Todos los capítulos de HE SOLD MY HEART AT AUCTION : Capítulo 21 - Capítulo 30

THE GALAThe thing about galas is that they look beautiful from the outside.All that glittering glass and expensive fabric and people who've spent hours making themselves look like they just naturally wake up perfect. The lighting that costs more than most people's cars. The champagne that flows like water. The illusion of effortlessness.But from the inside from where I was standing in the venue three hours before doors opened, it was controlled chaos held together by duct tape and prayer."The centerpieces are wrong," Sarah said, appearing at my elbow with her tablet and the expression of someone who'd been dealing with vendor incompetence since six AM. "They sent peonies. We ordered roses. Peonies.""Can we work with peonies?""Nora, the entire color scheme is built around roses."I looked at the centerpieces. They were beautiful, objectively. Lush and full and romantic. Just wrong. The wrong shade of pink. The wrong vibe entirely."Okay," I said, switching into crisis mode. "Call

HIS MOUTH AT HER EARWe went back to the ballroom.Together. Publicly. His hand on the small of my back where everyone could see.I waited for the whispers. The stares. The judgment.Instead"Nora!" One of the board members Catherine, I think, appeared with a smile. "Wonderful event. Truly. Best we've had in years. You must tell me who you're working with next. I have a foundation gala in the spring and I'd love to steal you if Dominic will let me.""I won't," Dominic said easily. "But thank you, Catherine."She laughed. Moved on to the next conversation. Like it was nothing. Like seeing us together was just normal.More people approached. Compliments on the event. Questions about my availability. Business cards pressed into my hand. Investors who wanted to work with me. Board members who wanted introductions to my vendors.No one mentioned us.No one looked twice at Dominic's hand on my back.Either they didn't notice, or "They knew already," I said quietly when we had a moment alon

THE WOMAN FROM HIS PASTShe walked into my office on a Tuesday.I was reviewing final invoices from the summit, making sure everything was closed out properly when Sarah appeared in my doorway looking uncomfortable."There's someone here to see you," she said."Who?""Vivienne Cabot."The name landed like a stone in my stomach. His ex-fiancée. The woman from the photographs I'd Googled six months ago. The perfect one. The one who made sense."Why is she here to see me?""She didn't say. Just asked if you were available. I can tell her you're busy""No." I stood up. Smoothed my skirt. "I'll see her."Sarah looked worried but led me to the small conference room where Vivienne was waiting.She was exactly what I expected. Tall. Elegant. Wearing something that probably cost more than my monthly rent. Beautiful in that effortless way that came from good genes and better skincare.She stood when I came in. Extended a hand."Nora. Thank you for seeing me."I shook her hand. Sat down across f

WHAT BREAKS IN THE SILENCEThree days.Three days of not talking to him. Not seeing him. Not texting except for brief work-related messages.*Summit final budget approved. Thanks for everything. - Nora**Received. Thank you for exceptional work. - Dominic*Professional. Distant. Exactly what Vivienne had warned me about.Except I was the one creating the distance. Jade came over on day four.Took one look at me unwashed hair, same clothes as yesterday, empty ice cream container on the coffee table and said: "Okay. What happened?"I told her everything. Vivienne. The coffee shop. The doubts. The conversation with Dominic. All of it."So let me get this straight," Jade said when I finished. "His ex-fiancée who he broke up with four years ago shows up, tells you he can't change, and you just believed her?""She made good points.""She's his ex. Of course she made it sound bad. That'

THE SECRET IN THE FILESI found the file by accident.Three months after the summit. I was at Dominic's place, basically lived there now, my apartment was just storage, looking for a book I'd left somewhere.I checked his study. The one room I rarely went into. His private space.The book wasn't there. But a file folder was. On his desk. Open.I should have walked away. Should have respected his privacy.But I saw my name.*Nora Callahan - Background Investigation*My stomach dropped.I picked it up.Inside were documents. About me. My employment history. My education. Credit report. Police report from three years ago. Hospital records from St. Vincent's.Everything.He'd investigated me. Had someone dig into my entire life. Before we even started dating. BeforeThe date on the report. September. Right before he'd asked me to dinner after the auction.He'd researched me before asking me out.I felt sick."Nora?"I turned around. Dominic was in the doorway. Saw the file in my hands. We