The Billionaire Playboy’s Secret Family
Chapter 42

courage. Maybe he could have comforted her then.

It was like she was in her own world and couldn't see the crowd if she tried. His thoughts went to the little girl who had only recently been discharged from the hospital. He recalled how she looked holding the little one's hand, alone. If only he possessed more But he didn't have the courage to face her then and she suffered alone. The music started slowly indicating a ballad. Marcus frowned not recognizing the opening chords to Bryan Adams' Everything I Do I Do It for You even as she sang. You will see, what you mean to me

Search your heart, search your soul

When you find me there, you'll search no more

Don't tell me it's not worth trying for

You can't tell me it's not worth dying for

You know it's true

Everything I do

I do it for you

Yeah, yeah

Look in to your heart, you will find There is nothing there to hide

Take me as I am, take my life

I would give it all, I would sacrifice...

The crowd was enraptured as her voice enveloped them but Marcus was certain none of them knew the true meaning behind her song. They had no idea where her motivation and thoughts were as she sang her heart out. Every word was for her babies waiting at home, relying on her.

The last notes hung in the air as she stepped back and the MC appeared on stage. No one was really paying attention to him though. They were on their feet clapping for a performance truly worthy of a standing ovation. Marcus was there with them. He felt her pain in every word and he wanted nothing more than to ease it somehow.

But it wasn't his place.

The crowd slowly took their seats as the MC gestured for them to sit. Once they had quieted he announced, "And now is the time of the night when someone lucky can spend time with this lovely diva. Shall we open the bidding at fifteen?" "Fifteen!"

"Twenty!"

"Twenty-five!" "Thirty!"

"Forty!"

The club fell silent as a bidder in the middle of the floor suddenly stood. The jovial mood suddenly fell flat and the MC gave the masked diva a worried look as she frowned. There was no mistaking him, the same regular from a week ago. Spending even a minute in his presence was unbearable. "I have a bid for forty thousand," the MC said. "Do I hear forty-five?"

There was a heavy pause. Even if they didn't know the bidder's identity most were aware he had money to spend. He and his friends were also the most obnoxious of patrons often stirring up arguments whenever they could insert themselves. Most didn't want to challenge them if only to avoid conflict later.

"Fifty!" a new voice rung out over the silence.

Several turned toward the voice looking for the challenger. They found him seated alone in a semi-private booth. Mask or not most regulars could recognize a fellow regular but this one left them dumbfounded. Who was he? "Fifty-five!" the first bidder snapped glaring at his challenger.

The faintest of smiles appeared on the other bidder's face as he met the glare before he said, "Seventy!"

A gasp swept through the crowd and a server nearly dropped their tray at the bold number. Was this an actual bidding war? Did these two men know each other? Was this some sort of rivalry? "S-seventy-five," Connor stuttered.

Marcus couldn't help but chuckle at his rival's attempt to defeat him. If there was one thing he was well aware of it was that Connor's family status did not count for much among the city's elite. They could never hope to reach the higher tiers where the DaLairs, Prescotts, Stantons and Worthingtons stood. They simply didn't have the means or the ability to climb higher.

It was a constant source of irritation to Connor who struggled to keep up with everyone else, or at least uphold the appearance that he could. This led to a lot of overspending and stretching his allowance to its breaking point. Marcus, Leonard and the others often found themselves covering him just to avoid a hassle. But not anymore.

"One hundred!" Marcus said earning another gasp from the audience.

On stage even the MC and Madame Butterfly's mouth dropped. The MC's gaze darted to Regina wondering if she still didn't recognize the bidder but her shock seemed genuine. Did she really not know?

Marcus watched Connor clench and unclench his hands. It was difficult to keep a straight face waiting for his rival to reach the only natural conclusion. Slowly Connor sank into his seat.

"....W-we have a bid for one hundred thousand dollars. Do I hear one hundred and five?" the MC asked. "One hundred and five? Then one hundred going once...one hundred going twice...One hundred thousand dollars, the winner!"

One could have heard a pin drop after the declaration was made. It wasn't just the largest amount ever offered but ended the most intense bidding war they had ever seen. Several patrons glanced nervously from Marcus to Connor wondering if this was the end or if a new fight would begin.

For now Connor seemed to be biding his time but Marcus was not fooled. His pride was hurt and for that there would have to be retribution. But for now it seemed he was going to behave. That suited Marcus just fine. He didn't want anything to interfere with this meeting. He would say what he had come here to say and if she cursed him...that would be fine.