Chapter 16

Bonnie

The way Nash kept a firm grip on my waist as we walked around the ballroom made me feel like this wasn’t an act. That through some stroke of luck, Nash Preston was actually interested in me. Attracted to me. And I could finally live my wildest fantasy.

He shook hands with a couple of people, and introduced me to some more celebrities. Our encounter on the balcony had made me strangely confident of myself. I felt less like a bruised puppy who he was being charitable toward, and more like an actual date. Is this what Nash Preston did on all his dates? I wasn’t judging. I was just glad it had happened.

A sudden cheer in the crowd drew my attention from my otherwise distracted thoughts. I realized I was still clinging to his arm, while several people had turned to look at us in unison. Then my eyes went to the man on the small stage at the front of the room. He had clearly mentioned Nash’s name or something, because now people were clapping, looking at us.

“I have to do this; will you be okay by yourself?” Nash said, looking over at me. I was confused, still dazed, but I nodded my head. I was conscious of eyes on us, as Nash left my side and began walking toward the stage, fixing the cufflinks on his wrists.

This man had just made me come. I couldn’t get that thought out of my head as I watched him walking up the steps and shaking hands with the MC. Those fingers had been inside me, I blushed. It was our little secret.

Then the man was saying something again into the mic and I decided to pay attention. The bright stage lights were on Nash now, as he stood beside the MC. He was the most handsome, dashing man in the room, and he had just jerked off to me on the balcony. I couldn’t stop myself from biting down on my lip.

“The Preston family has made the largest donation for our very worthy cause, as they do every year,” the MC was saying. My eyebrows shot up. Nash had made a donation already? He hadn’t mentioned it to me.

People around me were clapping and cheering, and I instinctively clapped as well.

“Luther Preston’s son, Nash, is here to represent the family this year. And he has very kindly donated a sum of three million dollars for this spectacular diamond necklace,” the MC was now holding up a long rectangular blue velvet box.

The crowd erupted in applause again as my eyes widened. Had I heard that right? Nash had donated three million dollars? He was standing humbly to the side, with one hand thrust into his pocket, smiling at the MC.

The man was quick to snap open the velvet box, and the crowd around me gasped and sighed when the diamond necklace was revealed.

“The famous Antoinette, designed by none other than Devos Jewelers in Paris,” the man added, while people continued to applaud. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at.

“It has belonged to Lady Marseille’s family for two generations, and she has very graciously donated it to our cause.” The man was now speaking directly to an old lady in the crowd. Everyone turned to look at her. I could only see the back of her snowy white head as she held up a champagne glass to acknowledge the applause she was receiving.

“The necklace is set in platinum, with 181 carat diamonds in triple strings,” the MC drew our attention to the necklace again. It sparkled wildly under the stage lights, catching my eye as I looked at it dreamily. It was stunning, and my hands robotically continued to clap.

“And now, Mr. Preston would like to say a few words,” the MC said, handing the mic over to Nash, who took it, with that charming smile on his face that I knew was melting several hearts in the room.

I couldn’t stop blushing as I looked at him. I wasn’t sure what I was more excited about just then, the fact that I had seen his cock recently or that he had just bought this beautiful piece of legendary jewelry.

“Thank you, Mr. Rubio, and thank you, everyone. As you all know, my father and I have been deeply dedicated to this cause ever since we lost my mother to breast cancer fifteen years ago. We are indebted to the organization for the progress they make each year in research and donations. I would also like to thank Lady Marseille, who very kindly donated this beautiful diamond necklace to the cause, which I will now gift to a very lucky lady.” Nash was speaking like a natural. He was good on stage, very charming and all eyes were on him. And then his last two words jolted in my ear.

“Bonnie Calhoun, will you please come up on stage?” Nash said before my mind could fully register what he had implied.

The clapping continued, as several people turned to look at me. It was vastly noted that an outsider from their billionaire-circle had accompanied Nash to the gala. It wasn’t surprising, therefore, that all eyes turned to me now. I was stunned into silence, shaken and staring at Nash on the stage.

“C’mon up, Bonnie. Don’t be shy,” Nash said with a slight laugh, and some people in the crowd cheered.

I gulped and started walking toward the stage, my hair flowing behind me now as I made my way. I hadn’t bothered to pin it up in a bun after the balcony. There were goose bumps on my flesh as I climbed the steps, trying very hard not to trip.

“Congratulations, Ms. Calhoun, very lucky indeed,” the MC said into the mic, as Nash walked over to me, beaming from ear to ear.

“Nash, seriously…” I said, keeping my voice low. He walked around me so that he could place the necklace around my throat.

“I had to buy something,” he said, in an equally low voice, and I barely heard him. I felt the coolness of the stones sting my skin when he slipped it around my bare neck.

The crowd was applauding again.

“Turn around, madam, you look stunning,” the MC said and I had no other choice but to face the crowd with a three-million-dollar diamond necklace around my throat. I was blushing deeply, giving Nash a nervous smile as he stood beside me, like a proud parent.

“Thank you, Mr. Preston; thank you, Ms. Calhoun. Now, we should move on to the next item,” the MC said.

Nash stretched out his arm toward the steps, indicating that I should leave the stage. “After you,” he said gallantly, and I walked quickly, desperate to get out of the limelight.

I tried to maintain composure as I weaved through the crowd, because several eyes were still on us. Nash was following me, still stopping to shake hands with people he knew. Eventually, I came to a stop when I found a little clearing in the crowd. I turned to look at him, the heavy diamonds still weighing me down.

“I really can’t accept this, Nash,” I said immediately.

He was smiling at me, his gray eyes sparkling. “It looks lovely on you, Bonnie. Really, keep it, please.” His voice was earnest, more gentle and humble than I had ever heard it before. What was going on? Did he feel guilty for buying my company? Did he want something else from me? I couldn’t wrap my brain around it, which only made me more nervous.

“It doesn’t matter how it looks, Nash. I just can’t accept a thing like this,” I continued, still speaking in a hushed voice. People were turning to look at us, and I didn’t want to make a scene.

“Bonnie,” Nash said and placed a hand on my waist, “stop worrying about things. I know you detest this world, but it’s for a good cause and it’s a gift. I don’t expect anything in return; you can be sure of that.”

I gulped as I stared into his clear gray eyes. How could I accept this necklace from him? How had all this happened? I wanted to take his word for it, that he wanted nothing in return, that he wasn’t just playing a game.

“Forget about it for a bit, and lets just enjoy ourselves for the night,” he said, pulling me closer to him. And he was right, it was so easy to forget about everything else when I was with him.