Chapter 273
Charlotte’s eyes went cold, and she dodged out of the way with quick, practiced ease. Still, her long hair accidentally brushed Roger’s shoulder. That scent, sharp and clean, mixed with medicine… Was he a doctor? Only doctors seemed to carry that blend of antiseptic and medicine.
Roger paused, glancing down at his coat where her hair had touched him. Annoyance flickered in his eyes before he looked over at her. The girl stood there, casual and unmoved, her face hidden behind a mask, but she gave off this unmistakable chill that set her apart.
“Sorry.” Roger stepped back, putting some space between them. His voice was polite, but distant, almost cold.
Charlotte lifted her eyes to meet his. He was masked too, but she could see he had striking eyes—and right now, they were full of clear annoyance.
“It’s fine.” Her answer was cool, almost indifferent. She looked away and walked right past him.
From that angle, Roger got a better look at her eyes. For a split second, something about her seemed so familiar. He hesitated, trying to place where he’d seen her before, but by the time he turned for another look, she was already gone.
He tried to remember, but nothing came to mind. With the auction about to start, he let the thought go, pulled out a bottle of sanitizer, sprayed where her hair had touched, and walked off.
Not far away, Charlotte leaned against a dimly lit corner, waiting for Anthony. She caught the whole scene and couldn’t help tilting her head, eyes narrowing in mild annoyance as she muttered under her breath, “Weirdo.”
The hall was buzzing, way too loud. Anthony had arranged for Hans to get them seats up in the second-floor VIP area. It was quiet, private, and had the perfect view of the auction floor.
“Sit,” Anthony said, guiding Charlotte to their seats. Out of nowhere, he produced a warm heat pack and gently placed it against her lower stomach. “The air con is pretty strong up here. Don’t want you getting cold.”
Charlotte looked at him, her mind full of questions. So that’s what he left to get?
“Yeah,” she answered softly, her eyes drifting to the snacks on the table.
Anthony instantly picked up on her look. He opened his thermos, poured out half a cup of hot water to cool then grabbed the biscuits she’d been eyeing and tore the pack open Seeing her right hand was hurt and her left busy with her phone, he just smiled and held a biscuit up to her mouth. “If you want anything, just let me know.”
“What if I want all of it?” Charlotte asked, biting into the biscuit. Her eyes were so clear when she looked up at him.
Anthony’s lips curled into a grin. He leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear. “No problem. I’ll take care of everything for you.”
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So smug. Charlotte arched an eyebrow, took another bite, and chewed contentedly. Just then, Hans came back with the event. schedule and their bidding number, almost blinded by how attentive Anthony was being. Honestly, if someone didn’t know better, they’d think Anthony was doting on his daughter instead of his girlfriend.
Across the room, Olivia was making her entrance. She wore her most expensive dress, carried the latest designer bag and her makeup flawless. The massive diamond necklace around her neck glittered under the lights, making her look rich and classy. Everything about her screamed money.
What she didn’t realize was that the dress was completely the wrong size. On her, it looked like a kid playing dress-up in adult clothes-expensive, but all wrong. People nearby kept sneaking glances and trading quiet laughs at her over-the-top look.