Chapter 45. The Evening

Dominic’s POV

The night of the auction arrived with an air of sophistication and purpose. I adjusted the cufflinks on my sleeves, the sharp scent of my cologne mingling with the cold evening air as I exited the car.

The diver stepped forward to open the passenger door, but I waved him off, opting to do it myself. I wasn’t sure why—perhaps it was the anticipation of seeing her.

Victoria......

The name lingered on my mind more often than I cared to admit. She had a way of slipping into my thoughts, her quiet determination and understated elegance leaving an impression that felt almost permanent.

I hadn’t planned on picking her up personally. Normally, Caleb would have arranged a car for any Blackwood representative attending such an event. But something compelled me to handle this myself. The thought of seeing her before anyone else tonight stirred a restlessness in me that I couldn’t quite explain.

I rang the doorbell and stepped back, inhal