by Amy Brent
“The shower’s over there. Get in there quickly.” I start heading that way. I’m about to ask where the towels are, but then Veronica shouts out, “Don’t worry about towels. There should be some clean ones at the side.”
I want to stop for a minute and know what they’re talking about. But they’re speaking Spanish. I never thought that Veronica would be Latino too. If anything, she’s a lot fairer than the other one, besides that there was some mystery between the two of them. I couldn’t figure it out. But I knew one thing they were to help me, and I couldn’t take too long in the shower.
I jump in and using my hand and the tube I rub soap all over my body thinking that for nearly two hours that I’d spent getting ready were all in vain.
As I wrap the towel around me and I’m standing dripping wet, waiting for my next instructions. Maybe it’s a smile from Veronica, as she says, “It’s going to work out. We just need to get you ready.”
I can’t help but ask, “What’s your name?”
Her eyes flash at me and then she says, “You were doing it all wrong. They want girls not women. The dress you were wearing was too old for your age.”
“How do you know how old I am?”
She shakes her head, “None of that is necessary. What is important is that you have ten minutes and counting to get on stage. Unless you don’t want to win?”
I nod like an obedient puppy dog, who’s owner is about to throw him a bone, and he needs to be good to keep playing, “I do.”
“Good. Then do as I say and no more questions.”
Veronica smiles, “You’ll be okay. She’ll look after you. I need to get going.”
Before I could thank her or say anything else. She was gone. I sigh as I think about these strangers that are helping me. They don’t realize that I owe them not only my life but my brother’s too.
Chapter 6: Blake
I need to be the one that takes the stage tonight, and I feel as if I’m at a wedding or even one of my business meetings. This time, I’m not selling stocks, shares or even corporations I’m selling women’s virginities. To say that they thought of everything in this damn house is an understatement.
The men spin on their chairs and then Lourdes takes my side. Apparently, she was one of the first virgins to be sold and instead of leaving, she’s stayed. Dad says that she’s the most trusted employee in the house. I hate to think what that entails.
I tried to keep our conversation as simple as possible, before I got here tonight. I could tell by the look on his face that dad wasn’t ready to reveal all his secrets. Not that he’s a dishonest man, the whole auction thing just took me by surprise. I felt naive, and I like to think of myself as being a man of the world. I felt like a little kid when dad was telling me about this place.
I shake my head as I look at her petite frame. Lourdes sounds like a virgin, she’s tiny, and her face matches her body which is unusual, but that can’t be the case if granddad started the whole business. She may appear to be young, but seeing as she’s one of the original virgins. I don’t even want to know how old she is. I shake my head as I watch her in that sexy red number that she has on, it’s leather and with the bodice that cups her breasts, it leaves nothing to the imagination. Just like the waitresses that are topless and walk around in fishnet tights and string panties that look like they have pieces of string in between their pussies.
There’s an innocence, yet a maturity when Lourdes speaks at a switch of a button. I heard her talking to the girls earlier; she was demanding and telling them where to go and what to do. Now, her tone is sweet and innocent. Just like when we first met,
“Mr. Fisher, the girls are ready.”
I nod my head, “Thanks, Lourdes.”
She smiles, “Anything else that you need?”
A drink?
A fuck?
A nice cold shower and to get the fuck out of here?
“No, that’s all,” I smile back at her, it’s as if she’s got me in a trance. She’s a dangerous woman one that I wouldn’t even dream of fucking for the night. Let alone someone who’s supposedly fucking my dad. I sense, that she is, but then again maybe it’s just me being paranoid.
“Let the auction begin.”
She clears her throat, “Yes. Let’s.”
There’s something cynical about the way that she said it that made my head turn back to her. I wonder if she’s dreading it as much as I am right now. But, we’re not friends. Not even lovers, so I can’t discuss it with her. Besides I can feel Mr. Johnson’s eyes boring on me. Damn, he fucking gets on my nerves.
I walk up on the stage, and the men spin their chairs around. The atmosphere in the room changes as classical music starts playing in the background. Any other day I would have found it soothing, now the ballroom feels as if it’s a circus as I see the girls entering in front of us.
They can’t see us, because there’s a large wall dividing us. One that can only be opened from this side. They walk-in thinking that the lights being shone in the room are cameras.
That’s the story that Lourdes told them before they entered, before she was by my side. The girls are showing their assets, trying to be chosen for the night or even better for the week.
“Gentleman. Welcome to the VC Enterprises yearly auction,” I smile as my eyes cast over Mr. Johnson. Hopefully, he won’t be coming back after tonight’s auction, and then he and his precious Scarlett will have to find some other means to entertain themselves.
“As you can see behind you,” they spin their chairs around and I look at Henry who’s simply smiling. “There’s six beautiful ladies.”
I cough because one of them is dressed in a school uniform. Damn! I feel sick knowing that her innocence is having the opposite effect on me. This whole thing doesn’t feel right. I’m not a fucking pervert, but her skirt’s so damn short, I expect to see her ass if she bends over. One has on far too much makeup, and then there’s her. Fuck, I nearly choke when I see her. She could easily be Scarlett’s twin sister. No doubt Mr. Johnson’s thinking the same as his lips crease at the side of his face.
“You know the rules; the ladies are now giving you a taste of what’s in store for the auction. We’ll start with the first lady.” I turn to face Lourdes who’s standing next to me. I didn’t want to appear to be a chump, so I didn’t take the cue cards. Dad said that rules are necessary and I should learn to abide by them.
I hate him; he treats me like a child, not a grown man.
“Yes, Article 985 is ready to be sold to the highest bidder.”
Lourdes smiles as if she’s on cue to help me in case I get lost, and right now I feel it as I can’t get my eyes of the first girl. The one that could easily be Scarlett’s twin sister and as my eyes focus on Mr. Johnson I can tell that he’s not alone.
“Can I have the first bid please? Can we start at 1,000?” I nod my head, and none of the men move or even seem remotely interested in bidding. Their membership to the auction is enough to keep it running until the day I die. Dad said the bidding is all part of the fun and games. The moment I start thinking that this is fun, I know that they’ll be something missing from my head. A brain cell or maybe the whole fucking mind.
All three men consult the book with the credentials of all the girls. They really run this place like an art auction. The only difference is no one’s being fine art, they’re buying women for the night or even better for the week.
Mr. Johnson smiles and lifts his red rose, the one that they’re supposed to use for the bidding and then after present it to the girl. Some romantic shit. What’s passionate about being bought, was beyond my comprehension. Anyway, if this is some psychological crap then I’ve got a lot to learn about.
“Two thousand?”
That’s when the bids start to get interesting because everyone’s hungry for her. The red-haired girl in the school uniform’s about to be bought for a high price. Depending on that price, means that she gets to go home a very wealthy girl. And if she stays a week
with whoever wins her tonight, the house matches the price for the week. We take no fee for the evening, everything’s about the membership and the growing list of members.
“Sold for twenty-five thousand dollars to Mr. White.”
He nods, and without hesitation, he takes Lourdes, hand. She’ll take him through the paperwork, and then he’ll be ready to meet the girl on the other side.
Once they start bidding and it’s all going ahead. It doesn’t feel so bad. Apart from the fourth girl that no one seems to want. The men can bid up to two girls each, that’s their limit and then I wonder if Mr. Johnson intends to take home two toys to Scarlett or just one. Either way, he’s not taking anyone home with him tonight. We give them a thousand dollars for their trouble if they’re not picked. It’s bonus money that’s not stipulated on the contract, because if it’s mentioned that they get money anyway then none of them would try to be sold in the first place. It’s some kind of reverse psychology shit.
Now, I know that the bidding’s going to get interesting. There’s only one girl left, and one thing for sure, Mr. Johnson’s about to find out that she’s mine. He’s wasted his time waiting for her to be sold. He’s already lost her and he's officially going to see that he’s lost her to me.
Chapter 7: Lily
I know that I’m the only one left. The only one who has to go into the ballroom and stand to face a wall. It’s clear that the men are on the other side. I can’t see them. I’m about to step in, and Veronica shouts out, “Good luck.”
I smile thinking that I need more than luck. One girl had on a school uniform. I wonder if that was my mistake. I’m nineteen today and the last thing I wanted to do was to be reminded of my school days.
Holy crap!
That’s what they want, of course. This is why the girls were talking about me not being dressed right. But then how do we get picked if we don’t appeal sexually? They don’t want someone who just came out of the crib? Or do they?
I feel like a robot as I walk back into the ballroom. This whole place is a mystery. One that I need to figure out if I want the money. One thing’s for sure, I need it but I don’t know how to go about it. I start to sweat feeling nervous about it. The black slip dress feels like lingerie with its non-existent back; I still feel as if I’m exposed. I’m not appealing on any front. Apart from my hair being down, just like Olivia said it should be.
I take a deep breath a decide that I need to stop being nervous and just get on with it.
“Here goes nothing.”
It’s different now that I’m doing it alone. Before when the girls with me, it just felt easier. Now, I just feel exposed as if maybe there’s no one bidding and they’ve chosen all the girls and everyone’s forgotten about me. I don’t know what to do, so I head to the line in the middle of the ballroom and I stand and wait. I don’t know what to do.
Are they bidding?
Are they going to come out and say that someone’s won my virginity?
I hate the idea that everything was in the contract, apart from the night and how to win at the auction. I feel as if I’m on show and I do what any person would do. I start dancing as I hear Katy Perry’s Roar song being played loudly. It’s a song that I listen to whenever I’m feeling down. It’s about strength and endurance. Having the courage to carry on, even though everything’s against her, she learns to survive.
That’s how I feel as if I’ve gone from being a woman who’s stopped being able to speak and do anything with her life. To one that’s come here to take matters into her own hand.
I’ve got the lion in me, the one that made me apply to sell my virginity, to help my brother get the justice that he deserves. I decide that not only am I going to be chosen, but I’m going to get more than the fifty thousand dollars with the moves that I’m doing.
I remember that my mom always used to say that I would do great things with my dancing. My singing voice isn’t as good as my dance moves. I sway my hips and close my eyes and I let the music take over. I can feel the fire burning inside of me, I release the lion as I start to grind my hips. I forget about the wall as I close my eyes and think about the men fantasizing about me and wanting to pay more. I smile, knowing that my moves will intoxicate them.
They’ll be fighting over the winner and everything will turn out just fine. I had no instructions on what to do, once in here. It’s as if they wanted us to just stand there, that wouldn’t make me the winner. Once they see me and my hip movements.
I’ll definitely win, I’m sure of it.
The chorus is playing one more time, this time I’m not just dancing, but singing the song. I can’t help myself, the song is so intoxicating, but it all comes to an abrupt end as I no longer hear Katy Perry, but I can hear someone else screaming as they get nearer.
“Stop it!”
My heart’s racing and I’m trying to figure out what direction the voice is coming from. I move towards what was a glass wall and see that the woman who helped me earlier is in front of me.
I’m scared as I can see from her face that she’s really pissed.
“You’re dancing as if you’re looking for a job in a strip club or something?” she stops in front of me and then points her finger at me.
“I didn’t know what to do,” I say innocently as I try and catch my breath.
“Stand,” she laughs and I know that she’s mocking me, "That’s all you had to do. Walk up and stand still.”
So, why didn’t they say that?
“Can I do it again?” I start to panic, “Please give me another chance. I can’t go home. Not yet. I’ve come so far.”
“And you screwed it up!”
She cuts her eyes at me. I feel like getting on my hands and knees and begging her to give me another chance.
I know the answer to my question, but I decide to ask again, she helped me once. Why’s she being so cold now?
“Please give me another chance. Tell them I’m sorry and I want to do it again. It’s my birthday. I wanted to give it to them. My gift to them.”
“What?”
I can see a man behind her, hopefully, someone that’s bid for me. I can just hear the echo of his footsteps as he approaches us. The light is so dim, and with the sweat still pouring of my forehead, I can’t make out his face. Until he’s standing between us.
“Lourdes it’s fine,” he has a distinct accent as if he doesn’t come from town. Or maybe he just travels a lot. That’s not the part that catches my attention, it’s the way that he gently rests his hands on her shoulders. The reassuring smile that he’s giving me. I no longer feel afraid, if anything I feel comforted by his presence. I turn my attention to him. I can see there’s fire in her eyes and she’s not happy about his decision.
“Did someone bid for me? Am I going home with someone?”
I sound so pathetic, but I don’t care. I need the money, like the air we breathe. I messed up once, now twice. I can see by the way that they’re exchange looks that something happened, the question is what and does it mean that I get some money. Even if it’s five dollars at least, that’ll help my brother.
“No,” Lourdes says with a smile on her face. She really hates me now and I wonder what happened to the one that was desperate to help me in the limo. Where did she go to? Why’s she gone from being the kindest woman in the world, to being a bitch?
“Yes,” the tall, dark guy says as he looks at her and not me. His voice takes my breath away, but not just his voice. He towers over the pair of us, he feels like a handsome giant. One that could sweep me off the floor with one hand. If he’s the winner. I don’t mind going home with him for free. I wouldn’t need the money, but then this makes no sense. Why would someone like him even be here? There must be plenty of women out there that would want to be someone like him.
He’s wearing black and has a bright tie on, his olive skin and matching dark eyes give me comfort, even though he reeks of money. The Rolex which is nicely displayed on his wrist I can see the model which is o
n Lourdes shoulder right now. I feel as if there’s a war of minds as neither of them are speaking.
What’s going on?
My hands are shaking as I feel as if I’m at school and I need to ask for permission to talk. The room all of a sudden feels cold. The little black number that I think makes me look more like a nun than a hot temptress didn’t work. The gold number I had on, with make-up would have worked. I’m about to get sent home and as they start to leave me in the room alone I do what I felt like doing from the beginning, I cup my face, and I start to cry. They both leave me standing there as they move back to the wall. The glass one that they’re appeared in. I remember Lourdes words only a few seconds ago. I asked her what I should do and she said to stand.
I remove my hands from my face and do just that. I stand still, hoping that they come back with the news that I long to hear. The tears let me down, by falling. But I ignore them, hoping that they’ll soon get the message and just go away.
Chapter 8: Blake
I’m fucking about to tear this place apart. How fucking dare she! She seems to think that she owns the joint or something. Like an employee who’s got too big for their boots. We walk through the wall and straight to the back room. I’m about to give her a piece of my mind. I don’t care what kind of arrangement she had with my dad. I’m in charge now and she needs to have a wake-up call and realize that she’s not running this show anymore.
I walk in front at a quick pace, before that girl has a complete breakdown out there. As soon as we walk past the gentlemen. I stop at the office door behind and whisper, “Ladies first.”
I can tell that she’s intimidated by me. But, she’s not seen me angry and once she does she won’t be intimidated, but fucking scared.
As soon as she enters I close the door and let it all out. One thing I’m good at is keeping my cool and letting it all out at the right time.
