Chapter 51

I was an awkward piece at Derrick's side, meant to be his queen, a woman who didn't know her place and felt unworthy of it, a woman who had no idea what she was supposed to do. Derrick was a man of the people, an expert at interaction. My strength had always been concealing from people; leading them had never been one of them.

I turned to face the room properly, but he was deep in conversation. The auction's offerings, which included jewelry, art, vehicles, and vacation houses, were all tastefully exhibited and served as incentives for the wealthy to part with possessions they already possessed in excess....