To say.
The phone rang only once when he answered.
I didn’t allow Troy to respond.
Simply stating, “She’s ready. Let the auction begin tonight.”
Fully aware I was only doing this to prove to myself that I didn’t love her, knowing in my dark heart that I was born loving her.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Juliet
“It’s time.”
A feminine voice brought me out of my restless sleep. She was wearing a gorgeous white tuxedo set and had diamond-studded glasses perched on the edge of her nose. She looked anywhere between fifty and sixty with her dark hair tucked back into a tight bun, her red lipstick spread across full lips that I couldn’t tell if were natural or not.
Her hands were on her hips as she assessed me. “Well? Aren’t you going to get up?”
“Who are you?” I asked in a sleep-filled voice.
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m your fairy godmother.”
“What?”
“What, no laughter?” She sighed like she was disappointed. “Guess you really are ready if I’m no longer funny.” She turned and said, “I brought two gowns for you to pick from. He’s clearly an indulgent master if he’s allowing you the choice and not demanding which one to pick. Oh well, maybe it’s a test. Choose wisely before I do your makeup and hair, all right?”
She pointed to two floor-length ball gowns. One was a sleek white silk with a fully open back and front. The only lick of fabric on the top would barely cover my breasts and was attached to the slinky skirt. Other than that, I’d need to be careful when I even walked in it.
The other was gold.
For some reason, it spoke to me more. It was simpler, nearly see-through on top except for a few strategically placed sewed-in pieces of golden lace on the strapless top. The rest of the skirt was identical to the white dress, slinky, long, and with a high slit on each side.
“Is there a dinner or something?” I asked, trying to figure out where he’d take me and who would be looking at me.
She snorted out a laugh. “Leave it to Donovan to not even prepare you for your debut, right?” Her tall silver heels clicked against the floor. “Let’s just say you’re going to a party. There, that sounds better.”
I quickly pointed to the gold dress. “I like this one.”
“Then let’s get it on you,” she exclaimed cheerfully as she grabbed the dress from the hanger and slowly unzipped the back. I was already naked, so there was no stripping out of anything as I gently stepped inside the dress, holding it to my chest as she zipped it up.
“Perfect fit. Shocker.” She sighed more to herself than to me as she gently pushed me toward the bathroom, where she had a special light you’d use for Instagram photos set up along with a bounty of makeup and hair products.
I could almost believe I was getting ready for a special event.
While she did my makeup and hair, her hands were gentle as she worked, whistling a tune I didn’t recognize half the time. I let myself believe I was Julia Roberts and he was Richard Gere.
He was going to wine and dine me.
I’d still be his pet.
But now, we’d somehow be equals.
I’d passed all his tests.
Maybe this was my reward?
“Elaina,” Donovan said her name softly, softer than he’d ever said mine, softer than he’d ever spoken to me.
Jealousy at his treatment of her coursed through me as he walked into the room looking like The Phantom of the Opera come to fucking life.
He had an all-black suit on, no color was present, his black silk tie was pinned with a diamond, and he wore a simple black half-mask on his face.
I’d never seen anyone look so handsome in all my life.
And I’d never hated him more.
More than when he shamed me.
More than when he hurt me.
More than when he made me bleed.
I hated him the most when he said her name.
His dark eyes landed on me, and a small smile curved across his full hateful lips as he put his hands gently on Elaina’s shoulders and squeezed.
“As always, you did beautifully. How would I survive without you?”
Lowering his head, eyes still on me while Elaina shot me a wink, he kissed her neck, his mouth lingering near her skin.
She froze like she was caught in his web.
He was the spider.
She was the fly.
I was the witness.
Tears of anger burned in my eyes.
Elaina cleared her throat and stepped forward, then turned to face him. “I’ll see you tonight, Donovan.”
Bile rose in my throat, imagining every possible scenario that would eventually break my spirit, my heart, my soul.
I was still sitting like a good pet when she left the room. Donovan eyed me up and down, so callous and calculating that I didn’t even want to imagine all the ways he would make me pay if I chose the wrong dress or addressed him the wrong way.
“You chose the gold,” he addressed in a harsh whisper. “I must have trained you well if that’s where your eyes fell to … considering…” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a large Tiffany’s box.
I gaped and gasped. Shaking, I reached for it. “T-thank you, Master.”
“Ah, she sees a jewelry box, and now she gets it right.”
Was he … teasing me?
It was almost too much. The emotions welled up inside me and threatened to spill over. Adrenaline surged as I slowly opened the box and quickly frowned. It was solid gold and had his name carved inside it along with the phrase. “Mine to take, mine to break. The Society.”
He reached for the necklace and held it up. There was some sort of chain attached to it that dangled nearly to the floor and, at the end of it, some sort of handle.
“Turn,” he whispered.
I stood and turned around, confused and honored he’d give me something, so… Wait a second… As he clasped it around my throat, everything made sense with stunning clarity.
I was his pet.
Oh God.
I was his pet. I couldn’t cry, or he’d punish me and make me bleed. But I was his pet, and this was my collar, and that was his leash. I shattered in that moment, I wasn’t sure if it was the last remaining piece of my heart that hoped for something better, maybe even to be rescued by the very man who punished me, but it left.
And I realized he didn’t have to beat me into submission. No, he would lead me there with his own hands.
Donovan
I lived for her jealousy, for the way she stared at Elaina like she was going to murder her for gaining my approval.
It meant one thing.
She. Was. Ready.
The limo ride was painfully tense as Juliet gently touched the collar on her neck. I wondered if she was horrified or excited? Which would she be, and while I wanted to ask her, I already assumed the answer.
She was, of course, both.
Which made her even angrier.
Juliet liked this role of submissiveness, exactly how I liked the control, the ownership of something so precious, so beautiful, like a rare gem that nobody ever truly deserved but everyone would kill to acquire.
The limo arrived just on time, and I handed her the mask that would match her dress, the one I’d already picked out, and gently attached it to her face. It covered most of it, except her mouth and obviously her eyes, showing every man in attendance that only I could look upon her, however, driving them fucking crazy that they’d never get to see all of her.