VANESSA BELMONT
Laughter rolled through the crowd, echoing off the high ceilings of the auction hall.
"What's funny?" I asked.
"I believe Miss Belmont meant eleven million dollars." Oliver stood up and firmly pressed my shoulder to force me back into my seat. He plucked the numbered paddle from my hand.
"Hey, I need that! Or someone else will get my necklace!" I cried, trying to rise again.
Carver yanked me down. "Behave," he whispered, his voice rife with amusement. He kept his fingers chained around my wrist.
"Let go," I demanded.
"Only if you stay put," he said.
"Fine," I said grumpily.
He released me. "You're cute when you sulk."
"Shut up."
Ollie reclaimed his seat beside me. "I'll bid for you, Neenie."
I opened my mouth to argue, but he pressed a finger to my lips. "Sshhh."
Defeated, I nodded—then gave him a ridiculous double thumbs-up.
The auctioneer's voice droned on, numbers climbing higher. My heart pounded with each bid, the thrill of competition momentarily outweighing my embarrassment.
Finally, the gavel came down. Oliver helped me to my feet as the room erupted in polite applause.
"That was fun," I said, smoothing my dress. "How much did I pay for the necklace?"
"Thirty-four million."
"What a bargain."
He grinned. "Isn't it?"
"Miss Belmont," came Fiona's saccharine voice, "I do hope you're okay."
"What does that mean?" I asked. "Am I bleeding? Foaming at the mouth?" I looked at Ollie in mock horror. "Is one of my limbs going to fall off?" I lifted one of my arms and let it swing.
"I think that only happens to zombies." Ollie patted my shoulder. "You're good."
"Nate has been so worried about you."
I looked at my fiancé's face. He looked ready to chew nails. Still gorgeous, though. "You are very pretty," I told him. Then I turned to the murderous bitch next to him. "I didn't know my fiancé confided in you, Miss Grand."
She looked away, pretending to be embarrassed. Gross.
"You know Carver Haynes?" asked Nathan through clenched teeth.
"Sure do." I pointed at my contract husband. "Carver, this is my fiancé, Nathan Jang. Isn't he pretty?"
"I'll decline to answer that question," said Carver. "I'm her old friend. I've known Neenie for ten years." He looked at me. "Nate and I know each other. We're in the same circle."
"Oh. I forgot. Well, do you know Fiona?"
Carver stared at the bleach blonde with an exaggerated expression of confusion. "Who is she?"
"Secretary," I said. "No, no. Personal assistant."
"Ah. And what do you assist with, Miss Grand?" asked Carver.
"Whatever Mr. Jang asks of me."
I snickered. Ollie's mouth curled into a snarky smile. Carver offered a long, judgmental pause before saying, "I see."
"I would like to take my fiancé home now," said Nate, reaching out for me.
I reared back, stumbling, and Oliver caught me. His hands remained on my shoulders as I said, "I have to pay for my new necklace. Ollie will send me home."
"Or I can," said Carver. "I'm sure you'd like to escort Miss Grand. You don't need to worry about Neenie."
"I'm the only one who gets to worry about her." Nate grabbed me and pulled me close. Then he bent down, looped my arm around his neck, and scooped me into his arms. "I would like a private word with you, Neenie."
He carried me across the ballroom, through the lobby, and into the office behind the check-in counter. After we entered the empty room, Nathan put me down, locked the door, and pushed me against the wall. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked.
"Right now? Getting yelled at by you."
He blew out a breath and rubbed his hand through his hair. "Why did you spend the evening with Carver Haynes?"
"Technically, I spent the evening with Ollie and Carver just showed up."
"You think it looks good for my fiancee to be in public with another man?"
"To be clear, there were two men."
"Ollie doesn't count," said Nate. "He won't fuck you."
I pushed Nathan away and slapped him. My palm hitting his cheek sounded like cracking ice. Or maybe that was my heart shattering into tinier pieces. My hand hurt because Mr. Jang's face was like a piece of cold stone.
Nathan stared at me, stunned. Shame glinted in his eyes. "I'm sorry," he said. "I ... I shouldn't have said that." He touched his cheek. "I'm just ... we're getting married. We have to be circumspect with opposite-sex relationships."
I laughed. I laughed so hard I nearly fell to the floor. "You take Fiona to events with you all the time, and she hangs on your arm like she's the wife. But sure, talk to me about my inappropriate behavior." Hurt and anger burrowed into my lungs making it hard for me to breathe. I rubbed my chest. My heart hurt so much.
"You're different, somehow. Last week, you were needy and whiny. Desperate for my attention." He pinched my chin between his fingers. "This week? You don't give a damn about me or our wedding. You wear clothes that show off your body. You attract other men's gazes. I see them watch you, and I fucking hate it."
"How about this? Carver has offered to marry me. You can pawn me off on him. Then you're free to wed Fiona and make little blonde fairy babies with her."
"I'm not marrying Fiona!" He pressed me against the wall and pinned my arms above my head. "You are mine, Vanessa. You're going to know it. And so will Carver Haynes." He leaned down, and put his mouth on my neck. I shuddered at the feel of his lips against my skin.
Then he bit me.
"Nate!" Pain pulsed as he sucked my flesh between his teeth and marked me. When he finally let go, he was breathing heavy, his chest heaving. He stared at me like he didn't know who I was. I sure as hell didn't know this Nate. Possessive of me? Purposely bruising my neck? Losing his mind because he was jealous?
This never happened in my first life. I was changing my fate, but it wasn't the way I intended. How was I supposed to know Nate would start paying attention to me?
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice shaking. "Why?"