I Accidentally Got Auctioned for a Date… My Best Friend Bid $5,000 to Win Me
Chapter 5
The next morning, Mia received an email from Lucas.
Attached was a document.
It contained financial information about Carter Holdings.
At first, she assumed it was an attempt to manipulate her.
Then she saw something strange.
A transfer.
Five million dollars.
To a charity connected to the auction.
The same auction where Noah had bid five thousand dollars.
Mia stared at the screen.
The numbers didn’t make sense.
She called the charity.
The director confirmed that Carter Holdings had donated five million dollars to the hospital earlier that year.
The auction had nothing to do with it.
Noah hadn’t bought her.
He had simply donated five thousand dollars during a charity event.
But then why had Lucas sent the document?
Because he wanted her suspicious.
And it worked.
Mia spent the entire afternoon digging.
She found something else.
Lucas’s company was deeply in debt.
Carter Holdings was preparing to acquire it.
If the acquisition happened, Lucas would lose control of his family’s company.
Suddenly everything became clear.
Lucas wasn’t trying to win Mia back.
He was trying to use her.
He wanted her to convince Noah to stop the acquisition.
That night, Mia called Noah.
“Can we talk?”
“Anytime.”
They met at the same restaurant.
Mia placed the documents on the table.
“Lucas sent me these.”
Noah looked at them.
“I know.”
“You knew?”
“I knew he was desperate.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I wanted you to decide for yourself.”
She looked at him.
“I thought you were hiding things from me.”
“I was.”
She frowned.
“But not because I didn’t trust you.”
“Then why?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Losing you.”
Mia was silent.
Noah continued.
“I’ve spent years being your best friend. I knew if I told you how I felt, I might lose the one person I couldn’t replace.”
Mia’s eyes filled with tears.
“I was angry.”
“I know.”
“But I was mostly scared.”
“So was I.”
She reached across the table.
Noah took her hand.
“I don’t want to lose you either.”
His voice was quiet.
Mia looked at him.
“Then don’t.”
He smiled.
For the first time, she leaned toward him.
Their first kiss was nothing like the romantic scenes Mia had imagined.
It was quiet.
Careful.
Almost nervous.
When they pulled apart, they both laughed.
“That was weird,” Mia whispered.
“Very.”
“Do it again.”
Noah smiled.
This time, neither of them hesitated.
But across town, Lucas was preparing something that would change everything.
