How to Get Auctioned to a Billionaire - London Casey Page 0,3
at a billionaire?”
“At the end of the day, we both bleed the same blood,” Athena said.
“Actually, we don’t,” I said. “You have a different blood type than I do.”
“I don’t even want to know how you know that, or if it’s even true,” Athena said. “I’m going home. Enjoy your rich persons party.”
“Want to join me?” I offered.
“No, thanks,” Athena said. “I can only handle one of you at a time.”
“To be fair Athena, there only is and ever will be one of me,” I said.
“That’s something we agree upon. Please put on the bow tie.”
Athena exited my office.
I looked at myself in the mirror again and smiled.
I’m not wearing the damn bow tie tonight.
“You’re not wearing a bow tie?” Booker asked me as he brought me a drink.
I took a hearty sip and shook my head. “No need.”
“There are some big players here, Hudson.”
“We’re a big player,” I said. “I’m not worried about a fucking bow tie, Booker. You’re going to do all the ass kissing and mingling tonight. I’m just here to show my face and enjoy the free drinks.”
“Free?” Booker asked. “We paid enough to be here. Nothing is ever free.”
“And wearing a bow tie won’t make anything free either,” I said.
I patted Booker’s back.
We walked together through the elegant ballroom.
Why the hell were we actually there?
I wasn’t even sure.
There was always an event to attend. A party for this. A celebration for that. Any excuse to get a bunch of money people together to talk. Most of the time the hours just ticked by. I’d end up talking to a handful of people, sharing stories that felt like they were on repeat. The same punchlines. The same laughs. Handshakes. Fuzzy eyes from the drinks. And the occasional deal made here or there.
More than anything, the events were to see who showed up. Who was in the market. Who was out of the loop.
And the food was usually out of this world.
I broke away from Booker when he spotted someone we didn’t expect to be there. A top executive buyer who flew in from London.
I set my sights on something to eat as I finished my first drink.
I managed to score a second drink before getting something to eat.
And before I could get that plate of food, I looked to my right and saw someone standing at the bar, staring right at me.
Her smile said hello. Her eyes said come here.
And my night just decided to shift gears completely.
Tori was tall, but I was taller.
Her gold dress shimmered against the dim lights of the bar as I ordered myself a drink. I pointed to her wineglass to make sure she got a refill and I winked at her.
She reached for my arm and touched it gently.
“You know, the drinks are free,” she said. “Meaning you don’t get credit for this glass of wine.”
I nodded. I leaned toward her. “But the amount of money it cost me to be here, I am paying for these drinks. So don’t waste a drop. And give me a little credit.”
“Fine,” she said. “A little credit.”
“You know who I am, right, Tori?” I asked.
“Just some rich guy at a rich party,” she said.
The bartender brought her the glass of wine I ordered, along with my drink.
She boldly walked away from the bar, leaving me staring at the gold dress as it danced left to right with the sway of her hips.
She looked back and smiled. “Joining me?”
I lifted my drink off the bar and caught up to her.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Nowhere,” she said. “I just like walking through these things. There’s so much happening at once. And each conversation, I wonder who is fucking who.”
“Wow.”
“I’m not wrong,” she said. “Everyone is here to get fucked in one way or another. Or to do some fucking.”
“From my understanding, this is merely a networking event,” I said. “Disguised as a celebration because Don over there tied his own shoes for the first time since he was seven.”
Tori looked at me and laughed. “Really?”
“I made that part up,” I said. “This is Don’s party though. His company is going public by the end of the year. He wanted to celebrate that now. So he can celebrate it later too.”
“And I’m sure he collected donations,” Tori said.
“Of course,” I said. “Now to be fair, most of the money does go to charity.”
“Are you big on charity?”
“Of course I am,” I said. “And that’s not some cheap pickup line.”