**The highest Bidder**

It turned out the call Lucas answered in the car was from Ethan.

The moment they stepped into the glittering lobby of the event hall, with polished floors reflecting gold light and the sound of soft music humming from a string quartet near the grand staircase, Ethan spotted them. He was standing not far from the center of the crowd, dressed in a steel grey tuxedo with a black silk lapel, chatting loosely with a group of people. He noticed them almost instantly, excused ...