He had to admit, it was a good party. The music, being played by a DJ on a stage along one edge of the room, was lively and fun. The plentiful food came from one of the best caterers in the city. Set up in different stations around the room, the guests could easily grab a plate and chat with others at the party. There were two large bars, with genial bartenders, liberal pours, and more than enough champagne.

It wasn’t just the champagne; there was a buzz in the room that you only got when people were genuinely pleased to be somewhere. Hakim had spent the entire time talking to as many BingeWatch employees as he could, and he was surprised. They all had nothing but good things to say about their boss.

Of course, Lauren Sanders would know how to run a company—she’d probably been taught how to do profit and loss statements before she’d started on solid food. Patricia Sanders would stand for nothing less than a daughter who could manage a staff of dozens.

Hakim wasn’t interested in Lauren’s company, though. He wanted to know what Lauren was like, because tonight he intended to get one over on her mother, once and for all.

Patricia Sanders was his arch nemesis, always bidding on the same clients and subverting his influence in the advertising industry. Although his business outside the U.S. was second to none, the Khalif Group couldn’t seem to break past Sanders & Company stateside.

Hakim was tired of it. He knew that his reputation as a partying playboy hadn’t helped, but he’d been trying to make up for that. His move to the States, even buying a house in Anaheim, had been a signal that he was serious about expanding his business in the U.S. He was attending all the right events and parties, meeting the right people, staying out of trouble.

He’d always been brilliant at the business side of things, so even when he was partying with models and rock stars, he’d been building a successful company. The fact that he started with money to burn had helped, but it was his talent for getting and managing clients that kept them coming back.

The last few years, he’d built another reputation—one for being cold and unfeeling. He still dated models and actresses, but those relationships never lasted, because the past three years he’d focused on building his company and nothing else.

He’d missed so much back home, but it had been worth it to make the Khalif Group successful. He knew his family was proud of him. And Hakim was actually enjoying the new serious side of himself that he presented to the world. Five years ago, he was courted at parties, but ignored in board rooms. For a while, that had been fun, but it got old. He had chipped away at much of that old reputation, and replaced it with someone who was taken seriously in the industry.

Most of the time, anyway. There were still people, like Patricia Sanders, who held no respect for him or his company. They couldn’t see past his former lifestyle. And so, he worked harder at building a reputation as someone who only cared about his business.

There were still stories in the tabloids, but now they told of a billionaire with a heart of ice. The chronicles of his dating life were more like polished advertisements: if you were this brilliant and this ruthless, you too could have beautiful women, hot cars, and a mansion in southern California.

Hakim was tired of that, too. The publicity was nice, but he wanted something more. An actual connection with someone, maybe. Or at least someone who understood what his life was like.

But finding a connection wasn’t why he was at the BingeWatch party. Not that kind of connection, anyway. One of his clients had mentioned the charity auction Ms. Sanders planned to host, and had laughed about the top prize being offered.

Hakim knew winning that prize was his opportunity. Having Lauren Sanders do his bidding for a whole week would not only embarrass her famously proud mother, it would give him an invaluable opportunity to learn more about his greatest business opponent.

He already had a plan for Lauren. He was certain she’d never cleaned a bathroom in her life, or cooked a meal. A day of that and she’d ask her mother to bail her out. And Hakim intended to use that as a negotiating opportunity.

After he’d learned of the auction, Hakim had gone through his contacts until he found someone who owed him a favor, someone who just happened to work at BingeWatch Media. After a little gentle twisting of his contact’s arm, he’d gotten an invitation to the party.

Hakim was pretty certain that Lauren Sanders didn’t know who he was. To be honest, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to pick her out of a room, either. She would be an ice queen, like her mother—of that he was sure. She kept to herself outside of work and her social media profiles were locked down tightly, only her work accounts being public, and those were carefully curated.

Still, he could imagine the type. Cool blond hair always twisted up tightly, dressed in expensive suits that never wrinkled—even at her own party, she wouldn’t be able to cut loose.

He knew that he would win the auction; he planned to bid whatever it took to do so. And until then, he intended to enjoy the party.

After listening to a truly bad joke from one of BingeWatch’s account managers, Hakim dragged him to the bar. The guy was obviously nice, even if he couldn’t tell a joke to save his life, and they both deserved a drink for surviving his comedy attempt.

Hakim’s eye was caught by a lovely woman across the room. She was by herself, but Hakim couldn’t imagine she wasn’t here with someone. Even from the distance, he saw that her hazel eyes sparkled with life and her purple dress hugged her hips in just the right way. She was watching him, a look of curiosity on her face. He was used to women staring at him, but something about this woman piqued his curiosity.

He smiled, and the woman blushed, and Hakim couldn’t resist winking at her too. She ducked her head, and then her attention was pulled away by her phone. Hakim smiled to himself. Maybe after the auction was over, he’d seek her out and ask for her number.

A few people were talking about the auction, and Hakim asked if they were looking forward to the big prize. One of the women laughed, and said that she wasn’t sure if she was rooting for the accounting team or if she hoped that the interns banded together so that the CEO would have to get coffee and deliver mail for everyone.

They were so nice about it, Hakim actually started to feel bad. It was obvious that BingeWatch’s employees were looking forward to having the CEO be one of them for a week, in the best way possible. They talked as if they knew Lauren Sanders would have fun toiling away for whoever “bought” her.

He got another drink, then continued to move around the room, chatting with people. He found himself talking some business, but also asking genuine questions to learn more about the television production field. Of course, there was some overlap with advertising, but he always liked learning more about an adjacent industry.

He’d almost forgotten about his quest when BingeWatch’s vice president announced the auction. The DJ switched from playing music to calling the auction, and Hakim waited patiently as the first few lots were auctioned off. They went through a number of items—a weekend getaway outside the city, season tickets for the local professional football team, a luxury spa package—but the closer they got to the end of the auction, the more Hakim could feel the anticipation build.

When the DJ introduced the final prize of the night, several people in the room whooped loudly and everyone applauded with enthusiasm. The DJ held out a hand to someone just off the stage, and it was all Hakim could do to keep his jaw from dropping when the woman in purple took the DJ’s hand and walked out.

She waved to the crowd, and then wagged a playful finger at a group in front of the stage.

“You can make me file your expense reports, but you may not like the results,” she said, teasing the group. “Trust me, I’m much better at making coffee.”

They laughed and one young woman called, “We’ll take our chances, boss!”

Hakim couldn’t believe it. This was Lauren Sanders?

He took a closer look at her. From across the room, he’d felt a stir of attraction for her, but now that he had a chance to really see her, he was stunned. This woman wasn’t an ice queen at all. Her dazzling smile lit up the room and she looked at ease on the stage as she teased her employees and laughed along with them. She didn’t look hard enough to be a CEO. Right then, all soft curves and pretty hair, she looked like someone who knew how to have fun.

He was impressed by her attitude. It couldn’t be easy for her to willingly give up control of her life for a week, but up on that stage, she looked like she thought it was the best idea in the world.

Hakim definitely wasn’t going to mind having her at his command for a week. Maybe it would even be fun.

An opening bid was called out, a laughably small sum from the interns in the corner, and Lauren pointed at them.

“I think that’s a fantastic price. Sold, to the awesome interns of BingeWatch!” she called.

The DJ laughed and shook his head. “Nice try, Lauren. Do I hear another offer?”

More numbers were called out, along with more jokes and teasing from both the stage and the floor. The bidding whittled down to three different competitors, but they were all raising in such tiny amounts. At this rate, Hakim thought, they’d be there all night.

He raised his hand and called out over the din in the room. “A hundred thousand dollars.”

The whole room turned to look at him. He looked calmly back and smiled genially.

From the stage, the DJ said, “Now that’s what I’m talking about. This is for charity, folks, so open your wallets and dig deep.”

Hakim watched as Lauren struggled not to say something. She’d kept the expression on her face tranquil, but he could tell he’d shocked her. A frisson of electricity ran through him, and Hakim couldn’t tell if it was anticipation at winning or disappointment in himself for what he was doing.

“Any other bids?” the DJ called from the stage. “Going once, going twice… Sold! To the gentleman who obviously has money to burn. Congratulations, sir.”

Hakim watched as Lauren shook the DJ’s hand. He wondered if anyone else could see that her hands were trembling just slightly as she reached out.

One of the guys he’d been talking with clapped him on the back.

“I’m impressed, man. That was one hell of a bid.”

Hakim shrugged. “It’s for charity, right? All for a good cause.”

The man nodded. “Well, you certainly will be the talk of the office. Just be kind to the boss—she’s a good woman.”

Hakim gave him what he hoped was a reassuring smile. When he’d walked into the party, he hadn’t cared what anyone there thought of him. After spending some time talking with BingeWatch’s staff, he found he didn’t want them to think poorly of him.

So much for the cold, uncaring attitude.

“I promise,” Hakim said, shaking the man’s hand, “I won’t be too hard on her.”

The guy moved away and Hakim went to make his payment and sign the contract. As he moved throughout the crowd, he noticed a few people staring at him. More than one person came up to him and echoed the feeling that they hoped he wouldn’t be too hard on their CEO. It wasn’t that Lauren couldn’t take it, one fierce woman explained, but they’d hate to have to come after him if he mistreated her. The implication was clear, and Hakim promised her that Lauren would be fine.

After all, he thought to himself, it wasn’t really Lauren he was after.