Page 104 of Bid For Me

“So, Faith,” he says, voice smooth, almost teasing, “you ever get bored of serving drinks all night? Or do you like the idea of having some company for a change?”

Her cheeks flush a shade of pink, and she shifts uncomfortably, her hands moving behind the bar to clean a glass. She doesn’t look at him, doesn’t respond.

Asher shrugs, unfazed by her lack of interest, and turns back to me. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get some action. You?”

I look at my now-empty glass, the words lingering in my mind. But I don’t answer. Because the problem isn’t my new wife I’ve left at home, or even my father. It’s me.

I exhale my frustration with myself. I’m not here for action. I’m here for anonymity. Here because I have nowhere else to go.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” a familiar voice shrieks.

Asher chuckles and slides both whiskies over to me, nabbing my empty glass quickly to pass it off as his own.

I wince as Candy approaches, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. The anger radiating off her is palpable, and I can practically feel it crackling in the air between us.

She stops in front of me, arms crossed, glaring at me like I’ve just committed some unforgivable crime. Her eyes, usually so controlled, are blazing.

“You have a fucking nerve showing your face here, tonight of all nights, Sebastian!” she hisses, the venom in her words causing a small crowd to glance our way.

She’s right, of course. I should’ve stayed home, tried to sort things out with Elle, but the weight of the night was too much. I needed to breathe, to escape the suffocating tension.

I open my mouth to respond, but she doesn’t give me the chance.

“No, don’t say a word,” she snaps, cutting me off before I can offer an excuse. “I should’ve known. The second you left the reception with that look on your face, I should’ve fucking known where you’d end up. Here, of all places. Hiding away from your new wife, from everything you’re supposed to be responsible for. I should’ve expected it, but damn it, I didn’t. I thought you’d changed. I told Elle to trust you. I’m as fucking stupid as you are!”

I open my mouth again, but this time, the words get caught in my throat. I’m ashamed, no doubt, but more than that, I’m exhausted. So fucking tired of all the lies, the games, and the miscommunication. I can’t even make sense of what’s happening between Elle and me, and here I am, sitting in the club like it’s some kind of refuge.

Candy doesn’t wait for me to speak. She gestures to the full glasses in front of me and ‘Asher’s’ empties. “Four whiskies, Sebastian? Really? You’re gonna drink yourself into oblivion while your wife’s at home thinking you’ve abandoned her? You can’t keep running away every time things get hard.”

I stand up, running a hand through my hair. “I didn’t abandon her. I just...I don’t know how to fix this. I don’t know where to start.”

“You’re here, not there. You’re avoiding her, and you think that’ll fix everything?” She shakes her head in disbelief. “You’re barred from this club, Sebastian. Get out. Now.”

I stare at her for a moment, stunned. Barred? Candy’s serious, her eyes hard as stone. She won’t back down, and part of me knows I deserve this. I’m not here for a night of indulgence. I’m here to hide from the consequences of my own mess.

“Candy—” I begin, but she holds up a hand.

“No, we’re done here.” She grabs my arm, surprisingly strong for her small frame, and pulls me toward the office without hesitation. Her grip is firm, angry. I let her drag me along, not protesting, not caring enough to stop her. She’s right, after all. I don’t belong here.

When we step into the office, she lets go of me, pacing for a moment before she stops, crossing her arms over her chest, and giving me a pointed look.

“Elle called me tonight,” she says, voice low but steady. “She told me everything.”

I freeze. Every muscle in my body locks up. She told Candy what? What did she say?

“She’s confused, Sebastian. She’s hurting. And you—” she lets out a bitter laugh, shaking her head, “—you’re playing right into your father’s hand. Your old man’s been twisting this whole thing, and you’re letting him. It’s sickening.”

I can feel the heat in my chest rise, my anger bubbling over at the mention of my father. “What the hell does he have to do with this?” I mutter, trying to keep my voice steady, but I can feel the edge creeping in. The doubt.

Candy’s eyes flash, and she steps closer, poking me hard in the chest.

“You want to know what she said? You want to know how fucking hurt she is?” Her voice cracks with emotion as she continues, “She told me that your father threatened her. He found your contract with her and forced her to sign a new prenup. I don’t know what he told you, but she’s been making herself sick over it all day, trying to protect everyone she cares about. Elle’s devastated, Sebastian. And you – your behaviour has just let her think you were in on it. That you were working with him to manipulate her into some game. You’ve let her believe you were complicit, however inadvertently. That’s why she was so shaken at the ceremony, then so distant at thereception when she saw you talking to him. That’s why she looked at you the way she did.”

I’m reeling, my thoughts racing, but I can’t make sense of them. This is all a fucking mess. Hethreatenedher?

“She didn’t tell me,” I whisper, but the guilt hits me like a physical blow. I didn’t even stop to ask her what happened, what was really said.

Candy crosses her arms and leans back, her eyes narrowing as she watches me struggle with the weight of this.