Hmmm… I thought to myself. If she was already uncomfortable doing this, imagine how mortified she would be if I bid on her.
I grinned and set down my empty glass.
"Let's start with our first participant," the announcer said. "Bachelor number one is David Higgs, a successful tech entrepreneur who enjoys hiking, photography, and supporting women's health initiatives..."
I barely heard the description. My eyes were fixed on Aria, on the way she stood slightly apart from the others, on the way her gaze swept the room and very deliberately did not land on me.
The bidding for bachelor number one started at five hundred dollars. It climbed steadily: two thousand, five thousand, eight thousand. A woman near the front won at twelve thousand, and the crowd applauded politely.
Bachelor number two. Bachelorette number three. Bachelor number four.
I didn't bid on any of them. I stood motionless, waiting for the time to strike.
"And now, bachelorette number five." The announcer's voice warmed with genuine affection. "I think most of you know her, but allow me to introduce the founder of the Kealoha Foundation herself, Aria Kealoha."
Aria stepped forward, her smile firmly in place. The crowd murmured appreciatively.
"Aria is a passionate advocate for women's health, a successful businesswoman in her own right, and according to her staff, makes the best homemademalasadasthis side of Honolulu. Dinner with Aria includes a private meal at therestaurant of the winner's choice, plus a personal tour of the foundation's facilities."
The bidding opened at one thousand dollars.
"One thousand," someone called from the back.
"Two thousand," another voice.
"Five thousand."
The bids climbed. My hands hung at my sides, fingers curling and uncurling. I watched a man near the front, tall, dark-haired, expensive suit, raise his paddle again.
"Ten thousand."
Aria's smile didn't waver, but I saw her eyes flick toward the bidder. Assessing. The man was attractive, I supposed. But I knew what I wanted to achieve. I had to bide my time, make her think she was getting what or who she wanted, and then at the very last second, I would flip the board.
"Fifteen thousand," Congressman Halloway called.
I raised an eyebrow. So, hehadbeen flirting with her.
"Twenty thousand." The dark-haired man again, his paddle raised with casual confidence.
Congressman Holloway frowned. "Twenty-five."
Another man suddenly joined. "Thirty."
The dark-haired man laughed, shaking his head. "Fifty thousand."
A ripple went through the crowd. Aria's composure cracked for just a second, I saw her eyes widen, saw her lips part in surprise, before she recovered.
The other bidders fell silent. Fifty thousand dollars was serious money, even in this room.
The announcer looked around. "Fifty thousand going once..."
It was time. I took a step forward. "Sixty-five thousand."
Every head in the room turned toward me. Aria's gaze found mine across the crowd. Her eyes went wide, then narrowed intoa wilting glare. If looks could kill, I would have been a smoking crater on the warehouse floor.
I smiled at her. She glared back. Her entire demeanor said,Don’t you dare, Dubois.My grin widened. That only fueled me even more.
The dark-haired man turned, his expression shifting from surprise to irritation. He was trying to place me, I could tell. Trying to figure out who had the audacity to outbid him.