Bidding on Desire

**The Auction Error**

**Lily's point of view**

My intention was not to raise my hand.

All I was doing was stretching. itching my neck, maybe. But the room fell silent as soon as I raised my fingers.

"Sold!" said the auctioneer. "To the beautiful woman in red!"

The audience applauded. The cameras flashed. I froze and blinked.

What just took place?

Onstage, a tall guy in a crisp black suit emerged. My heart skipped a beat as the spotlight struck his face.

Crane, Julian.

The vicious multimillionaire. The guy who never smiled, violated the law, and established empires.

And now, evidently, my nightly award.

My throat constricted.

I wanted to vanish. Then his gaze met mine, however. Sharp. icy blue. Wondering. As if he had a memory I didn't.

As he left the stage, I felt a chill go up my neck.

Now, Lily, don't back down.

Behind me, a lady muttered, "Lucky girl," leaning forward. That dude is both tasty and deadly.

I tried not to faint and faked a little grin.

Julian approached me directly. As if he controlled the space, others stepped aside to give him space.

Perhaps he did.

He was now coming to a halt just in front of me.

In a calm, deep voice, he continued, "You bid on me."

I parted my lips. Nothing was revealed.

He seemed to be amused. "Are you already speechless?"

"I... I didn't intend to," I said at last.

His forehead raised slightly. "Then it could have been destiny."

He extended his arm before I could protest.

I paused.

I took it after that.

As we went out together, the ballroom became hazy. The marble floor made my heels click. I felt that everyone was watching me.

But his was the only thing I could see.

His jaw's sharp line. The delicate aroma of sandalwood. His breath, near me, pounded steadily.

He ushered me into a silent corridor. The noise is far away. Not at all the rules.

Only us.

I broke the silence by introducing myself as Lily.

He looked at me slowly. "I understand."

"You do?"

He gave a faint grin. "We've met previously. A long time ago."

My chest twitched. "I can't recall."

With his gaze dropping to my lips, he whispered, "That's alright." "I do."

He moved closer before I could ask him what he meant.

He touched me with his hand. Then my wrist. A slow, gentle touch.

My heart was pounding.

I didn't stop him.

His fingers moved up my arm, light as air. Where he touched, my skin buzzed.

"I should take you home," he murmured, voice hoarse now.

I gave a nod.

However, I remained still.

He didn't either.

The gap between us vanished. I was inches from his lips.

His breath was hot, and I could feel it. The tension hung thick.

His gaze met mine.

Then he leaned in slowly, cautiously.

And kissed me.

At first, it was soft. Wondering. Testing.

Then there was a snap.

He brought his hands to my waist and drew me in. Against his lips, I gasped.

The kiss intensified. My blood rushed with fire. I tried to balance myself by holding onto his shirt.

He had a dangerous taste.

I also didn't give a damn.

My back struck the wall. He placed his hand next to my head.

I opened my mouth. He teased, exploring carefully.

He was in charge of everything. concentrated. As if he had been waiting for this day for years.

Perhaps he had.

For some reason, I felt as if he already knew every detail about me.

He reached up and touched the edges of my dress. He didn't continue. My breath caught just a little too near.

I was lightheaded. alive.

However, then-

He withdrew.

Out of breath, I gave him a glance.

He was observing me. Carefully. As if he had something to hide.

"We shouldn't," he remarked in a raspy voice.

"So why did you?" I inquired.

He didn't respond.

Silence spread around us.

With his hands still close to my waist, he backed off a little.

"Next day," he said. "Supper. My place."

I paused.

then gave a nod.

He flashed another grin and turned to go.

In order to collect my breath, I remained against the wall.

What just took place?

Who was he?

Furthermore, why did it seem like we had kissed before?

A server put something into my palm as I returned to the ballroom.

A picture.

I gasped as I peered down.

It was a photo of Julian and myself.

Many years ago.

standing in the rain.

I'm kissing.

I gazed at the snapshot in my palm.

It was ancient. a little worn. However, I immediately recognized myself.

younger. Hardly nineteen. I had wet hair. Under a stormy sky, a boy's lips pushed against his.

The kid was Julian.

The same angular jaw. The same sharp eyes.

However, he had seemed gentler at the time. warmer.

I don't recall ever kissing someone in that way. Not in the rain. Not with flames like that.

However, this picture told a different story.

And Julian... he recalled.

I looked around, searching the throng for him. However, he had vanished.

The only things left were the picture and the odd tug in my chest.

Did I forget? Or had I pushed the memory away?

And why would he have such a picture on him?

I sat in my apartment later that night and looked at the picture once again.

It was like chasing smoke as I attempted to reconstruct the recollection.

Flashes only.

Rain. Laughter. A deep voice. A unexpected kiss that made my entire world spin.

But nothing clear.

I had trembling hands.

As soon as Julian saw me, he knew.

It buzzed on my phone.

Unknown figure.

After hesitating, I took it up.

"Lily," said the deep voice.

I knew it right away.

"Julian?" I took a breath.

A pause occurred.

"You really can't recall, can you?"

My heart was racing. "Remember what?"

One more quiet. Then he said, "You made me a promise. That evening.

I swallowed. "What did I promise?"

He lowered his voice. "That you would allow me to demonstrate that we were never strangers if we ever crossed paths again."

I was at a loss for words.

But I couldn't identify the pain in my chest.

He went on. "Tonight, tomorrow. Seven. Don't be late."

He hung up.

I sat there in the dark with my mind whirling and the snapshot still in my palm.

I couldn't recall that evening.

However, he did.

And whatever occurred between us... wasn't completed.

I noticed something scrawled on the back of the picture as I was placing it on my kitchen table.

A fading ink message.

* "Remember me. - J"*

And a date below it.

the very evening of my mishap.

I lost a piece of my memory that night.