Nina gives a low chuckle. “I’ve never heard it stated quite so eloquently.”
“I don’t have the butt for a thong,” I explain. “I look huge.”
“Our view of ourselves is always a little warped. You’re just fine. It’s more commonly referred to as heart-shaped.”
“Oh.”
“It’s a good thing.” She nods as she says it.
“Okay.” I just have to keep the butterflies in my stomach.
“We’ll be getting underway in a moment,” Nina continues, walking me over to where the desk had been. Now there’s a large wooden platform in front of the drapes, and the desk is on the opposite side of the room.
My eyes widen. “I hadn’t even thought about that. It’s done online?”
“This time it will be.” She nods.
“This time?” I’m still trying to wrap my head around this. Now I find out it’s a regular thing.
“Normally, we have everyone in one room, and the girls are brought in one at a time,” she explains.
So, there’s more than one of us. Good. At least I’m not alone. I’m not sure I want to know what the men are like. I swallow hard. What’s worse, seeing them there or not seeing them until after? I automatically go to adjust my glasses, but they’re gone. Nina insisted on contacts for the weekend. Though she got me some glasses with a nicer frame.
Nina’s expression turns thoughtful. “Why didn’t you ask about the auction before?”
I swallow hard. “I guess I didn’t want to think about it.”
“Mmm. You should always know what you’re getting yourself into,” she states. “This is your life and, ultimately, you’re the only one responsible for yourself.”
I nod. She has a point.
“Do you have any questions?”
A horrible thought jumps into my head. “What if nobody bids on me?”
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about.” She gives me a knowing smile.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Keep in mind, men have all kinds of likes,” Nina explains. “You can be sure someone, likely more than one someone logged on will like what they see, and they’ll be the ones bidding on you. Now let’s get you on your pedestal so you can practice your balance while it rotates.” She holds out a hand and helps me step up then moves to sit at the desk. “It’s starting now.”
The bases buzzes quietly under me, making a smooth turn. This isn’t too bad. I remember seeing Sofia Vergara doing something like this online.
“You never asked what you’d get for doing this,” Nina says from behind the desk.
My nerves kick in and I put a hand to my tummy. “You said it was an auction, so I figured it’s up to the bidding.”
“It is,” she says conversationally, “but there’s still a starting point.”
“Like a minimum bid?”
“Yes.” Seconds tick by.
“Excuse me?” I’m not sure what I’m supposed to ask.
“You have to know what you’re getting into,” she reminds me.
Feeling foolish, I do as I’m told. “So what is the starting point?”
“It’s a one hundred thousand dollar buy in.”
The pedestal goes in one direction and world spins in another. “A hun-hundred thousand?” I had to have heard wrong.
“Our CEO makes sure it’s enough to cover a living wage. You’re going to hand over a precious commodity,” she reminds me, “so you should be compensated.”
“You’re going to give me a hundred thousand dollars?” I ask, needing confirmation.
“Well, that’s the starting point. The house takes a percentage after that to cover fees, makeover, and me.” She winks.
“So, how does this happen?” I ask, getting interested.
“The auctioneer will be talking to the participants. I’ll be giving you instructions as things move along.” She moves a camera and tripod in front of me, adjusting it until she’s happy with the setup. “It’ll be pretty quick, but it may not seem that way from your perspective.”
“Okay.”
“All money is transferred to you after you complete the three-night stay,” she emphasizes. “These men are paying a lot of money to keep you until Monday morning.”
“I understand.” I’m lightheaded. A hundred thousand dollars. That’s a lot of money. I can pay for college, get an apartment, and eat. If I get a small place, I can stretch the money out for a long time.
“Relax and smile for me.” I do. She presses a button, and the lights soften. “I’m going to point a laser at the wall in front of you. I need you to follow the light. While this looks like a kitty-cat game, it’s more natural than having you stare into the camera.”
“Will do.” My heart’s racing. The laser starts moving.
“Excellent. Soften the smile. Pretend you’re listening to someone, and you know they’re wrong. You’re going to swoop as soon as he’s done speaking.”
The one person who comes to mind is Chase Reynolds. Oh, how I hated sitting there listening to him create criminals. Showing them how to hack into a network while saying he was teaching them how to catch people doing it.
“Oh, very nice,” Nina says, pleased.
6
Chase
The total went up before I could even figure out if the woman on screen is actually Jasmine. These bastards are trying to outbid me on the woman I brought in. Not going to happen. Five, zero, zero-zero-zero, enter.
“We’re at forty thou—make that fifty-fifty thousand dollars, gentlemen.” The pitch of the auctioneer’s voice makes me think he’s worked as a sportscaster at some point.
The total update at the top of the screen changes again a second later. I should have thought to bring a bigger monitor. But honestly, I didn’t expect something like this. From what I heard, these things usually happen live. Though, with things as they are, I can understand not wanting to have so many people in a room together.
“Fifty-five. Sixty. Sixty-five.”
Seven, five, zero-zero-zero, enter.
I lean in, studying the image. It’s her. I don’t know what the hell they did to her, but damn. Gone are the black-frame glasses she was always pushing up the bridge of her nose. She could be a pageant contestant looking out across her admirers. Her hair’s flowing like a dark waterfall over her creamy shoulders.
“Seventy-five thousand dollars. For those of you into anime, imagine it, schoolgirl uniform, librarian, dean of physical education. Whatever floats your educational boat. There’s no judgment here.”
Nine, five, zero-zero-zero, enter.
Jasmine’s a contradiction, with a hint of color around her eyes to create an air of mystery and a blend of bold and dark at her lips.
“Eighty-five. Ninety-five. One hundred. One ten. One hundred ten thousand dollars,” he says with enthusiasm.
One, two, zero, zero-zero-zero, enter.
Her dress is virginal white yet transparent.
“One twenty. One thirty.”
One, four, zero, zero-zero-zero, enter.