Three days had passed in what felt like an instant. The evening of the auction had finally arrived, and Valerie Wright stepped into the opulent ballroom, her stilettos clicking on the polished marble floor. Her confident stride and radiant smile turned heads as she navigated through the crowd of elegantly dressed industry professionals.
As she scanned the room, her gaze landed on a familiar figure – her father. A fleeting surprise crossed her eyes before she reconciled with his presence. It wasn't odd for him to be present, after all, they were in the same line of business.
Her seat was right beside his, so, she made her way to his side, the soft rustle of her silk gown drawing attention.
"Valerie, you're here too?" Mr. Wright asked, his deep voice tinged with amusement, as she took the seat beside him. His eyes, a piercing brown, sparkled with warmth, framed by fine lines etched from years of experience in the cutthroat beauty industry.
