Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Does your father know about all your activities?” I ask pointedly. I look away when I realize I bit at his antics. “Remove the bra,” I tell the last woman.
She gulps but does as I say. I don’t move on to the next in line, I stare at the woman in front of me who barely stands five foot two. I loom over her, and it’s obvious she’s intimidated. Usually, I feed off that, but not here. Not in this place.
“Are you sure about this?” I ask the woman. She looks up at me, her freckled features young and innocent. “You’ll all receive an abundant amount for these services, but it’s okay to back out.”
The virginity auctions have been something my father has run for over thirty years now. He came to an agreement with Anya and Alek Ivanov to conduct business in their territory because they host all the other black-market auctions in Manhattan. In return, they get a small cut. The virgins earn the most.
We safely conduct the auctions with vetted clients who have specific fantasies. Security is provided outside the room, and by tonight, these fourteen people will leave with their virginity taken. They range in age, but I’m always quick to pluck out the ones who aren’t quite ready, no matter how desperate they are for the money.
The girl swallows.
“Leave us,” I say to the other candidates. The girl in front of me is confused but doesn’t move. Only Eli remains in the room.
“Please. I need the money,” she says, almost tearing up. She had only just turned twenty-one, but the girl was as frightened as a fledgling. It means she’ll sell for more because the innocent types always sell for the most.
“Are you sure you’re prepared for the money to come at the expense of someone taking from you and using your body in the process?” I ask clinically. She flinches. I try my hardest to soften my tone.
“You don’t have to do this. This is not the only option to make money,” I tell her, and her bottom lip wobbles. “If you don’t feel like you’ll be empowered by this decision, then you should leave. You’re safe here, but we won’t force you to do anything.” I bend down and pick up her bra from the floor.
When I hand it to her, tears begin to spill over her cheeks. “I n-need the money to h-help my little sister. She n-needs chemo. If we don’t… then—” She can’t finish the sentence.
“Corinne,” I call loudly for my assistant, who schedules all of my virginity auctions. “Please escort her to gather her things.”
“No, please—” The girl’s mouth immediately snaps shut as my cold stare lands on her.
I continue. “See what jobs we have available. Perhaps we can manage an advance that’s paid off over the duration of her employment.”
The woman seems surprised but tries to keep her sobs in as she says, “Thank you,” and hurriedly leaves the room.
“Yes, sir,” Corinne says. I wave her off and face my cousin again, who raises his scarred eyebrow.
“Well, well, well. Isn’t someone becoming soft,” he says, following me into my office.
“I don’t need to hear that from you,” I berate as I sit behind my desk. I have many offices but have only recently found the one at Pearl to be my favorite. Most likely because it brings me entertainment in the form of a particular little monster who thinks it’s appropriate to throw things at me.
“Touché.” He glances at his ring and smirks as he takes the seat across from me. I try not to roll my eyes at the lovesick fool as I pour us a glass of whiskey.
I’m not convinced by anyone who tries to tell me that marriage is anything but a contract where you lose your fucking mind and ambition.
Fucking pussy-whipped asshole.
Though, he’d pull a gun on me if I voiced that.
“How’s married life?” I don’t care about it; I’d rather avoid having the focus on myself. I look at my phone, pissed, as I see she still hasn’t responded to my friend request on Instagram. I’m hardly on the fucking app and only use it for PR purposes that a team manages for me. But the fact that she won’t add me has me wildly irritated for some reason. It’s like she goes out of her way to fight me on every little thing. The closer I try to get to her, the more she resists. And it’s driving me insane. I’ve never had this issue with a woman.
“Fucking amazing. I’m obsessed with her,” Eli says without hesitation.
“I can tell,” I reply, distracted by my phone as I look over my last text message, waiting for Posie to respond. I sent her a text an hour ago, telling her to meet me tonight for dinner, and she still hasn’t replied. That’s when I notice Eli’s silence and look up. “What?”