The Other Woman: The Bidden Series, #8

By Crystal Cierlak

Who was Audra Robertson before she was making out with Natalie Harlow on her private plane? An ambitious, over-achieving workaholic with a failing long-distance relationship. But all that changed when Natalie showed up at the Bolden Palm, a members-only Gentleman's club and Audra's own creation, and was bid on by Audra's business partner and closest friend, James Fitzgerald.

There's another side to every story. Meet Audra starting the night of the events in Candidate Four (Book One of the Bidden Series) up until the start of Beyond Ruin (Book Four of the Bidden Series). Go deeper into her relationships with James and her sister Natalie as they traverse the murky waters of divorce while dealing with the fallout of Celine's affair with Joe Gallo.

The Other Woman is a condensed retelling of the first three books (Candidate Four, Sinful Reunion, and Secret Desires) from Audra's perspective. There are re-imaginings of scenes from prior books as well as brand new scenes featuring the interpersonal relationships of Audra, James, Celine and Joe Gallo. And especially Natalie Harlow.

Be sure to check out the entire Bidden Series!

Candidate Four, Sinful Reunion, Secret Desires, The First Candidate, Beyond Ruin, Unbidden Love, The Honeymoon, The Other Woman, Forbidden Halloween, Fading Dusk, Contested Heart, Palm Springs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crystal Cierlak
• Release date: Dec 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393389606

Book preview

The Bidden Series

Candidate Four

Sinful Reunion

Secret Desires

The First Candidate

Beyond Ruin

Unbidden Love

The Honeymoon

The Other Woman

Forbidden Halloween

Contested Heart

THE OTHER WOMAN

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Bidden #6

by Crystal Cierlak

Copyright

THE OTHER WOMAN is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are either fictitious or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons is purely coincidental.

Text copyright © 2017 Crystal Cierlak

Cover design by Crystal Cierlak

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any format, digital or otherwise, without the expressed permission of the author.

DEDICATION

As always, for Jeffrey P.

Table of Contents

THE OTHER WOMAN

THE AUCTION

MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN

GENTLEMAN TWELVE

ORIGINAL SIN

FOR THE FIRST TIME

FOR THE LAST TIME

PIECE BY PIECE

AND THEN THERE WAS HER

PREVIEW OF CONTESTED HEART

ALSO BY CRYSTAL CIERLAK

THE AUCTION

T

he memory of seeing her for the first time remained as vivid to Audra Robertson today as it did all those many months ago.

She was in her usual place that Friday night, sitting behind a desk in the hidden suite of offices at the Golden Palm, a mansion tucked away high in the hills above the glittering lights of Los Angeles. The Golden Palm was known amongst its select clientele as the best-kept secret in a world of millionaires and billionaires. And it was Fitson Entertainment Groupe’s - her company’s - cornerstone venture. The one that started it all.

Every Friday night almost since its inception, the Golden Palm was host to twelve men and twelve women. The men - known only as Gentleman -  all deep-pocketed and looking for an unforgettable night, had their pick of the women - known only as Candidates - all stunning and eager to earn a sizable check for giving up just one night of their life. It usually went off without a hitch.

Usually.

Earlier that afternoon Audra received an email from the on-site office manager that one of their regular Candidates, Quinn Potter, would not be available to attend the auction that evening. It was an unfortunate loss, and not just because Quinn was one of the club’s most profitable Candidates. Replacing a Candidate at the last minute was always stressful, but Quinn had done the work for them by offering the name of a friend to take her place. A new name and face. The requisite background checks were run, and by the time Audra received the updated list of Candidates for that night’s auction, the matter had practically resolved itself.

When she arrived at the club later that evening she was surprised to find James, her business partner, and longtime friend, waiting for her at her desk.

When did you get back in town? she asked as she set her purse down on the expensive glass surface. James had spent the better part of the week in New York attending to business and settling his affairs with his soon-to-be-ex-wife, Celine.

"This afternoon. Antonin called on my way to the office. It seems our favorite Gentleman-" he said the word with only the smallest hint of amusement, has gotten himself into some legal trouble back in London. He’s on a plane headed to Heathrow as we speak.

Damn, Audra cursed with a thump of her fist on the desk. We just got Quinn Potter’s replacement cleared. Now we’re short a client? In the span of one afternoon, they had gone from eleven Candidates and twelve Gentlemen to twelve Candidates and eleven Gentlemen. She took a quick glance at her watch, knowing full well it was already growing dark outside and sighed. Call Warren. He’s always happy to make another appearance. Lord knows he’s always trying to offer me extra money to get exclusive bidding rights. And with any luck, he would cancel his plans for the evening and save her the embarrassment of having an uneven auction.

No need. I already have a replacement for him, James announced.

Audra settled a hip against the desk and crossed her arms over her chest. Who?

By the look of intrigue in James’ eyes, the way the blue-green orbs were practically lit from within, she should have guessed. But still, he surprised her.

Me.

You? She scoffed. Hoping to meet the next Mrs. James Fitzgerald? she teased, knowing it would only sting a little. The first and only time James had ever participated in the auction was during the inaugural event, way back when they were college students and the Golden Palm was nothing more than an epic college party they had monetized as part of a business class. It was that fated night over spring break when James, effectively acting as a Gentleman, bid on and spent the evening with a young blonde Candidate named Celine, who just so happened to be Audra’s sister. And later, James’ wife.

I need a distraction, Audra, he said, sounding mildly defeated and very tired. Between the lawyers and Celine and Frankie- he cut himself off, his daughter’s name a painful and unfinished thought.

So go on an actual date with someone, she said as she moved about the desk, carefully avoiding him. It’s Friday night in Los Angeles and you’re a rich, good-looking guy. Not to mention it will cost you a lot less money. She switched on the two monitors seated on the desk, both serving as security feeds to the public spaces inside the expansive lot, and placed her laptop in front of James. She had work to do and wasn’t in the mood to indulge him in his carnal urges. There had to be some delineation between business and pleasure.

How’s Vic? You two engaged yet?

Audra bristled at the sound of her girlfriend’s name. It was neither the time nor the place to bring up that relationship. "Uh-uh. Don’t try changing the subject, Fitzgerald."

James tapped his fingers together, his hands forming a triangle in front of his chest. I’d rather just be with someone for the night, Audra. Please. You know I know the rules. And I’ll pay with my own money if that’s-

She was just about to persuade him to leave when she noticed his attention locked on one of the screens. There, in crystal clear, high-definition, was the feed inside the Candidates’ lounge. Nearly a dozen women, all repeaters, were congregated in the plush surroundings of the meticulously designed lounge, sipping champagne and talking amongst themselves. It was the usual assortment – blondes and brunettes, thin and curvy. All of them beautiful to one discerning eye or another. There was never truly a type of Candidate on any given Friday night. Their clients had varied tastes, and she aimed to accommodate them, and their money.

Who’s the redhead? he asked. Audra looked up at the screen, finding Kimberley and her fire engine red hair almost immediately, but did a double-take at the sight of a redheaded woman in a black lace dress. She was sitting separately from the others, and while Audra couldn’t place her face, she knew the girl must have been Quinn’s replacement.

Substitute for Quinn, she answered him.

She looks cute.

Audra looked at the new girl, then at James, and finally back at the replacement Candidate once more. You can tell that just by the dress and the back of her head? Actually, on second thought, don’t answer that.

She politely kicked James off of her desk chair and took her place in front of her laptop, intent on getting some work done before calling it a night. She never stayed longer than it took to process every Gentleman’s bid and prepare payment envelopes for the Candidates. Those tasks she preferred handling herself while everything else she delegated to the very capable and discreet staff she employed.

But she knew James better than almost anyone and well enough to know that he was struggling with the divorce, and rightfully so. After nearly ten years of marriage, Celine admitted that she had cheated on James with a former boyfriend. And worst of all, that former boyfriend was the biological father of their daughter, Frankie. If anyone deserved an evening of distraction, it was James Fitzgerald.

Fine, Audra acquiesced with a sigh. Take Antonin’s place. But you’re paying the member’s fee on top of your bid.

James didn't even flinch at the amount of money she just demanded from him. Nor did she feel bad about demanding it. James Fitzgerald had more than enough money to re-invest back in his own company. And while it may have saved her the trouble of finding a replacement Gentleman on such short notice, it also gave her leverage to ask something of him later.

When he left to attend to his own business, Audra settled into her work, content to answer correspondence and look over documents in peace while the auction started as it usually did, with the Candidates lining up outside the viewing room for final instructions. She glanced up at the security feeds every few moments, just long enough to make sure everything was moving as the well-oiled machine she’d trained it to be. With the placement of the camera in the hallway Audra could see Quinn’s replacement properly for the first time. Curious, she tapped a few keys on her keyboard and the camera zoomed in on the replacement’s face.

Her wide, silvery-blue eyes set off against the creamy complexion of her soft face. She wore much less makeup than the other Candidates around her, and while they were all pretty, the new Candidate had a more natural beauty that set her apart from the others. The black lace dress she wore stretched sinfully across her body, draping over valleys of beautiful curves from her breasts to her hips.

Audra glanced down at the stack of folders on her desk, all of them labeled with each Candidate and Gentleman’s name. She picked up one of the sleek black envelopes from the pile and admired the name written in crisp type.

Natalie Harlow.

Strangely, the name pinged a dormant memory in her mind. A memory she couldn’t place, though the name