried to avoid thinking about it, the thought of Dorian and Jessica kept creeping back into my mind. What if they were here too?
But tonight wasn’t about them. Tonight, I was here with Keith, and for better or worse, I was going to see it through. Whatever games he was playing, whatever intentions he had, I would not let him get the best of
- me.
Keith turned to me as the car came to a stop, his eyes searching mine for a moment before he spoke. “Ready?” he asked, his tone gentle but firm.
I nodded, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “Ready.” I still sat back though. Partly because I was waiting for him to come open the car door for me. Also, I was yet to find the confidence to walk into that crowd of people.
I looked up at Keith, and I couldn’t help but tease him a little to feel lighter. “So, something like Chris Evans‘ underwear?”
Keith burst out laughing, the sound genuine and full of life. “I’ve never heard of that one before, but I’m sure some people would pay a high price for it.”
I joined in his laughter, the tension I felt gradually dissipating. “And what about you? What are you going to auction off?”
77 77%
Chapter Twenty: Keith For Auction
He looked at me, a glint in his eye that made my heart skip a beat. “If you like something, I’ll buy it for you.”
I shook my head, still smiling. “That’s not what I asked. What are you going to auction off?”
Keith paused for a moment, his expression turning seri
