Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 61851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Then it was Derek’s turn, and he stepped forward and pasted a smile on his lips—rather than a grimace—while the auctioneer did a quick introduction, summing up the profile written in the brochure most of the women had in their hands.
“Who will start the bidding at ten thousand dollars for a three-day weekend with Derek Bettencourt?” the gentleman asked, as he had for every bachelor that had stood in the same spot before Derek.
“I’ll bid fifty thousand dollars!” a familiar voice called out.
Derek turned his head and looked at the source of the voice, his stomach churning. Claire gave him a smug smile, obviously certain that no one would top that bid. And she was probably right. Which meant he would be stuck with his ex for three entire days.
Well, fuck.
Chapter Three
Jessica had sworn she wasn’t going to bid on a man at the bachelor auction, and especially not on Derek, and she’d meant those words at the time. But after a few glasses of champagne and Claire’s rude comments still swirling in her mind, topped off by that smug look her nemesis gave Derek when she placed her outrageously high opening bid, certain no one would provide competition, Jessica was tempted to do something a little rebellious and prove to that bitch she couldn’t have everything she wanted.
But none of those things were what changed Jessica’s mind. It was the panicked look that flashed across Derek’s features. A feeling she knew all too well—being cornered by someone you didn’t like, with no escape. Of being forced to do something you dreaded. And clearly, Derek did not want to spend a weekend with his ex-fiancée.
“Seventy-five thousand!” Jessica blurted out, startling even herself. But once the words were spoken, she knew she was in it to win the auction and Derek. There was no backing out now.
The women around her gasped in shock. Up on the stage, Derek’s brows rose in surprise at her—clearly, he hadn’t expected any other bids and certainly not from her—and when Jessica dared to glance at Claire, the other woman’s glare was sharp as daggers.
Jessica held back a grin. Yeah, payback was a bitch sometimes, and just the thought of Claire going to the reunion without the man she’d added as her plus-one, for the sole purpose of flaunting him to her friends, was going to be sweet, indeed.
“Eighty thousand!” Claire shouted at the auctioneer, her tone on the verge of being desperate.
“One hundred thousand,” Jessica countered calmly, smiling and keeping her eyes on Derek, who appeared both grateful and amused by her decision to bid on him.
She could keep topping Claire’s amount all night long. She had a ridiculous trust fund from her grandparents she rarely touched, the money would go to a good cause, and for once she actually had the upper hand over Claire, and she couldn’t deny that leverage felt amazing.
Tonight, Claire was going to learn that just because she desired something, it didn’t mean it was just going to fall into her lap.
“Holy shit,” Avery whispered gleefully. “Claire looks like she’s going to have a coronary.”
Jessica casually sipped from her champagne flute, refusing to look at the other woman, but she could only imagine how much she was fuming.
“One hundred twenty-five thousand dollars,” Claire said, the words sounding as though they’d been spoken through gritted teeth.
Another round of gasps echoed in the ballroom, and everyone glanced expectantly at Jessica, waiting to see if she raised the bid or folded.
Again, very calmly, like she had all the time and money in the world, she said, “One hundred fifty thousand dollars.”
It was an insane amount of money—insane enough that Claire must have realized Jessica wasn’t going to back down or opt out, because the ballroom went quiet as the auctioneer did his going once, going twice, going three times spiel. When no one countered, he slammed his gavel down and gestured toward where Jessica stood in front of the stage.
“Derek Bettencourt, sold to the beautiful woman in the black dress,” the gentleman in the tuxedo said jovially. “Thank you for your very generous donation. You can meet your bachelor over in the greeting area just outside the ballroom.”
“Oh, my God, Claire just stormed off and she looks pissed,” Avery said, keeping Jessica apprised of their nemesis’s whereabouts. “I wonder if this is the first time something hasn’t gone her way.”
“Probably.” The two of them headed toward the double doors leading out of the ballroom. “I doubt she’s familiar with any form of humiliation, so I’m sure this loss knocked her off her game.”
Avery snickered. “Ahh, it really is true what they say about revenge being sweet.”
As they passed the bar area, Jessica swapped out her empty champagne glass for a fresh one, needing the liquid fortitude to face her secret crush. “Since I have to meet with Derek, I’ll come find you after we’re done discussing things.”