No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 159

“Because they might sell illegal or stolen information or certain stolen items there, doesn’t mean I’ll buy them. It only becomes illegal when you buy the items that are illegal,” I said calmly, watching Lauren’s face as I leaned back in my chair.

I hoped she would understand what I meant. People always jumped to conclusions about the black market auction, assuming anyone who attended was some kind of criminal. But that wasn’t how it worked. It was all about intent. I thought for a second about how to explain it more clearly to her.

“Think of it this way,” I continued, resting my elbows on the desk. “Imagine there are three cars up for sale. Two are stolen, and one is genuine. If you know two of them are stolen and still go ahead and purchase one of those, then when the police come knocking, you’ll have serious problems because you were aware of what you were buying. But…” I paused, making sure she followed, “…if you buy the one that’s genuine and clean, then you’ve done nothing wrong. It’s that simple.”

Her eyes flicked up to me briefly before returning to the file in her hands. I could almost see the thoughts running through her mind–confusion, doubt, curiosity.

“That’s why people misunderstand these black market auctions,” I went on. “The name alone makes it sound illegal. They think everything there is stolen, and anyone who steps foot in the event must be a criminal. But no, that’s not how it works. It’s called a hidden bidding event because the organizers keep it discreet. Mostly to avoid unnecessary attention from people who assume the worst and might call the authorities.”

I leaned back in my chair again, my tone steady. “You just need to know what to get, and who to get it from.”

Lauren was quiet for a few moments, her gaze still fixed on the file. Her fingers brushed over the edges of the documents as if she was trying to process every word. I could tell she was thinking deeply about it. She wasn’t the type to just accept things blindly, she liked to understand why.

Finally, she flipped a page and said, “So… these are the items you’ll have your eyes on that day?”

“Yes,” I replied simply, nodding.

“And none of them are stolen or illegal?” she pressed, her tone skeptical but not accusing.

I smiled faintly, expecting that question. “I knew you were going to ask that. And no, they’re all genuine. You can see for yourself. I’m trying to obtain these items because they’re worth millions of dollars in the real market, and having them will boost my company’s sales significantly.”

She hummed softly, her eyes scanning through the photos of the items. “They’re all rare pieces…”

“Exactly,” I said, leaning forward slightly, my voice firm. “That’s the whole point. I’m not going there for the stolen junk or illegal trinkets. I’m going there for the rare finds, things that are too difficult to get through your average auction.”

Her expression softened as she nodded, finally understanding. “Oh… I understand now.” She closed the file carefully and placed it down on the desk. Then, after a brief silence, she looked up at me and asked, “So why tell me all this?”

“Because you’re my business development manager,” I replied. “And also because you’re going to be following me there.”

Her eyes widened instantly. “Wait…what?”

“You heard me.”

“I get that you’re telling me about the items you want to acquire,” she said slowly, confusion lacing her words, “and as your business development manager, my work usually comes in after you’ve bought the items and brought them to the company. So

..why do I need to follow you to the auction?”

“Because you’re going to be representing Hale Industries that day,” I said flatly, watching the shock spread across her face.

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CHAPTER 0159

+25 BONUS

“What? Why me?” she blurted out, leaning forward in disbelief.

“In a place like that,” I explained, “you never reveal your true identity. It’s better if someone represents you or your company. It’s a safety measure, part of how these events work.”

She blinked, clearly trying to process everything. “Well… in that case, I think you should get someone else,” she said finally. “I know nothing about bidding. I’ve only been to an auction a couple of times, and that was as an audience member, not a participant.”

I chuckled quietly at her reaction. “That’s not going to be a problem. At least you’ve been to an auction before, you know the basic flow, the rules, and how things move. As for the bidding itself, you’ll be wearing an earpiece. I’ll be telling you when to bid and when to stop. I’ll also be sitting right beside you, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

She sighed, rubbing her temples slightly. “And when exactly is this event?”

“Two days from now,” I said, keeping my tone casual.

Both her eyebrows shot up. “Two days? And you’re just telling me today?”

without

I couldn’t help but smirk. There it was again, that tone. She wasn’t calling me sir anymore. She spoke more freely now, the formal barrier that used to exist between us. It might sound rude to others, but to me… it was refreshing. It meant she had gotten comfortable around me.

“Well,” I said with a small shrug, “I would have told you sooner, but my hands were tied up with everything that’s been happening.”

She sighed again, clearly exasperated, and leaned back in her chair. I could tell she was thinking about how to rearrange her schedule or maybe just mentally preparing for what was to come.

After a short pause, I reached into my desk drawer and said, “I got Aria a present by the way.” Hopefully, this should lighten up the mood

Her expression changed immediately, and the irritation on her face softened into curiosity.

“Really?” she asked.

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