Chapter 1
"I've put your name into the box, David…" remarked Tom quickly as he hurried past him, perfectly knowing he won't be too happy about that.
"Wait, wait, wait… you did what?!" he grabbed his arm at the last moment before he could slip into the kitchen.
"Oh come on, Dave… it's for charity."
"You know, it's not too fair coming up with that."
"But that's the truth… we need you!" he added with conviction, and David let out a sigh. "You are the jackpot, and please don't pretend as if you didn't know."
"…"
"Women are crazy about you."
"Yeah, I realized it. I barely can get rid of them during work."
"I cannot say how sorry I am…" he pulled a face.
"You don't know how pushy can be the most of them, especially Chanel."
"My heart breaks for you, really."
"You don't take me serious, Tom…"
"I'm really trying to feel your problem, but all I can say is, wish I could be in your shoes… at least once."
"Ok, I get it…" he felt remorse.
"And the worst is, while you have hundreds of opportunities, you do nothing, because you're stuck with the most impossible one."
"…" David had a questioning look on his face,
"Don't waste your time on her, Dave…" he added, lowering his voice.
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh, come on. You know that too…" he glanced in Julia's direction, who was working at her desk.
"…"
"Many have tried, many have failed…"
"…"
"… Hey, are you listening to me?" he tried to get David's attention, who was still admiring her.
"Don't worry, I don't have much chance with her anyway…"
"Yeah, of course. That's exactly how you're looking at her…" he remarked with disbelief, "Don't forget that her ex-husband still couldn't get over their divorce, not to mention those blokes I witnessed trying really hard during the years with not much success… and if that wasn't enough, there's that clown always on her trail, who doesn't let anyone near her."
"At least, I'm already near her…" he added with his boyish smile,
"Listen to me, Dave. I'm serious… you will end up with no job and a broken heart."
"… That's your campaign speech?" he suddenly changed the topic, and Tom knew it's better to leave it on him,
"So that means, are you in?"
"I know I'll regret it, but…" he sighed, "Right, if you want it…"
"Thanks, you're the best!" he smiled relieved, "We're going to win big with you!"
"After all this, I really hope so…" he remarked as Tom wanted to leave, "Hey, and what will my promise be?"
"Just let it be a surprise, okay?" he smirked and hastened away, while David knew this can't be good, but he just took a deep breath, then tried to focus on 'work', so he entered Julia's office,
"Excuse me, ma'am…"
"… Is that the time already?" she looked up from the papers on her desk,
"Yes, ma'am, I'm afraid so. You should leave soon if you want to get home in time, at least for once."
"Yeah, I think you're right… and thanks for reminding me," she added sweetly, and his heart skipped a beat, while she just stood up and slowly started packing her things, "… By the way, is everything okay?"
"How you mean that?"
"The thing with Tom, just right now…"
"Oh, of course. He just wants me to take part of the auction this week, that's all."
"Oh yeah, the auction of promises…" she smiled, "That sounds so much fun."
"Well…"
"Or not?" she turned back to him,
"I'm not so sure of that, ma'am…"
"But why? I mean what is it all about exactly?"
"Well, in every year our police station is raising money for charity and folks can bid on certain promises like a meal for two at a local restaurant, pampering vouchers, babysitting services or a car wash… that kind of things. Every participant writes down to a piece of paper the description of the promise, including how much it's worth of course and is there any exclusions or not."
"I see."
"And serving alcohol will add to the profits, especially given that there's a direct ratio of alcohol consumed to money raised."
"Well, I'm pretty sure of that." she chuckled, "And you're one of the participants who will make a promise, right?"
"I'm afraid so."
"By the way, what will you offer to the bidders?"
"I don't really know that, Tom said it would be a surprise."
"I see… so are you worried?" she chuckled.
"Knowing Tom, yeah I'm pretty worried actually."
"I'm not surprised, quite a fight is expected among the girls, mostly between Chanel and Louise."
"Is that so obvious?" he asked surprised,
"Well, there's no such thing as someone not seeing this. Both of them are quite determined, that's the least I can say."
"But I've never encouraged those two… I don't want anything from them!" he added quickly, feeling important to let her know.
"That's good to hear…" it just slipped out before she could think, and their eyes locked for a long moment, "I mean… I'll keep my fingers crossed for you from the first row, if that'll help."
"Are you going too, ma'am?"
"Yeah, I have to. It's some of those obligatory occasions where I have to be there."
"Then we'll both know what suffering is."
"Don't be so hard on it, it can also turn out pretty well…" she smiled on a mysterious way as they left her office and headed home…
OOOOOOOOOO
"Ladies and Gentlemen, let me welcome all of you on this special event tonight, especially the lovely Home Secretary, who also honored us with her presence." started the auctioneer cheerfully, while in the first row Julia flashed a smile with a glass of champagne in her hand, and David by her side. "We already got a lot of promises, but if you still want to participate, just pop your promise on a piece of paper and stick it in the box… and don't forget, all the money we'll collect tonight goes for charity, so please dig deep in those pockets." he winked, then continued, "I hope the young ladies on the front have the same generosity as their enthusiasm," he remarked, addressing it to Louise and Chanel, who frequently glanced in David's direction, what Julia spotted immediately of course, and she had a feeling it will be quite a night. "And now, let's start the fun! As I see our first one is from Tom, right? Who says… he will do a one day chauffeur service."
"On weekends." added Tom quickly,
"Yeah, of course. So shall we start the bidding at ten pounds?"
"…"
"Anyone?" he looked around,
"…"
"Ten pounds from the lady in the back row, thank you!"
"Why don't you drink something?" asked Julia lowering her voice as she turned to David.
"I just want to get over it as soon as I can, ma'am."
"Oh, don't worry about that. As I can see, it'll be quick." she remarked with a smirk, "The girls are in stand by with opened wallets."
"Very funny, ma'am."
"Sorry…" she whispered with a chuckle, and sipped a bit from her drink.
"And we're off!" cried the auctioneer, "And the next one is… well, it's a special offer. Yeah, I think we can call that a special offer…" he glanced in David's direction.
"Oh, gosh…" moaned David, while Julia just chuckled and offered her champagne to him, but he refused it with a weary shake of his head.
"The next contender is a handsome young man, who got all the ladies attention here… that's right ladies, I hope you already know who it is and you will open those wallets to support our charity foundation!" he said when excited muttering was heard from all over the room. "Yes, you're right, our next promise belongs to Sergeant David Budd… come on David, come up to the stage!" he smirked and started an applause to brave him.
"Come on, David… it's showtime!" smiled Julia widely,
"Thanks ma'am, really…" he answered weakly and went up to the stage.
"Here you are, and wow the rumors didn't exaggerate… you are really a born Prince Charming." the girls started to getting more excited. "Okay, and now let's see your promise… Oh my God, this is quite a promise." he smirked, while David tried to catch what was written on the paper, "Fasten your seatbelt ladies, because the young man next to me offers none other… than a romantic date with dinner and movie!"
"I didn't put that in… it must be a mistake."
"Nice trying, Mr. Budd, but your promise is already… on sale!" he cried and the audience's answer was an excited cheering. "So let's start the bid from… fifty pounds?"
"Fifty pounds!" cried Louise, she was the fastest.
"Seventy!" countered her Chanel, while David's face was rather desperate, couldn't decide what he hoped to accomplish.
"Eighty!" continued Louise, but the other one didn't let herself to lose.
"A hundred and ten!…"
"Very good ladies," smiled the auctioneer, "Any one for…"
"A hundred and twenty!"
"A hundred and fifty!…" cried a new voice from the edge of the row and to everybody's surprise it belonged to… Ms. Craddock.
"Life in the old dog, yet?" thought Julia with a smirk on her face, as she drank from her champagne.
"A hundred and sixty!"
"A hundred and seventy!" Ms. Craddock cried again and David's face impression had a wide range of emotions.
"A hundred and…"
"Two hundred!" cried Chanel, who nearly fell off her chair from the quick movement.
"Wow, two hundred! That's what I call an offer…" commented the auctioneer, "So any advance on two hundred and ten?"
"…"
"Nobody?" he looked around, while Chanel was in a tense, Louise was simply sad, because her limit was two hundred, and Ms. Craddock seemed to hesitate, "Then two hundred for the first time…" he said, while David seemed more and more desperate,
"…"
"Two hundred for the second time…"
"…"
"And two hundred for the…"
"Two thousand!" cried Julia in the last moment, and an immediate silence filled the room, everybody was shocked.
"Holly Shit! This is a real charity offer!" cried the auctioneer excitedly, "So ladies, the question is… who has more money in her pocket, but mostly… who is brave enough to bid on the boss, hm?"
"…"
"No-one?" he smirked, "Then two thousand for the first time… two thousand for the second time…and it's… sold!" he cried, "Sold to the lovely Home Secretary!" he cried and a large applause was heard in the room… while Chanel had a killer look in her eyes… Louise was disappointed and hopeless… Ms. Craddock simply knew when she has to step back… and Julia, well… as she looked up at David, he was visibly relieved, but there was something more in his gaze… as if he would be very happy about the certain person who gave the highest bid…
To be continued…