Chapter 17

Hearing how certain Gabriel sounded, Juliette finally let out a quiet breath of relief. Though uneasy, she understood Eloise's character better than anyone. Still, she wasn't about to take chances. She led Eloise out of the mall, moving fast, their figures slipping away in a blur. "Mr. Gibson, is something wrong?" Jeremy scanned the crowd again, but the spot was empty. "Nothing. I thought I saw someone." Eloise was probably still in Bayridge. She wouldn't be here. When the auction began, Jeremy walked in only to find Gabriel seated beside him. The Gibsons of Northvale and the Wests of Bayridge—two powerhouses, perfectly matched, each holding their ground without ever stepping into the other's. Gabriel was reserved, his cold demeanor keeping people at arm's length. Jeremy, on the other hand, was a charming playboy who could talk his way out of anything. This wasn't their first meeting, but Gabriel's cold demeanor hadn't thawed. They exchanged no words as the bidding started. J