My eyes widen… Fucking hell!


    “Hello, gorgeous girl.” Mark smiles sexily.


    I fake a smile, oh man. I have to get out of here. “Hi,” I reply nervously.


    “Sorry it took me so long. Where were we?” He reaches over and pushes my hair behind my ear.


    “Ahh.” Holy shit. “I’m going home. I’m not really feeling that well.”


    He picks up my hand in his. “Are you okay? You seem to have distanced yourself from me since your


    arrival.” His eyes search mine. “Is everything good between us?”


    The door opens and we both turn. To my horror, it’s the damn nosy receptionist again. My face falls


    and her mouth actually drops open. She thinks I’m here with Mark as he is holding my hand and I just had


    sex with star. Great. I will never live this down. She narrows her eyes and her animosity bounces


    through the courtyard.


    Oh no.


    “Mark, can I see you for a moment, please?” she sneers.


    I swallow the golf ball in my throat as my eyes flutter between the two of them.


    Mark doesn’t seem to like her tone. “Just a second. I am just going to walk Emerson out to a cab,” he


    replies curtly.


    Huh? I don’t want you to walk me outside. Oh, this night is out of fucking control.


    “She’s not feeling well,” he replies.


    She smirks and raises a brow at me. “Poor, poor Emerson. Rough night, hey, sweetie?” She smiles


    sarcastically.


    I feel faint as the blood drains from my face. Forgive me Father for I have sinned.


    Mark res at blondie as he leads me out of the courtyard and toward the auction room. If I walk out


    into the parking lot with Mark, star will see and will probably lose his shit and then I will lose my


    job.


    This night is going in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s biggest disaster.


    “Can I call round and see you tonight?” Mark asks.


    Huh? The auction starts again and the auctioneers voice calls out. “An early piece from the talented


    photographer, Star.” He holds up an abstract painting of greens and gold and I turn around for the perfect


    artist. This is his painting. “Can I start the bidding at one hundred thousand?” he calls in an assertive


    voice.


    Four little tickets on sticks get held up and I frown. What?


    The battle begins and I stand dumbfounded as four different parties all go to war for the gorgeous


    green painting. The tickets are getting held up left right and centre. Where is he? He should be here to


    witness this and my eyes scan around in search of him again.


    “Two hundred thousand.”


    Mark gestures to the door and I shake my head subtly. I want to see who gets the painting.


    “Sold. Two hundred and Sixty Thousand, to thedy in purple.” The crowd p.


    I turn and see a sophisticateddy standing at the back in a purple pants suit. What must it be like to


    have that kind of money? She smiles proudly as the auctioneer’s secretary approaches her and takes her


    details.


    Wow. One of the big bosses’ approaches Mark. “Mark, I have someone I want you to meet.”


    Marks looks to me for a response. Here’s my chance to escape.


    “I will just go to the bathroom and meet you back here?” I smile.


    He nods and takes off to the other side of the room.


    My eyes flick nervously around and as soon as Mark is out of sight I hot foot it to the front door and


    run down the grand steps. I feel like a naughty child running away from her strict parents. My eyes search


    the parking lot in the dark and I look around in a panic. Shit, where is he?Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    My phone beeps a text.


    I’m around the side of the building.


    I immediately text back:


    Coming now.


    I  walk  around  to  the  staff  parking  area  and  stop  dead  in  my  tracks  when  I  see  it.  Lit  only  by  the


    mppost, star is leaning up against an expensive ck car, wearing his navy suit and white shirt. His


    feet  are  crossed  and  his  behind  rests  on  the  car  door,  his  hands  tucked  deep  into  his  expensive  suit


    pockets. His dark eyes hold mine as I walk toward him and his jaw ticks in anticipation.


    My mouth goes dry just looking at him. He has dark hair that falls over his forehead and hisrge lips


    only entuate his strong jaw line. How in the hell is this guy waiting here for me?


    “Took your time.” He smiles as he opens the car door for me.


    I smile and fall into the expensive leather seat. “I was watching one of your paintings auction.”


    He raises a brow as if to ask me how it went.


    “Two hundred and sixty thousand,” I murmur in disbelief.