The Billionaire Prince and His Secretary

Chapter 4

John POV

“Well, we won’t keep you any longer. We came here as we wanted to discuss something,” Dad said.

As I ushered my parents into the living room, I felt a mix of emotions–relief that the awkward moment with the bra was over and curiosity about why they were in New York. I had no idea they were in the US, and if I had known, I would have planned differently. Ember, ever the diligent assistant, went to the kitchen to get drinks for everyone.

“Dad, Mom, what brings you here?” I asked as I settled into an armchair across from them.

“We’re here for a charity event,” Dad explained. “There’s an auction tomorrow morning, and they asked if you could sponsor a valuable item. A friend of ours, the organizer, had a sponsor back out at the last minute.”

I nodded, considering the request. “I can pledge an amount instead. Would that suffice? Five hundred thousand dollars.”

Mom’s eyes lit up. “That’s wonderful, John. But they were hoping for a valuable item as well. Something that would attract high bids.”

“Like the old painting your grandfather bought many years ago,” Dad suggested. “The one in your office here in New York. It will surely fetch a good sum. I forget who the painter is, but I know he is famous.”

I shook my head. “No, that painting stays. It was one of Grandpa’s favorites, and it has sentimental value.”

Dad sighed. “Is there anything else you can offer? We don’t want to take anything from Solandia. Valuable items from home should stay in Solandia.”

Mom suddenly gasped, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I have an idea!” She turned to Ember, who had just returned with drinks. “Ember, dear, how would you feel about auctioning a dinner date with you?”

I protested immediately. “Mom, that’s–”

She cut me off, her gaze piercing. “John, you’re not in a relationship with Ember, correct?”

I hesitated, my mind racing. “No, but she’s my secretary, and we’re heading back to Solandia tomorrow.”

Ember frowned slightly. “I thought we were going to watch a musical play tomorrow evening,” she murmured as she sat beside my chair.

Mom smiled when she caught what Ember said. “Then the auction can be for a lunch date. We can organize everything and put restrictions on the bidding.”

I looked at Ember, feeling a knot in my stomach. “It’s your choice, Ember. It’s the weekend, so it’s your time. And it’s for charity.”

I silently prayed she would say no, but deep down, I knew she wouldn’t. She adored my parents, especially my mom, who had supported her through her foundation’s scholarship.

After a few moments of silence, Ember nodded. “I’m not sure if a lunch date with me will fetch a good amount of money, but I’ll do it. For charity.”

Mom beamed. “Wonderful! I’m sure you will be a hit! We’ll have someone pick you up in the morning to fix your hair and makeup.”

The conversation quickly shifted to the logistics of the event, with Mom and Ember discussing the details at a rapid pace. Dad patted my back, offering a sympathetic smile. We watched as the two women finalized the morning itinerary.

Finally, it was time for everyone to leave. My parents offered to drop off Ember at her apartment. I would have wanted to talk to Ember, but she had to get that needed rest. I walked them to the door and just as they were about to go, Mom turned to Ember.

“Don’t forget the bra, dear,” she reminded her.

Ember’s face flushed as she hurried to the kitchen to retrieve it. I stood there, unable to suppress a small chuckle at the absurdity of it all. After they left, the apartment felt eerily quiet. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. The tension from the evening slowly began to dissipate, leaving me with my thoughts. I walked over to the sofa and sank into it, replaying the night’s events in my mind.

I was actually thankful that Ember came by. Aside from warning me about my parents’ impending visit, she had been a much-needed disruption to the awkwardness with Claire. I forgot why I stopped dating her in the first place; she was too boring and too pushy for my taste.

Claire had always been a mismatch. Conversations with her were mind-numbing, filled with shallow topics and forced laughter. It felt like she was more interested in my status than in me. I remembered how she had insisted on coming up to my apartment, her persistence grating on my nerves. It made me glad that I didn't get to stay that long in New York anymore as she also lived in the same building.

In stark contrast, talking to Ember was always a delight. Every word that came out of her mouth was interesting, filled with genuine curiosity and warmth. Her presence was comforting, her laughter contagious.

I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face as I thought about her. Her beautiful face, her gorgeous smile, and her angelic voice were all I could think about. She was perfect, and I was finding it increasingly difficult to keep my feelings in check. It was all lust, I thought, and I wouldn’t want to scar her for life. I tried to remind myself of the professional boundaries, but I knew I was dangerously close to crossing the line.

As I lay in bed, sleep eluding me, the thought of someone else winning that auction for a date with her filled me with an unexpected surge of jealousy. I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew I should stop it. Sighing, I closed my eyes and tried hard to sleep.

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The next day, I arrived early at the charity auction, hoping to catch Ember before things got too busy. However, as soon as I stepped into the ballroom of the hotel where the event was happening, Dad intercepted me. He seemed determined to introduce me to every dignitary and businessman who attended the event. Despite my eagerness to see Ember, I managed to make a few strong business connections, which was a silver lining.

Finally, Mom ushered me to our seats just as the auction was about to begin. The lineup was impressive, featuring paintings, sculptures, jewelry, limited edition books, and signed memorabilia from famous celebrities. Yet, nothing truly caught my interest. My mind was preoccupied with Ember being part of the auction, and it was killing me to think of her as an item up for bidding.

When the time came for Ember to be introduced, my heart raced. She walked onto the stage, her red hair cascading down her shoulders instead of its usual ponytail or bun. She wore an elegant peach jumpsuit with a low neckline that accentuated her lovely curves. She looked absolutely stunning.

The auctioneer introduced her, emphasizing all her good qualities and interests. I thought I knew everything about my secretary, but I found out through the introduction that she loved reading and dancing. She was also fond of going to the beach. There was more to Ember than what I usually saw in the office.

The bidding then started at five thousand dollars. I seethed in anger–how could they value a date with Ember so low? Without hesitation, I stood and offered one hundred thousand dollars. The crowd gasped, including Mom, who looked shocked, while Dad chuckled, like he knew something.

Ember’s eye widened in surprise, but before I could relish the moment, a voice from the crowd shouted a bid of one hundred fifty thousand dollars. I scanned the room and spotted the audacious bidder–a man wearing dark glasses, possibly in his late thirties or early forties.

Determined not to lose, I raised my bid to two hundred thousand dollars. Another man immediately countered with a bid of three hundred thousand. My frustration grew as I realized this was turning into a bidding war.

“Half a million,” the man in dark glasses shouted.

That was it. I couldn’t play the game anymore. I stood tall and declared, “Two million dollars.” It was the highest bid among all items auctioned that day.

The room fell silent, filled with gasps and whispers. I gritted my teeth, praying the other bidder would back down. He looked panicked, checking his phone and adjusting his wireless earphone. It seemed he might be bidding for someone else.

The auctioneer’s voice echoed through the room, “Going once, going twice…”

I held my breath, every second feeling like an eternity.

“Sold!” the auctioneer shouted, bringing down the gavel.

Relief and triumph washed over me. It was one of my sweetest victories. The crowd erupted in applause, and Ember’s eyes met mine. She looked astonished but grateful.

As we approached the stage to claim my prize, Dad patted my back. “You certainly know how to make an impression, son.”

“From whom else did I get the attitude, Dad?” I laughed, then Dad joined.

Mom hugged me tightly to her side. “I always knew there was something special between you two.”

“Mom!” I groaned as I shook my head. “I told you–”

“Go now. Don’t make her wait,” she said, cutting my explanation.

I sighed then smiled as I turned to Ember, feeling a mix of exhilaration and relief. Ember stepped down from the stage and walked towards me. Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of surprise and admiration.

“John,” she began. “I didn’t expect this. You are really something else.”

I took her hand, feeling a surge of warmth. “Neither did I. But I couldn’t let anyone else win,” I whispered in her ear. I couldn’t let Mom hear me or else I would never hear the end of her talk about how she knew all along about me and Ember.