Page 54 of Tangled Roses
I smile warmly and she giggles.
“You know, I am so excited. Don’t ask me why, but I never get to do anything like this. I’m surprised you’re here, though.”
“Why?”
“I saw the way he was holding your hand and that man never holds anyone’s hand.”
“You know him?” I’m curious and she nods, an appreciative gleam in her eye.
“Most of the women here know him by sight and reputation, and you are the envy of most of them.”
She sighs. “There aren’t many eligible bachelors around with both devastating sex appeal and an impressive bank balance. You’ve hit the jackpot with him.”
I shrug. “You can have him. He’s boring as fuck.”
She giggles. “Who cares about conversation when he looks at you with those sexy eyes?”
I shrug. “To be honest, he really doesn’t do it for me. I’d take a decent guy with no money over him, any day of the week.”
She grins. “Well, good for you. I like a woman who knows her own mind, unlike half of the women here.”
She peers past me and whispers, “See that guy?”
I turn and notice a handsome man surrounded by giggling women.
“Who is he?”
“Jared Benson. Son of Harvey Benson, the tech billionaire.”
“He’s handsome.” I whisper, and she nods, a dreamy expression on her face.
“I’ve had a crush on him for years but he’s out of my league. I don’t stand a chance.”
“Why not?”
I’m curious about Sindy and she blushes. “My family isn’t as rich or as popular and money matches money in any union in town. There are tiers you see and he is firmly perched on the top one. I’m nearer the middle and must be content with the guys who are scrambling to join my tier from below.”
“Then go and speak to him. You have nothing to lose.” I shrug. “I’m not even on a tier and I’m here. Miracles do happen, you know.”
She smiles and says with curiosity. “Tell me about yourself.”
“There’s nothing much to tell?” I shake my head sadly. “I’m a nobody in this world. Just someone who caught the eye of a billionaire when I was walking along the sidewalk.”
“You’re not–” Her eyes widen and I laugh.
“No, not that kind of walking, but to be honest, I may as well have been.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m extremely conscious why men like Arman Romanov want women, and I’m not interested in any of it. I want someone who wants me, not what’s on the outside.”
She rests a perfectly manicured hand on my arm and says sincerely. “Good for you. You do you as they say and to hell with the rules.”
The woman who railroaded me into this claps her hands for silence and smiles.
“May I have your attention, please? Thank you all so much for donating your valuable time for an extremely worthy cause. The auction is about to start, so I will hand out these numbers that you must wear on your arm and arrange yourself in numerical order. Good luck everyone, and let’s raise lots of money tonight for our worthy causes.”
“Wow.” Sindy’s eyes sparkle. “We are really doing this. I hope I get someone decent.”