Bastian's eyebrows raised and the hint of a hopeful smile crossed his lips. “So, it's not true?”
“No,” I nearly shouted. I wanted to scream and cry. “Not even remotely close.”
“That's good to hear.” Bastian's shoulders relaxed slightly and he lost a little of the guarded look in his eyes. “I was afraid I really had lost you forever if that was the case.”
I took another step toward him and this time he didn't shy away. “No, you haven't lost me. I just took a wrong turn for a little bit. You've always had me.”
“Why are you here, Ava?” he asked again, but this time his voice thrummed with hope. I was now close enough to touch him.
I touched his cheek, shaking as I traced the scar from his cheek bone to the tip of his lips. The words came simply and more easily than I ever could have expected. They flowed because they were true.
“I'm here, because I had to tell you I love you.” I smiled, my heart pounding like a drum. “I love you, Bastian.”
His body stiffened and then melted as he reached for me, delicately placing his big hand on the back of my neck, and being careful not to mess up my hair. His blue-gray eyes met mine and sparkled, making me lose my mind with love.
He smiled. It was the smile he reserved for the dawn, and now it was my smile. He pulled me to him and kissed me like he hadn't seen me in months rather than just days. He kissed me like he needed the kiss to survive.
My heart soared on golden wings. Songs would be written about this moment and scholars would look back and say that this kiss was one for the books. It was heaven. Pure and absolute heaven.
He kept his forehead pressed against mine as he pulled away, both of us breathless and shaking.
“I love you too, Ava,” he whispered, barely separating his lips from mine. I beamed at him as his face split into a grin that illuminated my world to brilliance. I couldn't stop giggling. I was drunk on my own happiness and love.
“I can't tell you how glad I am that you're here.” He was grinning like a schoolboy on the first day of Christmas break. His gray eyes flashed with excitement and joy. When I looked into them, I knew I was where I belonged.
He picked me up, his hands wrapping around my waist and spinning me through the air as if we were dancing on clouds. He set me down, laughing at my shrieks of delight before kissing me again.
This time, he wasn't careful of my hair and I didn't care. The pretty hair was for him anyway. His fingers tangled in it as his mouth searched mine. He tasted so damn good I couldn't stop.
“Don't ever do that to me again,” he whispered. “I wanted to come after you so badly, but you had asked me not to... and then he said you were engaged...”
I kissed him, silencing the hurt. “I love you, Bastian. More than anything.”
His eyes searched mine, the moonlight catching his tears of joy. I kissed him, closing my eyes and just focusing on how good he felt. How this was the best moment of my life.
“I'm sorry to interrupt,” Charlotte announced, peeking her head out of the back door and not looking sorry at all. She was grinning and her mascara was smudged. “But it's time for your speech, Bastian.”
“Come with me,” he commanded, grabbing my hand and pulling me back into the house. I giggled and happily followed him, walking on glee rather than the floor. Charlotte high-fived us both as we passed.
Once inside, he guided me quickly to the grand foyer entrance. Bastian waited for a moment at the base of the stairs before snagging two glasses of champagne from a passing server. He handed one to me.
“Now you get to see what all your hard work is going toward.” He grinned and pulled me to the center landing between the stairs in the grand foyer. “Come celebrate with me.”
I stepped up, willing to follow him anywhere. Upon his ascension to the staircase, the background music died. He grinned once at me and then turned to face the crowd and tap his glass.
The room of celebrities and upper crust society quieted, with every eye turning to look at the staircase. I immediately felt awkward standing on what was now the stage, but it was too late to escape. Moving off the landing or going up the stairs would bring even more attention than just standing there and doing my best to look pretty.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming tonight,” Bastian called out. The room hummed for a moment as the last of the onlookers settled and turned to watch. “As you all know, I bought this house a very long time ago, but it has never really been mine.”
Bastian paused, waiting for the crowd.
“You are all here to bid on the exquisite artwork and furniture, as well as the house itself. I am pleased to announced that Fairchild Auctions and Appraisals has valued the estate and it's furnishings at just over one hundred and seventy million American dollars.”
An awed whisper rippled through the crowd and it made me smile. This was certainly the biggest appraisal I had ever done, and most likely would ever do. One-hundred and seventy million dollars was a lot of money. Even for a billionaire.
“With that, I am incredibly excited to inform everyone that every penny of that money will be going to the Foundling Foundation.” Bastian glanced around the room. Most of them didn't know his back story. Most of the people in this room were used to luxury. But Bastian had seen the other side of life. He had seen the children in the system. He had been one of the children in the system.
“They are the people that helped me when I needed it most, and now I'm proud to be able to give something back that will help other lost children like me. In addition to the funds raised by your purchases, I will be donating a matching contribution.”
A small gasp went through the room. There would be some foster-children finding their lives getting better because of this. That much money was unfathomable to most, but not to Bastian. I had a feeling that there would be many such benefit galas like this in my future.
“So, please, tomorrow, dig deep and help me give this non-profit organization the funding it so justly deserves,” Bastian concluded. He held up his glass and toasted the crowd.
I nearly forgot to raise my own glass and toast. I was blown away. Everything, all of the art, the house, the furniture- all of it- was going to charity. To a charity that Bastian believed in. A charity that would help future Bastians. My heart was already full of love for the man and this act made it ready to explode. I didn't know if he could get more wonderful.
Bastian turned and kissed me, claiming me as his own in front of everyone present. I thrilled, not caring that flashes were going off all over the place. He was mine as much as I was his.