“She’s one heck of a looker,” the announcement said and I felt even more proud. I could already feel the nervousness begin to fade. “We have ten thousand dollars from stall twelve! Do we have ten thousand five hundred? Yes, we do have ten thousand five hundred from stall nine!”
Stall four’s light glowed red again and a number lit on its LCD screen.
“Fifteen thousand from stall four!” My jaw dropped in pure surprise. No other stall bid higher. “Going once, going twice… Lyla Bishop sold to stall four for fifteen thousand dollars!”
Those words were like magic to my ears. I thought I was just going to get around six thousand and I’d be happy – well, as happy as I could be considering what’s at stake – but I got a lot more than that. I got more than twice that amount!
I saw the light for the exit and walked down, hoping I could get into stall four and meet my new benefactor.
A guide helped out of the room and helped me to the counter. They gave me a check for seven thousand five hundred dollars. The other half would go to the organizers of the auction. I didn’t care how much percentage it was. This was more than enough money to help me and my dad start recovering from our debts.
Once I had the check safely in my purse, which was kept in a locker along with my regular clothes, the guide helped me into stall four. However, inside I saw that the man who bid for me didn’t even look at me. Even when the door closed and it was just two of us, he simply motioned for me to come closer but not too close.
“S-sir, I’m Lyla. You bought me.”
“No, it was an anonymous bidder,” he explained. He then turned around and gave me a good, long look. “I’m Thomas, by the way.”
He was cute, with boyish looks and a kind of charm that was hard to put into words. I just smiled at him like an idiot.
“He said he’ll meet you in the Apollo Pe
nthouse,” he then told me. “Just head to the reception desk and say you’re expected at the prime suite. You know where the Apollo is?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“Well, go on then,” he gestured for me to leave. “I have a different girl to bid for and the real buyer is waiting for you. You better do a good job… you got a lot of money for this so you better spread those cute legs of yours.”
I felt appalled at how he spoke to me but I figured he was right, after all. I didn’t waste any more time and left his stall right as they began the bidding for the next girl. I got into the dressing room, changed into a mini-skirt and backless top, took my purse and keys and drove to the Apollo Penthouse.
The drive took less than ten minutes and I quickly entered the hotel. The bellboy helped me up the penthouse suite – which was a lot bigger than I expected – and left me standing in the hall as I rang the doorbell, hoping my buyer would at least be a little handsome. If I had to sleep with him to get more cash I could at least hope he’d turn me on.
Finally, the door opened and I was greeted by the wicked smile of Preston Maxwell.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I said with a tone of disappointment and shock. “You? You were the one who bought me at the auction?”
“I wanted to see you again,” he told me. He had his arms crossed on his chest and wore a simple pair of grey jogging pants and a white tank top. For the first time since I met him, I realized he did have a really good physique. He must be a regular at the gym.
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “You’re a fucking jerk. Why would I sleep with you?”
“Because I bought you,” he shot back. Preston then smiled and just stared back at me as he waited.
I kept silent because I knew damn well he was right.
“Come on in then,” he swung the door open wide and motioned for me to step inside. “Let’s see what my money got me.”
Without warning, he took a step forward and slapped my ass.
“Ah!” I yelped but I did move in a little bit. I looked at him one more time and figured that this was the only option I had left. I could go inside, strip down and surrender my virginity to this handsome but narcissistic megalomaniac so I could solve all my problems or I could run and end up back in square one with debts to pay.
The one good thing here was that I at least knew him. He may be an asshole but he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would lure girls to his suite and kill them. No… he was just another rich pervert and I was his next slut to fuck. That’s just how simple it is.
Taking a deep breath, realizing this would change everything, I went inside and he locked the door behind me.
12
Lyla
“Do you want me to just take off my clothes?” I asked as I stepped inside. When I did, I couldn’t help but marvel at the luxury he lived in. His suite was so beautiful and lavishly decorated it was kind of impossible to be real. Everything looked expensive, from his seventy-inch television to the black leather couches and a wall-to-wall painting.