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  “My apologies. Jim, I can’t confirm this, but I have reason to believe that one of these men may have attempted to intimidate Ms. Connor on Friday night at the awards dinner. Other than her time here with you, she’s been missing since then. I believe she is not of sound mind because she’s been put under duress to suppress this information and she is leaving out of fear. Is that good enough for a stay on submitting this information?” The men look at each other carefully. A couple of shrugs occur and I’m not ready for their answer. “Jim, this is Emilia Connor we are talking about. Adam’s daughter. I am technically now the sole heir and I am telling you I do not believe she is thinking clearly. We all owe this to Adam. We all owe this to Emilia who uncovered the tip of this fraudulent activity. We owe it to her to put a hold on the document until I can speak with her. Please, Jim.”

  Jim’s eyes travel down to the large file sitting in front of him. He has to know I’m right. This would have gone on for years had she not come back and simply looked in a file. I glance to my side at Noah and he nods. I’ve said my piece and I’ve done the best I can, for Emilia.

  “I’ll allow it. With Emilia’s location currently unknown, you have one week to sort everything out with Ms. Connor. I will have Greg make an appointment from one week on Monday and I expect you both in my office to sign one of two documents depending on your final decisions. Should neither of you attend, this document will be filed. Everyone?” Jim holds up the forfeiture again and looks around the table as everyone else on his team nods in agreement.

  “Okay, we will have our auditors contact your office first thing on Monday. We need to do an initial assessment to confirm some things before we officially proceed. From what you have here, we are looking at multiple instances of embezzlement and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some class felonies in here. We’ll need an area for one person to start and a contact.” Jim looks at me to confirm that I will be the contact and I shake my head.

  “If it’s alright with Noah, I’d like him to be the main contact for this. I may be busy for some of the week as I try to locate Ms. Connor.” Noah nods and Jim jots down some notes as I speak. “You can use Emilia’s desk.”

  Noah stands and places a few of his business cards on the table and I join him as the rest of the table rises along with us.

  “Thank you for seeing us today, Jim. We’ll let you get back to your family. I appreciate your time.” I reach out and meet his hand in a shake.

  “I’ll get back to them shortly. We’ll set everything up for this week and someone will report to you, Noah, tomorrow morning. If you need anything, you both have our number. We’ll keep in touch. For now, it is business as usual until we are ready to proceed.”

  I follow Noah into the reception area and grab my jacket, putting it on, then check my phone again for any new texts. Nothing. Not a sound. No information.

  I have so much to tell her and now she’s the one who has finally shut me out.

  The vibration in my pocket as we near my car makes my heart skip a beat. I hold my hand up to Noah to stop and answer.

  “Hi, Joshua. It’s Alexandra. I need to talk to you.” She speaks quickly but I don’t have time. I want to keep my line free in case she decides to call.

  “Lexa, I don’t have time to—”

  “Joshua. You need to come to the club right now. It’s—”

  “I’m sorry, I can’t. Look, something’s happened with Emilia, she’s—”

  “Joshua, Emilia is here. She’s at Ravenous.”

  “What? What do you mean? How did she find you there?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. She didn’t find me. She’s here to sell herself tonight at the auction. You need to get here right now.”

  54

  Emilia

  The only word I can use to describe this experience is humiliating. Being asked a series of questions about my sexual history, menstrual cycle, hard limits, among many other things is absolutely humbling.

  The nurse was by earlier to draw my blood and pick up my urine sample. She was a woman of few words. The paperwork was straight forward legal stuff and I read through it quickly. It was basically a document saying I am here of my own free will, and I am.

  I chose to put myself in this situation so I can be done with my other situation. I’ve turned myself into a possession. I understand that.

  After the nurse left, I turned on some soft music and got ready. I like the dress I chose. It’s revealing but it hides enough that I don’t feel uncomfortable. I did my hair and makeup. I’m not good with trying new things so I just let my hair down naturally and kept my face simple.

  I stand up from my chair as I hear the door handle turn and Kelly enters with Andrew following behind her. While she walks to the table, he stays at the door.

  “The auction has started and there were three in front of you so I have some time to explain a few things.” Butterflies begin to flutter in my stomach as I walk over to the table and sit down with her as she continues, “Andrew is in here so he hears what you hear in case you have any questions and I’m not available. Each auction takes about five to ten minutes. You will first enter the room and stand in the middle of the stage. The viewing area is dark and the lights on you are bright. You can’t see anyone in the audience so don’t try. You’ll just look awkward in front of the room. Communication with our buyers is done digitally so you will not hear anyone speak. Only the auction monitor will talk to you over a speaker so it is very quiet in there. If you hear a voice, it is usually for you. Do what they say then stay on the stage and wait for your next instructions. At that time, your reserve price is sent to the buyers in the room. They have a couple of minutes to decide if they are interested in bidding and would be willing to meet your reserve. Those not interested can either leave or remain as a spectator only. Today’s test results are distributed only to the buyers who indicate interest. Then they have a couple of minutes with your results. All of the buyers already have your other information like your hard limits so they don’t need much time with today’s information. Then the monitor will announce bidding. You will not know what the amounts are until you come back here. We keep them quiet from the people on stage for a few reasons but know that, if the monitor announces bidding, it means at least one buyer has accepted your reserve and that is where it starts. Any questions?” She looks at me as my brain is still playing catch up.

  “Probably. Um—what if I make a mistake or do something wrong?” My arms begin to feel light as my nerves go to work, twisting my stomach around.

  “Just listen to the voice in the room. Andrew is off to the side of the stage to help should you really need it. If all else fails, just stand up tall and look straight ahead with a relaxed smile.” Checking her watch, “You have about 5 minutes. We can walk you to the back of the stage now if you’d like.”

  “Um. Sure.” Hesitantly, I stand. “Does this dress look okay?” I ask and she turns to me confused.

  “It does, but you’ll be going out there in only your panties.” She says and I notice Andrew avert his eyes to the ground to offer me the chance to get undressed.

  “Oh.” I have no more words. Of course I’m taking off my clothes. What did I expect? Someone wants to buy me so they can dress me up and take me to dinner? People need to see what they are buying. Of course I’ll be naked.

  I slip the dress off my shoulders and place it on the back of the seat I just sat in then step out of my heels.

  “I’m ready.” There is nothing else to say. I’ve signed away everything. I need to turn off the noise and just keep putting one foot in front of another. This is my means to an end and I will process everything another time. I need to focus on the next step and then the next until this is done and I’m free to leave.

  My term in the auction was one week. Then I’m done. I can do this.

  Andrew opens the door and I follow Kelly through it into the main area with him trailing behind us. It is much more quiet than before and it makes it h
arder to block everything out. I focus on the back of Kelly’s head. We walk into an area I haven’t been yet and I keep paying attention to her, then she comes to a stop outside of a door with a red light shining above it.

  Pressing a button on the wall, we wait another half a minute before the light turns green and we enter into a dimly lit area. Kelly turns to me and lowers her voice.

  “I’m going to leave you here. When you hear the monitor call Auction #4, Andrew will show you where to go. No matter what, stay on the stage until you hear, This ends the bidding. Thank you, Auction #4, and Andrew joins you again on stage to lead you off.” I nod and she gives my arm a squeeze, then she leaves through the same door and Andrew and I stand in silence for a few minutes.

  Each second pushes me further into compliance. This is what I’ve chosen for myself and I am now a product. I can’t go back to any part of my life. Most of it no longer feels authentic anyway. When I am done this week, I’ll take the money I have and I’ll start over. I just want to live quietly. I don’t want to owe anyone anything or feel the pressure of living up to a name or a position. I would have given every last penny of what we had away just to have my dad back anyway. Now I’m giving it away so I can have my own life back.

  Before I can sink too far, I hear the voice over the speaker.

  “Auction #4.”

  “Follow me.” Andrew steps in front of me and I take a deep breath and force my thoughts to stay behind as I follow him onto the brightly lit stage. He stops in the center and motions for me to stand beside him then leans into me. “Good luck. You’ll be okay. I’m just over here.” Somehow knowing someone is here with me is comforting, even if it’s a stranger.

  Remembering Kelly’s words, I stand up straight and look forward.

  The longest minute of my life goes by finally broken by the anonymous voice over the speaker.

  “Auction #4. Please turn to your left and face the side of the stage.” Instantly I turn and maintain my pose, then the female voice over the speaker has me turn to the back and the other side before facing front and I wait again.

  This must be the time Kelly talked about where they can accept my reserve or not and I hear some shuffling behind the glaring lights and I can only assume some have chosen to leave. The movement settles down and another couple of minutes pass as I stand in silence waiting for another instruction. With each passing second, I begin to feel awkward and out of place. I’m used to the feeling but I still hate it.

  “Auction #4, kneel with your hands clasped behind you.”

  I turn off the room. Pretending I am alone, I do as I‘m told without thinking about it. I’m probably not as graceful as I hope I am as I bend over and get on my knees but the audience isn’t paying for a model. They are paying for obedience and submission and that is all I have left now.

  “Auction #4, keep your hands behind you, place your forehead on the floor and keep your ass up.” Again, I do as I’m told and wait a minute for the next instruction.

  “Auction #4, stand in your original position.” No sooner do I stand that the announcement I need to hear comes over the speaker.

  The auction is starting. I stand still and face forward for what feels like five minutes, wondering what this length of time means. Does the bidding process move slowly or are there a lot of bids? Or is no one bidding? Different thoughts float around as the time passes and just as I realize I've lost track of how long I've been standing...

  “This ends the bidding. Thank you, Auction #4.” My stomach flips as the end is announced.

  I’ve been bought. I freeze in place at the thought and my mind swirls around with a host of new emotions. Someone wants to own me, kindles something deep inside of me and I feel shame prickle through my body as I realize this is filling me with something stronger than fear.

  I have been bought. I’ll be spending the week at someone else’s will with only one responsibility to them and my world doesn’t feel so heavy right now.

  Andrew steps to my side and clears his throat as he points to a door opposite the one I entered through and I walk off the stage and out of the room to meet Kelly standing in the hall. Spinning on her heels I follow her back the way we came. Nearing my door, I see one of the other numbered doors open and out walks a sharply dressed gentlemen holding a leash. I pause long enough to see the leash attached to the collar of a beautiful woman who follows quietly behind him with her eyes on the floor before Andrew clears his throat again, ushering me into the room.

  “Your buyer is making preparations to complete your sale. While they are doing that, we have a few minutes. I can tell you that your reserve was met and exceeded. There were three main bidders, and two were serious. That is why you stood up on the stage for a couple of minutes longer than usual. I don’t know your cut, but your final price was $750,000.”

  Kelly stares at me as I stand here gawking back. This is more than enough for me to start again but at the same time, someone paying this amount of money for one week of my time completely astounds me.

  “Wow.” I start, then I hear a commotion outside and the door to my room opens.

  In the fraction of a moment I go from excitement to dread as I physically feel all of the blood draining out of my face at the sight of Joshua staring back at me and he looks like he wants to tear everything apart.

  “Put your goddamn clothes on.” He punches his pointer finger in my direction and I immediately grab the dress I had on earlier and crawl back into it. I’m not sure if it is my compliance all evening or his tone, but I obey him quickly and he turns to Kelly and tries to speak to her as Andrew steps in.

  “Mr. Darkly, you shouldn’t be here.” He talks in a respectful tone and I find myself cutting into their conversation.

  “Mr. Darkly? Do they know you, Joshua?” As I ask the question, everyone, including Joshua freezes and his eyes burn right through me.

  “You could say that, Emilia.” His tone is condescending and I feel my anxiety begin to rise. “I’m a private investor in this company.”

  “Of course you are. How could I not see it?” I feel my own anger at this whole situation build. I finally have something good again and here he is to burn it all down around me. It won’t be enough for him when he finds out I’ve given him everything. He’ll take this away from me, too. “Of course you are,” I shout out and everyone continues to stay still. “You controlling son of a bitch—literally.” I yell at him and his nostrils flare. He knows I’m talking about his trash mother.

  “Careful, Emilia.” He warns.

  “Or what? You’ll spank me again, you sick fuck. Of course you own a place like this. You’re so—you’re so—”

  “He doesn’t own Ravenous, Emilia. I do.” I stop talking as the woman standing behind Joshua speaks and I wait for him to step out of the doorway to let the eerily familiar voice through and my chest tightens as I realize it belongs to Alexandra.

  Her face is solemn as everyone around her stands in silence and it is clear, she runs the place.

  “Leave us.” Andrew leaves immediately as Alexandra speaks and Kelly walks over to the door and waits for a split second before Alexandra gives her a task. “Make sure the other girls and the auction guests are all gone. Have Andrew stay outside the door until Emilia’s buyer is announced.” Kelly nods then exits, closing the door quickly behind her.

  “You?” I suddenly feel a deeper level of shame hit me. I hate Joshua with everything I have and I want to keep yelling but anything I say to him now will be a slight against Alexandra.

  “Yes, Emilia. This is my company. Joshua was one of my initial investors.” I look over to see him standing by the wall. The anger on his face is barely contained and he looks like I feel.

  The only thing is, I know he has nothing left to hold over me. He won’t find out until tomorrow that I cut myself loose from my hell and his guardianship is done.

  “It doesn’t matter. I’d like to be left alone now. I understand I have a buyer?” I ask for Joshua’s benefit an
d I see his jaw clench as he continues to glare at me.

  “You do. I’m here to discuss their contract.” She answers and I know she’s uncomfortable.

  My father loved her and now she knows this about me. I try to look her in the eyes, but I can’t. I feel like I’m letting him down all over again. “It’s okay, Emilia.” The uncomfortable tension is easy to feel and, as she speaks, I realize how far I’ve fallen and I have nothing left.

  “No. It’s not okay. I’m selling myself to some stranger who is going to debase me and use me for a week. It’s my choice but it’s not okay. I’m not okay and no one is asking that.” I’m angry. I’m so mad at myself, I’m mad at Joshua and I’m mad at my father for dying and leaving me here like this. I can’t hold this in anymore. I feel my anger flow with each word and I expect this is the last time I’ll ever see Joshua so I have nothing to lose. I’ve already given it all away and I feel my tears run down my face as Alexandra watches in horror as I fall apart. “I tried. I wanted to try. But I can’t. I’m not the daughter my father thought I was. I’m not that perfect person. He deserved better and he’s gone. Everything good is gone and I don’t want to try anymore. I never want to come back here. There’s nothing left but pain and I don’t want to hurt anymore. This next week can’t be any worse than what I’ve been going through. Please, just let me read my contract. Leave me alone. You’re good at that, Mr. Darkly.” I spit out and Alexandra stares between us.

  I know she doesn’t see the girl my father once described to her. It doesn’t matter anymore anyway. Quietly, she places the piece of paper on the table and lays a pen on top of it. There is a space at the bottom for my signature, my buyer’s signature and the company owner.

  As I pick the pen up, Joshua steps forward. His tone is angry but contained and he speaks slowly. “You sign that contract and you’ll find out how much worse it can be. Alexandra is going to explain this contract to you. She is going to tell you fully, what it means to be owned including what all of your obligations will be. She is going to tell you what it means to sell yourself, to be someone’s property. Including but not limited to the many things your buyer can demand of you. You will fully understand that by signing this, you are saying this is what YOU want, Emilia. Listen to her. Do not sign that piece of paper if you don’t completely understand and approve of what you will give your buyer and the penalty for not fulfilling your side of the contract. Consider this carefully, Emilia. You sign that piece of paper and all of your rules change.”