She Entered an Auction… A Millionaire Paid for One Night with Her – And Discovered She Was a Virgin
Maria Santos pressed her forehead against the cold glass of the city bus. Outside, the glittering towers of downtown faded into gray shadows as the rain streaked across the window. Her phone buzzed again, the screen flashing the hospital’s number.
She braced herself and opened the message. Her younger brother, Diego, needed surgery within three weeks—or the doctors could no longer guarantee he would survive. The price was clear: $200,000.
Her hands shook. She had sold everything she owned, worked double shifts at the art gallery, and borrowed money from anyone who would answer her calls. She had barely scraped together $20,000. The rest was a cruel impossibility.
A gentle voice broke through her thoughts. “You look like someone carrying the weight of the world.”
Maria turned to see Patricia Monroe, her coworker, sliding into the seat beside her. Patricia’s eyes were kind and steady, the kind of eyes that made you feel safe even when nothing else in life was. “I heard about Diego… I’m so sorry,” she said softly. Maria nodded, biting her lip to keep the tears at bay. She couldn’t break down now—Diego needed her strong.
Patricia hesitated, then pulled out her phone. “I know this sounds insane, but I heard about something… an event. It could solve your problem in one night.”
Maria frowned. “Patricia, I can’t do anything illegal.”
“It’s not illegal,” Patricia said. “It’s just… unconventional.” She showed Maria a discreet website. “It’s a charity auction. Wealthy people bid for companions to attend social events. Everything is above board—contracts, security, complete discretion.”
Maria stared at the screen. Life-changing sums of money, helping people with impossible problems. But the thought of being bid on like a piece of art made her stomach twist. “I can’t,” she whispered.
Three days later, Maria found herself standing before the Grand View Hotel. Its polished marble floors and glittering chandeliers were a world apart from her tiny apartment. A woman approached, silver-haired and elegant, her posture precise.
“Miss Santos, I’m Catherine Wells. Thank you for coming. Let me explain how this evening works.”
Catherine laid it out with sharp, professional efficiency. Invitation-only auction, wealthy and verified attendees, all legal, all documented. Physical intimacy was never required, discretion guaranteed. Average bids ranged from $50,000 to $300,000.
“You have natural beauty, a genuine presence. The men here can see through artifice immediately,” Catherine said.
Maria signed the contracts with trembling hands. Each signature felt like she was giving away a piece of her soul. But then she thought of Diego, pale in the hospital bed, smiling bravely, telling her not to worry. She would sign a thousand times if it saved him.
The auction hall was more elegant than she had imagined.
Soft lighting, classical music, and impeccably dressed staff made it feel like an art gallery rather than a marketplace. The other women backstage were dazzling—confident, radiant, trained to command a room. Maria wore a simple black dress, her hair loose in natural waves, her makeup minimal. She couldn’t be anyone but herself.
When her name was called, her legs felt like water. She walked onto the stage, lights blinding, and saw only shadowy figures seated at tables. The bidding started at $50,000. Numbers climbed. She felt dizzy.
Then, a voice cut through the air like a knife: “$500,000.”
The room went silent. Even the auctioneer blinked, stunned. “Sold! Bidder number twelve, $500,000.”
Maria’s heart raced. Twice what she needed. Unreal. Impossible.
Backstage, Catherine guided her. “Mr. Blackwood will meet you before finalizing. This is unusual. He’s never attended an event like this, much less bid.”
Sebastian Blackwood turned. Maria’s breath caught. Dark hair, piercing eyes, perfectly tailored suit. He was younger than she expected, mid-thirties maybe, but his presence demanded attention.
“Miss Santos,” he said, low and calm. “Please, sit.”
Maria perched on the edge of the leather sofa, too nervous to relax. Sebastian stayed standing, cool and measured.
“I need a companion for business events over the next month—dinners, galas, one overseas trip,” he explained. “You would stay in my guest suite when needed. Everything documented, professional.”
Maria’s curiosity rose. “Why did you bid so much?”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened. “When you walked onto that stage, I knew you didn’t belong there. I wanted to make sure you never had to go back.”
Maria blinked, tears pricking her eyes. “I need the money for my brother. He has a rare heart condition.”
“I know,” he said. “I had your situation checked after I bid. Your brother’s surgery at Mercy General is already arranged. The money will be in your account tomorrow morning.”
Maria rose abruptly, overwhelmed. “I don’t understand. You don’t even know me.”
“No, I don’t,” he admitted. “But I recognize desperation when I see it. And unlike most, yours is for someone else, not yourself.”
“What do you want from me?” she whispered.
“Honestly? I’m not sure yet,” he said, offering a card. “Go home, check on your brother. Tomorrow, a car will bring you to my office, and we’ll discuss details. You have my word—you’ll be treated with respect.”
Maria left the hotel, her mind spinning. Who was Sebastian Blackwood? Why her? Why did she feel something broken beneath his perfect exterior?
The next morning, a sleek black car took her to the Blackwood Technologies Tower. Glass and steel gleamed in the morning sun—a monument to wealth and power, a world she had never imagined.
In his office, Sebastian outlined the plan: five major events over six weeks—tech conference in San Francisco, two charity galas, private dinner with investors, a week-long retreat in Barcelona. She would accompany him as his romantic partner for appearances.
“Why pretend?” Maria asked. “Surely you could have anyone you wanted.”
Sebastian’s expression darkened. “Everyone wants something from someone like me. Access, money, influence. Genuine relationships are impossible when power is involved.”
“That sounds lonely,” Maria said.
“It’s safe,” he said.
Maria leaned forward. “That’s no way to live. Protecting yourself from pain by refusing to feel anything at all.”
For the first time, Sebastian’s eyes softened. Maria realized he wasn’t just a powerful man—he was someone hiding his own vulnerability, someone who understood, in his own way, the desperate weight of love and loss.