Page 299 of Double or Nothing

She looks down at her paddle.

Fuck.

What if I got it wrong?

I could have got this wrong.

One point two million at the hammer. Considerably more after the auction house adds its premium.

Jesus Christ. Bryce will kill me.

And Eli will help him do it.

William Parker will dismiss the entire sale as a rich man buying favour from a woman he wants, and Alice’s victory will belong to me, not to her. Where it truly belongs.

No.

Come on, Helena.

The auctioneer waits.

“One million two hundred thousand pounds…”

Helena lowers her paddle towards her lap.

My pulse stops.

There’s nowhere left for me to go. Shit. I’ve gone too far.

The auctioneer raises the hammer.

“Fair warning. Ready to close.”

Helena’s adviser closes his folder.

She lifts her paddle.

Thank fuck, she lifts her paddle.

“One million two hundred and fifty thousand pounds near the aisle!” the auctioneer announces.

The air leaves my lungs.

The room erupts into murmurs.

The auctioneer turns towards me.

I don’t move.

Not yet.

One final test.

Helena glances back. I let her see me considering it.

Give her the cost of winning.

Let her feel the danger of losing before I take it away. It’ll only make her value it more.