Time doesn't wait.

Mila wasn’t sure how she got roped into this Christmas charity. Most of her department was there so she didn’t want to miss out.  She sat quietly, plastic cup of white wine in hand as she watched the bidding war commence on the man before her. She considered bidding herself, what harm could come from it? Worst case scenario someone outbids her. The bidding was about to end before the brunette quickly raised her card, face gaining redness as they threw Mila’s bid in. “Going once, going twice, sold to the woman in the third row.” Mila looked around, knowing they were talking to her. Fuck. She had won. What was she going to do now? 

Christian was, admittedly, not paying too much attention as the auction continued. Cards were flying up around the room and his director was shouting things out with as much fervor. There wasn’t much for Christian to do except stand there and hopefully not look as out-of-place as he felt. Finally, though, his director called out that the auction was closed and someone had won. Christian followed his director’s gaze to the woman who had ‘won’ him, feeling a bit of relief run through his system. Though he didn’t know her well, Christian recognized her from the hospital. At least it wasn’t some weirdo that won. Christian smiled and then stepped off the stage, making his way over to the third row of seats where she was. “Hello. Ah, I’m Christian,” he thought to introduce though they’d already said his name. 

“I should be honest, I was thinking Netflix and Chinese dumplings. Also ice skating and hot chocolate.” Rosette said earnestly. “Nothing x rated on my mind. I’m still healing from my fiancé’s death.” She clinked her glass with him. She had good days but since March 5th she’d been grieving quietly.

“We’ve got to stick together my friend, our director goes after any single or good looking staff member and drags them into an auction. My fiancé signed me up last year and it was scary. My date wanted me in a French maid costume and talking to him in French while saying master.” She shuddered a bit. “I swore I’d protect whoever it was this year.” She gave him a wink.

“I’ve got you buddy.” She promised with a quirky smile. 

"Some friendly fun sounds perfect to me,” Christian returned. In honesty, he hadn’t been prepared for much beyond friendly relationships as of yet. He’d only spent just over a year in the city and the man was still trying to get his bearings while completing his residency. That was probably why he’d missed hearing the news about Rosette’s fiance. There was a vague memory from the springtime about hearing something about it, but nothing substantial. Christian couldn’t even imagine. He also figured, though, that she was tired of hearing the typical condolences. So instead he nodded and raised his glass a hair in acknowledgment.

Being that they both worked in the hospital ER, Belle and Christian knew each other. They weren’t super close or anything but they worked together and he seemed really nice when they did speak. She couldn’t help feeling bad for him up there. She wasn’t positive, but she had a feeling he wasn’t there because he wanted to but more like he had been ‘forced’ in to it. Isabelle herself had almost, got roped in to being auctioned off herself, almost, but she had managed to wiggle her way out of it. Christian it seemed hadn’t been so lucky.

Belle heard them call out for bids and immediately saw tons and tons of bids come out. Was she surprised? No. He was certainly handsome, their was no denying that. In fact if she hadn’t been so hung up on Benji still, she may have even tried going out with him herself, if he would of been interested,which he probably wasn’t. She didn’t see herself as a good candidate for anything. She watched as the bids went higher and higher and than she did something impulsive. Something she couldn’t believe she was doing. But she told herself it was only to save him from some potential crazy person. If that was the only reason or not she didn’t know, but she soon heard herself yell out a high bid. One which she was certain nobody would beat and she was right. She smiled as she walked up to him “hey, I hope your not too disappointed”. She told him “I just didn’t want you to end up with some psycho”. She said with a chuckle.

The auction flew by before Christian could fully understand what was happening. He heard numbers flying out and his boss was feverishly calling out for more. Concern bubbled in him as he noticed the people who were bidding. For the most part, he didn’t recognize people. He had assumed that since this was a hospital charity event that he might recognize someone. Instead, it seemed to be mostly strangers. How would he know if any of these people weren’t complete weirdos?

“This all seems pretty sketchy,. Selling a day of someone’s like… Feels like modern day slave trade,” Theodore spoke to his friend Greg was the bids were called out around them. Charity events were something they occasionally got invited to. When they did Theodore dressed his best and always wrote a check of some kind, forcing Greg to do the same. They had healthy salaries, they could afford to share it when needed. His attention lingers on the male on stage, a gentle smile tugging at Theodore’s lips at the others smile. It was rather charming. Christian, that’s his name, Theodore reminded himself. He liked the name, it rolled off his tongue easily. In his own little world Theodore didn’t notice he was staring, or that his work colleague had indeed noticed his interest on the auction item.

Greg’s hand rose with Theodore’s auction paddle, bidding on Christian until no other bid competed against him. Theodore was snapped back into the present, and away from day dreaming, by people clapping in his direction. “Don’t say I didn’t get you anything for the holidays,” Greg laughed as he wrote out a check. “Now go collect you prize.” Theodore was pushed in the direction of Christian Looking completely surprised at the events unfolding around him.

The auction moved quickly, almost too rapidly for Christian to follow. There were two women going back and forth until suddenly a new person raised their hand for a bid. Before Christian could get a good look at who it was, his boss was announcing the winner and pushing him in the way of the man. “Have fun with your day off work!” his boss called after him. Perhaps that was the shining light of the situation.

Rosette was in the Audience cracking up at the situation. She had done it last year at her Fiancé’s meddling as the French nurse. She watched Christian and rose her bid card. There was an older woman who was also bidding so a war started.

Thirty minutes later The bid went to Rosette with 300 dollars. She smiled and the director joked, “It seems that Rosette Roux from last year’s auction won.”

She rose and walked up to pay the auctioneer. “It’s for Charity.” She called out smiling playfully. “Hey Christian! Let’s chat.” She said cheerfully, her accent lacing her words.

She led them to her table and offered him a drink. “So what shall we do for the day?” She teased playfully.

This was better than what Christian had expected. Many scenarios had flown through his head when he was finally told what he’d signed up for, but someone from the hospital winning the bid certainly didn’t come up. He’d been to the event the previous year though was too new to fully take part - he could vaguely remember Rosette being up where he was then.