by Jamie Knight
“Well, this event is an auction, but rather than selling antiques or cars…we sell people’s time. Our patrons are mostly wealthy men, and our auction participants are offering everything from a simple date to more.”
I’m puzzled for a moment, but then it clicks. “You mean, like…someone could sell…” I struggle to think of a polite way to word it, “A night in bed?”
She chuckles. “Something like that, if they want to, yes.”
My mouth hangs open in a mixture of shock and horror. I can't even imagine doing something like that. Subjecting myself to the pleasures of some stranger to make a quick buck. The woman laughs a little at my response. "Are you sure you wouldn't be interested in attending or participating? You have a lovely figure and I’m sure you would do quite well," She asks again.
"No, thank you," I reply quickly.
Suddenly I want to get back to the safety of my own store as soon as possible. "Well in case you change your mind, here's a business card. My number is on the back,” the woman says, handing the card to me.
As I take the card from her I give her an awkward "thanks," stumbling backwards toward the door.
She smiles and goes back to unpacking the boxes. I take that as my cue to exit and quickly walk back to my own store. I remove the sign from the front window and am once again open for business. I prop the business card on the register and start alphabetizing another section of the store.
I try to think about other stuff, but everything that woman said stays with me. I just can't picture doing something like that. Plus there's no way making money could be as easy as she said. There has to be some kind of catch. Nobody gets paid just to have a good time.
"Stop thinking about it. You are not that type of person," I scold myself.
Still, I need to make some kind of an effort to raise money. My time here is quickly running out and so far I've got nothing to help me keep this store.
I try unsuccessfully for several more minutes to stop thinking about my earlier conversation before finally, I give up on work and close the store again. I walk back to the suite where the woman is. Her door is still open, so I walk inside.
Curiosity really is going to be the death of me.
"Um. Excuse me," I say hesitantly as I approach.
She turns around to look at me, "Yes?" She asks curiously.
I step inside and hesitate a few more seconds. "How much can I make at this thing?" I ask bluntly.
I need to stop beating around the bush when it comes to important things. But at the same time, that might have been a little too blunt.
"Honestly?" the woman asks.
I nod my head, butterflies churning in my gut.
"You could make enough to set you up for life. I’ve seen girls walk away with thousands just for a date, and millions for more. It depends on you." She answers.
My eyes nearly pop out of my head. This is like the answer to my prayers.
I tell myself to calm down and not be too hasty about anything. I still need more information and I'm finding it very hard to believe what this woman is saying. I mean, honestly, millions? That doesn’t even sound real. It feels too good to be true, too easy.
I walk over to her and continue the conversation. Skepticism is evident in my voice as I say, "I'm finding this all very hard to believe. It can't really be this simple to make that much money. It sounds too good to be true."
She smiles good-naturedly as I voice my doubts.
"Look, your doubts are understandable, but before you judge, why don't you come down and see for yourself?" She suggests.
She can see the hesitation on my face. Before I can reject her offer she says, "You don't have to participate. Just come down, watch the first couple of auctions and see how it's done. If you like what you see, then we have a process for you to sign up and join on the spot. There's no harm in looking, and you'll meet a lot of people in case you want other opinions on it," She explains.
I'm still unsure, but she does sound pretty convincing. She's probably right, it can't hurt to just observe. Plus I like that she isn't pressuring me to commit to being a part of it right now. She waits in silence as I weigh my options in my head. "What should I wear?" I ask after all my hesitation.
She smiles, "I can definitely help with that…" she replies.
After our conversation I bid her goodbye and head back to my store. I finish alphabetically organizing that section. I spend the rest of the day standing by the register and mulling over the information she gave me. Around closing time I give a last look around the store before locking up and heading home.
I still have a few hours before the event and I spend that time making myself presentable, as well as preparing myself emotionally. I keep reminding myself that I don’t have to do anything, I’m just going to look. And if I participate, I could save my store. I remind myself that there's no pressure and I don't have to participate if I don't want to. That helps me breathe a little easier.
But at the same time, I’ve been hoping so hard for a solution to all of my problems, and here one is. I’ve just got to keep an open mind. Maybe this is what I’ve been looking for.
Chapter 6 - Dominic
I'm getting ready for the auction tonight. It’s almost time to leave. I honestly don't know how to feel about it. I guess I'm pretty optimistic at the moment, I mean I do have high hopes for it.
Yeah I told my friend my concerns because the last few auctions have been lackluster, but things can't be bad all the time. I mean, eventually things have to change for the better, so I'm hoping that's what will happen tonight. And isn’t there a whole thing about “third time’s the charm?” I’m hoping after two duds, maybe this one will be something different.
Ready to go, I get in my car and start making my way to the address Kevin had given me for this auction. He’s planning to meet me there.
While I’m stopped at a red light, I find myself thinking a little more about tonight. Actually, maybe that's my problem. Maybe I’ve been thinking about every one of these events too much, and overthinking has spoiled them.
Maybe I’ve been too picky and that's why nothing has worked out? The whole point of these events is just go out and have fun with no attachments. I’m not looking for anything more than a night. Maybe if I have that kind of mindset tonight I will end up meeting someone.
Perhaps Kevin is right, and I do need to cut loose and have a little fun. And I guess it can’t hurt to try. The light turns green and I continue across town to the venue. I arrive at the location and park my car.
I don't think much of it, I was kind of put out that it was being held at some dinky little shopping center. I'm not too worried about it, though. The people that host these events always go all out to make them very enjoyable. Sometimes you forget where you are until you look at what's happening around you.
I check the time and walk quickly around the strip. I look at each shop trying to find the one that Kevin texted me. I spot it quickly because there is a small crowd of people gathered outside, and when I glance out at the parking lot, I realize I must have just parked on the wrong side.
Regardless, this looks promising. If the crowd is this large, then the event must be going well. Despite the crowd, it doesn’t take long for me to make my way inside. I look around for Kevin and spot him standing not too far from the entrance.
He looks up from his phone and sees me. "Hey! You made it!" He says in greeting.
"Yeah, looks like quite the turnout." I reply, gesturing to the crowd around us.
"Yeah, I was surprised by it, too, but hey, looks like a good bunch, right? Come on, let’s get a drink," He suggests.
He leads the way to the bar where we each order a beer. Once we’ve got drinks, we turn around and scan the crowd to get an idea of what type of people are here tonight. After a while I start to get disappointed. I was hoping to see a little more variety in a crowd this large, but no one catches my attention. All the women here a
re tan, blonde, thin, your typical model types. They’re beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but they’re just not my type. That sort has never really appealed to me.
Kevin orders us another round of drinks. "I'm glad you showed up. It's good for you to get out, man, you work too hard, " he says.
"Yeah, I’m glad I came out," I agree, though internally I'm regretting my decision a little bit.
I gulp my drink and look back out at the crowd of women. I remember my thoughts on the ride over here. The only way I'm going to have any fun is if I stop being picky. I try to picture ending up with one of them tonight, or forcing some kind of attraction to them, but no matter what I do, it's just not working. In truth, I feel kind of numb and bored. Like I don't want to be here anymore.
It’s not like I’ve lost interest in women. But maybe I’ve lost interest in these auctions.
As we’re nearing the bottoms of our drinks, they start calling the participants towards the stage. Looking over them, it’s just as I feared. Not the slightest glimmer of a spark towards a single one. I'm already trying to come up with an excuse to leave, when a flash of color catches my eye.
I turn to see a woman dressed in a vintage-looking, cobalt-colored dress that clings to a curvaceous figure. She stands out so vividly in the sea of stick-thin blondes, with dark curls are pinned to the top of her head. I don't notice the rest of her face yet because my eyes are drawn to the deep red of her full lips.
She looks like a she’s stepped right off the page of some vintage magazine, pinup-girl perfection. I'm normally not a fan of “retro” styles like this, but it looks so good on her that I can't take my eyes off of her.
She keeps her gaze trained to the stage. She's watching with such intensity that for a brief moment, I’m worried that maybe she's bidding on a woman for herself. I can't stop the disappointment that floods through me. I put my empty glass back on the bar.
Either way, she’s standing in the audience, not the auction line. I wonder briefly if it would be in bad taste to go hit on her. It’s an interesting idea, the thought of picking up a woman in such a normal way at one of these things.
As one auction ends, I watch her head turn quickly to look around. She hesitates, gnawing on that plush lower lip for a moment, then walks determinedly to the sign up table.
My jaw nearly hits the floor. I can't believe my luck. She’s going to play the game, and I’m going to win. I have to have this girl. I look over at Kevin, he’s busy chatting up some woman I don’t recognize.
I turn my attention back to the sign up table. She's still there, filling out the papers. I watch her every move, captivated and mesmerized by her beauty. I notice the way her dress hugs her lush figure and shows off delectable curves.
My eyes keep being drawn back to those bold red lips. I wonder briefly what it would feel like to have those lips wrapped around my cock, and the blood rushes south. She stares at the paperwork with the same intensity that she was watching the auctions with.
I try to guess what sort of thing she'll bid, and end up coming up with a few of my own I'd like to try. I need to calm myself, so I order another drink and gulp it. "Everything ok?" Kevin asks.
The girl he was talking to before has her arms wrapped around him. "Yeah, just fine." I reply with a chuckle.
Kevin nods and goes back to his girl. I think about how my opinion about coming out tonight might be starting to change a little bit.
Sipping my drink, I watch the pinup girl as long as I can until she disappears into the crowd again.
Chapter 7 - Juliette
I can't believe I'm here. I'm shocked at how many people actually attend events like this. The lady I talked to earlier today was here to welcome me, which was pretty nice. There is a bar, though I'm not much of a drinker, besides I'm here to observe and not enjoy myself. Thankfully I haven't been approached by any weirdos yet, and no one has tried to talk to me.
Not that attention is bad, I just don't want the wrong kind. Besides, I need to be focused on tonight. I walk through the crowd and get into a spot that has a good view of the stage. I arrived early, so it will be a little while before the auctions start.
I take the opportunity to observe the people around me. They’re dressed stylishly, in expensive designer fashions, which means they definitely have money. The woman obviously wasn’t kidding about the wealthy patrons. In my hand-me-down vintage dress, one I’d inherited from my grandmother, I feel like I stand out like a sore thumb.
Not to mention the fact that I might be the only woman in this room over a size two. I’m kind of amazed by all the thin, statuesque women around me and more than a little intimidated. Who’s going to be interested in the girl next door when there are freaking supermodels to pick from? I have to take a breath and calm down.
Now is not the time to panic or freak out. I remind myself of what the lady said. There is no pressure to be a part of this. Just as I'm getting calm, she walks over and tells me: "We’re about to get started now."
Nodding, I turn to the stage and give my full attention. I realize I probably look like a potential buyer or something. I don't care, though. I want to learn as much about this as I can. Not just as a way to earn money, but I'm also curious as well. Ok, this kind of lifestyle isn't for me, but how do these people do it? What makes those auctions so interesting?
I don't move from my spot during the first two auctions. After the third passes and I feel like I’ve got the picture, I run to the bathroom to clear my head. There's no one else in here so after I finish in the stall I stand in front of the mirror a while.
I check my makeup then pace on the bathroom floor. The auctions look pretty simple, so the only question that remains is do I want to go through with it? I weigh my options once more. At first I’d thought this seemed so wrong, but the girls up there…they look like they’re having fun. And I’ve heard some of the bids being called out, if I could make even a fraction of that cash,…
No! What am I thinking, I can’t seriously go through with this. I'm getting ready to just walk out when I remember where I am. I think of my record shop just a few storefronts over. Do I really want to risk losing it?
With a soft sigh, I exit the bathroom. I walk past the stage and through the crowd of people. I hesitate by the signup table, my heart pounding. "Oh, hey!" The woman from earlier greets me, “Having a good time?”
“I want to sign up,” I blurt out, before I can lose my nerve.
Her face lights up. “Excellent! You’re gonna have a great time, sweetie, you won’t regret this, I promise.”
She grabs a clipboard and pen and puts a stack of paperwork on it. "Take your time and read through it. There's no rush, we’re gonna be here a while," She assures me.
"Ok, thanks!" I reply with a forced smile.
I gulp and I nervously look down at the forms in my hands. Am I sure I want to go through with this? But I just keep thinking of those numbers, and I know my answer has to be yes. The store depends on it.
After I fill out my name and information I read through the rest of the form. The sign-up form gives me the option to either set a specific auction, like a date or a kiss, or to declare myself open for offers.
From what I observed, the open-offer lots seemed to go for significantly more, so while it terrifies to, that might be my best and only chance at making the money I need. And I can refuse offers, so it’s not like I’m just going to be forced to jump right in and do whatever depraved nonsense someone can come up with. So, with shaking hands, I check the open-offer box.
I take a breath and hand the forms back to the woman nervously, knowing that once they’re out of my hands, there’s no turning back. She looks them over with a smile. "Great! You'll go on next. Just grab a spot by the stage.”
I nod and follow her instructions. As I wait for this auction to finish I sneak a mirror out of my purse and try to make some last-minute improvements to my appearance, adjusting a curl here and touching up my lipstick.
The woman had told me to dress in something that showed off my body. This was the best I could do. I know it's not revealing, but it's so clingy and snug and shows off every curve of my body. Maybe that will appeal to someone. I still feel so out of place amongst all these supermodel-gorgeous women in their cleavage baring designer outfits.
How is anyone going to notice me? I can feel myself getting more nervous by the second as my turn grows nearer.
Before I know it, however, I’m being beckoned, and on trembling legs, I climb the stage. The auctioneer introduces me and what I'm auctioning. My face burns when it’s announced that I’m a virgin, and I almost wish I hadn’t checked that box on the paperwork.
It’s not exactly a point of pride that I’m still a virgin. But I’d just never met the right guy. Hell, I’d never even had a serious boyfriend.
But I try not to worry about all of that. It doesn’t matter, I’m here to save the store. I'm up there in front of the crowd, exposed, vulnerable.
I'm so nervous I have to close my eyes and hold my breath. My heart’s beating so hard I’m sure everyone in the crowd can hear it. I can't believe I'm doing this. The first bid rolls out, I open my eyes. Suddenly more bids happen, and I can breathe again. I want to laugh a little in relief and shock.
And on top of that, I have to admit, it’s a little bit of a confidence boost to be here with all these beautiful women and still have eyes on me.
Suddenly, they are bidding in the thousands. I'm shocked that we reached that high of a number already. So many people are bidding at once that it's hard to keep track of them. I can barely keep track, and suddenly I’m nervous. The numbers might be climbing, but with them, the expectations are growing. I’d kind of expected to sell a date, maybe a little more, but how far am I willing to go?
A large bid, in the upper thousands stuns us all. Even I stop being excited for a moment. The crowd parts a little as everyone tries to see who made the bid. I lock eyes with him and my heart stutters in my chest. I’d been so focused on the “competition” that I really hadn’t paid much attention to the men, to be honest, but this guy…