Abby couldn''t make sense of what Haynes was doing.


    "What''s up with Haynes? Is he bidding on Aurora''s painting too? And since when are those two so chummy?"


    A new thought struck her. "Wait, you don''t think he''s got a thing for Aurora, do you?"


    Abby and Ste were the kind of friends who shared everything, and just as Haynes knew about Ste''s background, Abby did too.


    Ste''s surprise faded. She shrugged, her voice calm. "Last time, he needed a favor with the guest list and tracked down Aurora for help. Maybe now he just wants to return the favor."


    Abby snorted. "What a convenient way to y the good guy."


    On stage, Sherman didn''t seem the least bit annoyed to have a rival bidder; in fact, he looked genuinely pleased.


    If someone was willing topete, it meant Aurora''s work was truly valued.


    He quickly raised his paddle to ten million.


    Haynes countered with twelve million.


    Their rapid-fire bidding war made most of the other buyers back off immediately.


    Sure, they were wealthy-but not out of their minds.


    With that kind of money, they could easily snatch up a real old master from Europe. No matter how good Aurora was, her paintings just didn''t carry the same cachet as a centuries-old masterpiece.


    Still, there were a few people in the room who genuinely loved Aurora''s work- and this piece in particr.


    Once the bidding reached fifteen million, both Haynes and Sherman put down their paddles.


    The auctioneer beamed. "Aurora''s ''Blossom'' has been sold to Mr. Coulter for fifteen million! Congrattions!"


    A few more antique paintings went up for auction after Aurora''s, but none by famous hands, so the highest any fetched was just over ten million—still less than what Aurora''s went for.


    Watching all of this, Abby couldn''t help but grumble.


    "Honestly, that ''Blossom'' of Aurora''s doesn''t look like it''s worth millions to me. It''s just Haynes and Sherman jacking up the price and scaring away real buyers."


    About an hourter, the auction broke for intermission.


    After sitting for so long, everyone was eager for some fresh air.


    Abby and Ste had just stepped out of the restroom when Ste''s phone rang. Mr. Burton''s name shed on the screen.


    Ste turned to Abby. "It''s Mr. Burton. Go on ahead, I''ll catch up after this call." "Alright."


    Abby left, and Ste found a quiet spot before answering.


    "Mr. Burton."


    His cheerful voice came through. "Ste, you remember our talk about that blind date, right?"


    Ste''s eyelid twitched-she remembered meeting Sellers Burton not long ago.


    "...I remember."


    Mr. Burton continued, "Sellers finally wrapped up what he had on his


    do you have time


    you


    e for you two to meet


    He was clearly determined to see this through.


    Since Ste had already agreed in principle, she couldn''t really refuse.


    She considered her schedule. "How about this weekend?"


    "Perfect!" Mr. Burton sounded delighted. "I''ll let Sellers know and have him make


    the arrangements."


    After she hung up, Ste let out a long, helpless sigh.


    She knew she shouldn''t sell herself short, but the thought gnawed at her-divorced, with a child, going on a date with a man who''d never bèèn married and was heir to the Bufton Group fortune... She couldn''t help but feel she was putting him difficult spot.


    She suspected Sellers'' earlier "busy schedule" was just a polite way to dodge her.


    Tucking her phone away, Ste started back toward Abby and the others.


    Just as she turned a corner, someone bumped into her.


    She looked up and found herself staring into a strikingly handsome, cool face.


    The man had sharp features, a chiseled jawline, and deep-set


    brows. His eyes were ciale


    and unreadable as a frozenke.