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“Four hundred.”

“Four hundred and ten!”

I sigh, rolling my eyes. Not sure what her budget is, but she isn’t going to stop until she’s out of money. This is a matter of pride for her at this point, especially after the barbed comments about my being poor and all that in the bathroom.

I look at the big banner featuring collages of the veterans the foundation has helped over the years. They risked their lives to safeguard freedom and security we all enjoy, and they deserve the best. Jeremiah would’ve never put Elizabeth’s foundation on the top of the list if it wasn’t one of the best—if notthebest.

The two billion bucks in the trust calls my name like a siren’s song. My gaze flicks to the banner again. It’s for so many good causes—take care of the veterans, make Trevor’s icky money redeem itself, and show Selena that Rhys is mine.

“Do I hear four hundred and twenty?” the emcee says, urging women to up the bid.

Smirking, Selena places a hand at the corner of her lips and mouths,Poor loser.

Piss off,Selena. “A billion,” I call out, ready to end the bidding.Thank you for your service,our brave men and women.And fuck you,Trevor.

Silence falls over the crowd. Liam stares at me, a hand over his mouth.

On the stage, Rhys cocks an eyebrow as though to ask me what I’m doing. I just smile.

The emcee finally recovers. “Excuse me. Did you just say a billion with a B?”

“Yes, a billion with a B.”

She places a hand over her impressive cleavage. Excitement starts to replace her shock.

Selena turns pale, red, then purple, then back to red. “You donothave a billion dollars,” she shouts suddenly. “Rhys would never let you spend that kind of money. You aren’t even married.”

I look at her with all the flagrant, conspicuous pity I can muster. “Oh dear. Is someone still stuck in the Middle Ages? Why would I need Rhys’s permission to spend my own money?”

“Yourmoney? You’re just an assistant!”

“And you’re just a pathetic ex-girlfriend, willing to spend over four hundred thousand to try to rekindle something with a man who’s moved on to someone else. So why is it so unbelievable that I have a billion dollars to spend on my boyfriend?” I flutter my lashes at Rhys and extend my hand. “Hey, Mr. Billion-Dollar Man. Come to Mama.”

Chapter Forty

Rhys

“Yes, ma’am.” Exhilaration still zinging in my veins, I hop off the stage, take Max’s hand and press my lips on the center of her palm. She curls her fingers, a slow smile curving her mouth.

Selena’s chin wobbles, tears gathering in her eyes. “Rhys—”

“Sorry. Gotta listen to my lady.” I squeeze Max’s hand, making her laugh.

There’s something hot as hell about your woman declaring how much she wants you publicly. I love how she’s unabashed about it. To her, nothing matters but me.

The nauseating unease that’s been plaguing me eases. The foreboding that Max couldn’t possibly want to stick around once she saw the full picture of what her life would be like if we stayed together kept stabbing into me, even when I should have been in the moment, enjoying her presence. Even when she was laughing with Finn and Liam earlier, I couldn’t help but question if the positive interactions with my brothers would be enough to overcome the infinite embarrassment to be heaped upon her by my parents.

She thinks there are a billion reasons to choose you.

The thought goes to my head like the finest whiskey in the world. If the emcee hadn’t been in my way, I would’ve run to Max, dragged her away and had my way with her until we were both limp with satisfaction.

Hell. Might still do it. It isn’t like we need to stick around, is it?

I pull her close so she can feel how hard I am for her. Heat blazes in her green eyes. We exit the ballroom and walk toward the lobby.

“You’re amazing,” I say. “The first person to make me feel like a billion bucks.”

“For a good cause.” She quirks an eyebrow.