I Accidentally Got Auctioned for a Date… My CEO Just Bid $5,000 to Keep Me
Chapter 1
Sophie Bennett had never planned to be auctioned.
Especially not in front of three hundred people.
And definitely not while wearing a borrowed red dress.
But that was exactly where she found herself on Saturday night.
Standing beneath a spotlight.
Holding a microphone.
Trying not to die of embarrassment.
The charity fundraiser had started harmlessly enough.
Sophie worked as an executive assistant at Hartwell Technologies, a rapidly growing company led by the famously private CEO, Alexander Hart.
Her best friend, Rachel, had convinced her to attend the company’s annual charity gala.
“One night,” Rachel had promised.
“Free food.”
“Good music.”
“And no work.”
Sophie had believed her.
That had been her first mistake.
Her second was agreeing to help with the charity committee.
She had arrived early.
Helped organize the auction items.
Checked seating cards.
Fixed a projector.
Answered questions.
Then, twenty minutes before the auction, one of the scheduled contestants canceled.
The charity director panicked.
“We need another person.”
Sophie was carrying a clipboard.
“I can help.”
Rachel stared at her.
“Sophie.”
“What?”
“They’re auctioning dates.”
Sophie laughed.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s for charity.”
“They want people to bid on dinner?”
“Exactly.”
Sophie looked toward the stage.
The auctioneer was smiling.
Several women and men had already volunteered.
The concept was simple.
Guests bid for a dinner or social outing with a volunteer.
The money went to children’s hospitals.
Sophie thought it sounded harmless.
Until the charity director said:
“We’re short one person.”
Sophie pointed to herself.
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
Rachel grabbed her arm.
“Five minutes.”
“No.”
“The children will benefit.”
Sophie sighed.
That argument was unfair.
She finally agreed.
She walked onto the stage.
The crowd applauded.
She wanted to disappear.
The auctioneer smiled.
“Everyone, this is Sophie Bennett.”
“She’s smart, charming, and apparently very good at fixing everything.”
People laughed.
Sophie smiled nervously.
“Thank you.”
“Let’s start at five hundred.”
A hand went up.
She recognized the bidder.
One of the company’s investors.
“Five hundred.”
Another hand.
“Seven hundred.”
Then one thousand.
Sophie started sweating.
She had expected a few hundred dollars.
Not this.
The bids rose.
Two thousand.
Two thousand five hundred.
Three thousand.
Rachel was laughing from the audience.
Sophie glared at her.
Then someone called:
“Four thousand.”
The room reacted.
Sophie couldn’t believe it.
She looked toward the back of the ballroom.
That’s when she saw him.
Alexander Hart.
Her CEO.
He had been standing quietly near the entrance.
Dark suit.
No tie.
Expression unreadable.
He looked directly at her.
Then, suddenly, he raised his bidding card.
“Five thousand.”
The room went silent.
Sophie froze.
The auctioneer looked stunned.
“Five thousand dollars!”
Nobody moved.
The previous bidder lowered his card.
The auctioneer laughed.
“Sold!”
Applause erupted.
Sophie stood frozen.
Alexander walked toward the stage.
Her boss.
The man whose name appeared on every financial magazine in the city.
The man who had never once shown personal interest in her.
He reached the stage.
Their eyes met.
Sophie whispered:
“What did you just do?”
He smiled faintly.
“Won.”
“You bid five thousand dollars.”
“Yes.”
“For me.”
He looked around.
“That’s how auctions work.”
She stared at him.
“You’re my CEO.”
“I know.”
“You can’t do this.”
“Apparently, I just did.”
The crowd laughed.
Sophie wanted the floor to open.
The auctioneer handed Alexander the certificate.
“Congratulations.”
Alexander accepted it.
Then he turned toward Sophie.
“Dinner next Friday?”
She blinked.
“What?”
“Our date.”
“You mean charity dinner.”
He smiled.
“Of course.”
But something in his eyes told her this wasn’t only about charity.
And Sophie had no idea that one impulsive five-thousand-dollar bid would become the most talked-about moment in the company by Monday morning.
