Chapter 2 - THE MILLION-DOLLAR BID
The ballroom erupted.
A million dollars.
For Audrey Gallagher.
A woman whose own sister had just declared her undesirable.
The auctioneer gripped his microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, an extraordinary gesture from Mr. Santoro!"
Applause began.
Mateo raised one hand.
The room quieted.
"This is a charitable donation," he said. "Not a purchase."
His gaze returned to Audrey.
"Miss Gallagher, you're under no obligation to have dinner with me."
Audrey's heart was pounding.
She looked toward her father.
Charles was staring at Mateo as though he'd seen a ghost.
Victoria rose abruptly.
"Mateo, how generous! I'm sure Audrey would be delighted."
Mateo didn't acknowledge her.
"Miss Gallagher?"
Audrey swallowed.
Then stepped toward the microphone.
"Thank you for the donation."
Her voice trembled, but she forced herself to continue.
"However, I didn't volunteer for this auction. I was pushed onto the stage."
A ripple moved through the room.
Charles stiffened.
Audrey lifted her chin.
"And I won't agree to dinner simply because someone bid on me."
Mateo's mouth curved slightly.
"Good."
The single word surprised her.
He turned to the auctioneer.
"The donation stands."
Then he sat down.
Audrey walked backstage before anyone could see her cry.
She reached the service corridor and pressed her palms against the wall.
Her breathing came too quickly.
Her cheeks burned.
She wanted to go home.
Except home was the place where this humiliation had begun.
"Miss Gallagher."
She turned.
Mateo stood several feet away.
His security men remained at the corridor entrance.
He hadn't followed her alone.
Somehow, that made her feel safer.
"I owe you an apology," he said.
Audrey frowned.
"For what?"
"My bid made you the center of attention when you clearly wanted to leave."
She stared.
Most men in her father's circle never apologized.
Certainly not men like Mateo Santoro.
"You didn't force me onto that stage."
"No."
He paused.
"But I did make a spectacle of helping."
Audrey looked down at her clipboard.
"Why did you bid?"
Mateo studied her.
"Because I wanted your father to understand that someone was paying attention."
"To what?"
"The way he treats you."
Audrey gave a humorless laugh.
"You don't know my father."
"I know enough."
She looked at him sharply.
"Then you know he's in trouble."
Mateo's expression didn't change.
"I do."
"How much trouble?"
He hesitated.
"More than he has told you."
Audrey's stomach tightened.
"I handle the accounts."
"Not all of them."
She went still.
Mateo reached into his jacket and removed a business card.
"If you want to understand what's happening, call me."
Audrey didn't take it.
"Why would you help me?"
He looked at her for a long moment.
"Because someone is using your work to hide a very expensive crime."
Her breath caught.
"Who?"
Mateo placed the card on a nearby table.
"That is what I intend to find out."
He stepped back.
"Good night, Miss Gallagher."
Audrey watched him leave.
Then looked at the card.
MATEO SANTORO
No title.
No company name.
Just a telephone number.
May you like
She slipped it into her clipboard.
And for the first time in years, she wondered whether the disaster threatening her family was bigger than bankruptcy.
