Book Read Free

Sin City Auction: Bad Boy & Virgin Romance (Nevada Bad Boys Book 4)

Page 11

by Kelli Callahan


  “Sorry…” I mumbled under my breath and tried to figure out what I had missed before I arrived.

  I sent Dominic a message thanking him for the previous night, and a few minutes later I got a response asking if I wanted to meet for coffee. I accepted immediately. We hadn’t been able to meet for a coffee-lunch since he got married.

  My heart sank into my stomach when I walked in and sat down because the golden band missing from his finger the night before was back. She had come to him in tears that morning, told him she was sorry, and they decided to work through their problem. I lost a lot of respect for Dominic when I heard those words. Nancy was going to have her cake, her pie, and Dominic. He really was wrapped around her little finger. By the time the coffee-lunch was done, the only place I wanted to be was back at the office. I would have been happier if he was alone, but he was right back in Nancy’s adulterous clutch.

  “Mr. Stone wants to see you.” One of the secretaries walked by my cubicle and tapped her finger on my desk. “Now.”

  “Okay, let me just save what I’m working on.” I pushed my mouse across my screen.

  “He said now.” She repeated her words and her stare said everything.

  I walked into Mr. Stone’s office with my stomach in knots. I needed my job. I knew I had been screwing up and coming in late, but I wasn’t the only one. The office frowned on it, but I had never heard of anyone getting fired over a few tardies. He had a scowl on his face, like he normally did when he was about to crack the whip on someone. I took a seat across from him and looked at him with a nervous glance. He didn’t say anything at first. His intense dark-colored eyes locked on me and I felt like a child that had just been caught with my hand in the cookie jar, but there were no cookies to at least make the punishment worth it.

  “Do you know how far you’ve stretched my patience the last six months?” He tapped his fingers on the desk.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Stone. I know I haven’t been myself lately.” I swallowed a lump that tried to form in my throat.

  “So what is it?” He narrowed his eyes at me. “A broken heart?”

  “Something like that.” I exhaled sharply. “Maybe a little more complicated, though.”

  “You know that I see a lot of potential in you, right? I don’t hire people because they have a pretty face or a padded resume. I hire them because I see intensity.” He leaned forward in his chair. “I don’t see that in you anymore.”

  “I’m trying to find it, I promise.” I stared at his desk, feeling like I was in the Principal’s office being scolded for misbehaving.

  “There’s a part of me that says I should fire you, but the intensity I used to see was strong enough that I want to give you another chance.” He exhaled sharply. “I’m going to send you home for a week—we’ll call it administrative leave.”

  Oh no, that’s just a prelude to termination.

  “Mr. Stone, I promise I’ll do better. Please don’t do that!” I looked up at him with a horrified expression on my face.

  “You need it. Maybe you don’t see it, but I do.” He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a card. “I’m taking a chance even giving you this, and Human Resources would be up my ass if they knew it, so this has to be between us.”

  “What is it?” I watched as he tossed the card towards the edge of his desk.

  “It’s called Club Infinite Fantasy. It’s exclusive, but I’ll make sure you’re on the guest list. It’s a place where you can mend broken hearts.” He leaned forward and tapped the card. “If you tell anyone I gave this to you, I’ll deny it.”

  “I don’t know…” I picked up the card and stared at it. “This doesn’t sound like somewhere I would go.”

  “Well, you’ve got a week of administrative leave. Why don’t you try something new? You definitely need to, because what you’re doing right now isn’t working at all. If you don’t come back in a week as a different person, then I’ll have no choice but to fire you.” He leaned back in his chair. “It’s your choice, but I guarantee you won’t be thinking about whoever broke your heart once you get a taste of Club Infinite Fantasy.”

  I had never heard of Club Infinite Fantasy. It definitely didn’t sound like a place for a virgin. I spent the first day of my administrative leave like I spent most of my working days, nursing a hangover while I tried to remember the night before. When I finally got over it and was ready for the evening, I checked social media and saw a post from Dominic. It was a testimony to his wife, a glowing thank you to the man upstairs for uniting him with such a beautiful woman. It made me want to throw up. I looked at the card laying on the table next to me, and instead of walking past it like I had the night before, I grabbed it.

  Club Infinite Fantasy, huh? Maybe that is exactly what I need right now.

  I gave the address to the Uber driver and then I was on my way. We left the good part of New York where the rich people lived, passed by the middle-class neighborhoods, and then we were in a part of the city I would have never ventured into on my own. I was nervous to even step out of the car. I looked at the card one last time, confirmed we were in the right place, and stepped out onto the sidewalk. There was no sign for Club Infinite Fantasy. It was just a building with wooden doors and two angry looking bouncers standing beside them. When I approached, they pulled the doors open and I stepped inside.

  Okay, I guess I’m here.

  “Can I help you?” A man in a tuxedo walked up as I walked into what appeared to be a lobby area.

  “Uh, yeah.” I held up the card. “Quintin Stone sent me here?”

  “Ah!” He nodded quickly. “Our special guest for the evening—come with me.”

  I was led to another set of wooden doors. I could hear music coming from the other side. He pulled the doors open and motioned for me to enter. The first thing that hit my senses was the smell of smoke. I walked into a crowded room full of men dressed in suits, naked women dancing in cages, and cocktail waitresses with little left to the imagination serving drinks. There were strobe lights flashing, and once the doors were open the music was almost deafening. The room looked to be filled with debauchery of all kinds and it was clear that the people in the main part of the club weren’t there for a happily ever after. The closest they might come to that would be a happy ending. It was like a carousel of flesh rather than a night club.

  “Come with me.” The man in the tuxedo walked up beside me. “We have a VIP suite reserved for you.”

  VIP suite?

  Click Here To Grab Your Copy Now

  Five Mask Of Sin Sneak Peek

  Reverse Harem Romance (Haremworld Book 5)

  Chapter 1: Lyric

  “You’re really going to do this?” My sister, Muse, peered at me from the bed as I typed my information in the website I had loaded on my screen.

  “I’ve wanted to go to the World Ball since I was a little girl.” I rapidly moved my fingers across the keyboard. “I’m finally twenty-one, or at least I will be when the event is held.”

  “I honestly thought you would grow out of it. Lyric, that place sounded romantic when we were kids, but it isn’t all glitz and glamour.” She moved to the edge of the bed so she could speak in a hushed voice. “You know people are basically just hooking up at this thing, right?”

  “What’s wrong with that?” I looked over my shoulder and grinned.

  “Well, for starters—you’re still a virgin.” She continued speaking in a hushed tone. “I don’t think many virgins go to the World Ball.”

  “Mom and Dad met at the World Ball. Look how happy they are.” I put my hand over my heart. “I want that kind of love.”

  “Maybe you should see what love is about before you settle down with the first guy that you let in your panties.” She sighed and shook her head. “I still haven’t found the right guy and I’m almost thirty.”

  “I’ve waited my whole life for this. I’m not missing my opportunity.” I finished typing my details into the website, loaded a head shot, and hit the submit
button.

  My parents had the kind of love and romance I had always dreamed of finding. The World Ball brought them together, and I hoped lightning could strike twice for our family. Muse was more of a free spirit. She was sexually active by the time she got to high school and her pregnancy scare at sixteen made my parents pay a lot closer attention to who I spent my time with. I was one step above sheltered and I wasn’t allowed to go on any dates that weren’t chaperoned. They even gave me a curfew when I started college, although they loosened the reins a little bit once I turned eighteen.

  “What are you going to tell our parents? You can’t very well tell them you’re heading off to New York for the World Ball. They’ll put the brakes on that plan real quick.” She chuckled and leaned back on the bed. “Do you really have it in you to lie to them?”

  “No, I’m not going to lie. I’m going to tell the truth. If they try to stop me from going to the World Ball, then they are hypocrites.” I closed my laptop and turned to face her. “They’re not going to say no.”

  “I think you’re wrong.” Muse chuckled. “Dad didn’t even let you go to any of the graduation parties.”

  “They don’t want me living with them until I’m thirty.” I stood to my feet and hopped on the bed next to my sister. “I mean, they already have one disastrously unmarried daughter. Surely they want grandkids at some point.”

  “You bitch!” Muse sat up and pushed my shoulder. “They weren’t very excited about the prospect of grandkids when I was sixteen!”

  “Yeah, cause you were sixteen!” I laughed and pushed her with a little more force.

  “It’s too bad too, because I would have made very beautiful babies with Adam.” She pulled away before I could push her a second time.

  “Well, now you’ll just have to settle on being the world’s greatest aunt.” I leaned over on my elbows. “Because I’m going to make beautiful babies with whatever hot guy I meet at the World Ball.”

  We continued teasing each other for several minutes before I had to leave for work. My part-time job didn’t bring in a lot of money, but I had managed to pad my savings account a little bit since I was still living at home. College was over for the summer and I had cleared my schedule so I could attend the World Ball. I was being a little presumptuous since I wasn’t sure I would even get accepted, but I felt like it was destiny. There had to be a reason I hadn’t found love yet. I fantasized about meeting someone amazing that proved love at first sight wasn’t just isolated to my parents. They were so incredibly happy and I just wanted that kind of love.

  How could I not want something so special? The only reason I’m here is because of the World Ball.

  I spent several days going to work and checking my email as soon as I got home. I kept waiting for a response—any response. When it finally came, I was nervous. If they rejected me, I wouldn’t be able to apply again until the following year. If they accepted me, I was going to have to tell my parents I applied for a spot because I couldn’t consider going without telling them. My nerves were shot before I ever clicked the email, but when I finally opened, I practically fell out of my chair. My application was accepted. I had an invitation. The email contained my login information and when I clicked the link to the website, I saw a mask staring back at me. I put in my information and the screen lit up with my invitation to the Masquerade of Sin.

  The theme this year is Masquerade of Sin—well, that’s not going to inspire any confidence with my parents.

  “Absolutely not!” My mother leaned against the kitchen table and her face was flushed with anger.

  “Lyric, you can’t do something like this without telling us first!” My father had the same reflection of anger as his voice echoed through the kitchen.

  “You guys met at the World Ball! How can you be upset with me for wanting something like that?” I felt tears welling up in my eyes as I looked back and forth between them.

  “That was a different time.” My mother shook her head angrily. “The World Ball used to be a special event. Now it’s just a gratuitous sex party. It’s a giant orgy!”

  “No daughter of mine will ever go to a place like that.” My father took a step towards me and pointed in my face. “This is the kind of thing I would expect from Muse. You’re supposed to be the responsible one!”

  “I spent my whole childhood hearing about your perfect love story.” The tears started to flood down my face. “All I wanted was a chance to have something like that.”

  “When we went, it was beautiful.” My mother sighed. “There’s something we haven’t told you.”

  “Miranda, don’t.” My father shook his head cautiously.

  “She needs to know.” My mother took a step towards my father. “We’ve convinced her that the World Ball is such a magical place. It’s only fair that she knows the truth.”

  “What are you talking about?” I looked at my mother and then over to my father.

  “We went to the fiftieth anniversary of the World Ball. They offered to let all of the couples that had met there in the past and transformed the magical three-day event into a lifelong relationship come back for one night only. They kept us away from the single folks, but they did a nice ceremony to introduce us when it started.” My mother exhaled sharply.

  “Miranda and I weren’t really interested in following the rules, so we decided to go see what the real dance floor was like.” My father’s jaw clenched. “It was awful. People were grinding on each other like they were married.”

  “I mean…” I sighed and shook my head. “That’s just how people dance now.”

  “It was sinful!” My mother snapped the words against her tongue angrily. “It wasn’t beautiful, it was disgusting!”

  I knew I wasn’t going to win the argument. Once my parents made up their mind about something, there was no way to change their minds. I retreated to my bedroom and lay in bed, crying against my pillow until I finally fell asleep. The dreams I had as a little girl were dashed by the very people who created them in the first place.

  I woke up the next morning with my eyes rimmed red and as I sat on the edge of my bed thinking, I decided that I wasn’t going to listen to them. I had an invitation. It was a once in a lifetime experience. If it was as awful as they described, I would regret going, but at least I wouldn’t spend the rest of my life wondering what could have been. I didn’t mention it to them again, but over the course of several weeks I bought a plane ticket and packed my suitcase in secret. I let a note that explained things the best way that I could and headed to the airport in the back of an Uber.

  I’m sorry. I’ve done exactly what you said for twenty-one years. It’s time I did something for myself.

  “Welcome—to the Masquerade of Sin!” A man walked out onto a balcony overlooking the main part of the Grand Ballroom. “Are you ready for the opening ceremony?”

  I had been in New York for less than a day and my head was already spinning. It was a lot to take in for a girl from a small town. My flight arrived late and after getting some sleep, I spent the day seeing some of the popular sights in the city. I figured I wouldn’t have much time once the World Ball started. There would definitely be some time during the day, but I hoped I was exhausted from dancing all night. I had bought a dress that cost way more than I could afford. When I saw it on the rack, I just couldn’t turn it down. It was ocean-blue and fit me like a glove. I was able to pick up a bra made out of shells to wear over it, and the mask I chose was one that was textured to look like a mermaid’s tail. It didn’t look as fancy as some of the other outfits I saw, but it was passable as the masquerade version of a sexy mermaid.

  “We all wear masks in this world.” The lights dimmed and music started to play as the man on the balcony started to speak. “They hide who we really are. Tonight, you don’t have to hide behind the mask you wear every day. You can come alive without ever showing your face. This year—the rules have changed.”

  Judging by the reaction in this room, I’m guessing that w
asn’t expected.

  “Normally the World Ball lasts three nights and on the last night, you have the option of asking one person to leave with you. This year, we’re doing things a little different. If you had plans, it’s time to cancel them. The music won’t stop for seven straight days!” He pointed down to the crowd and dancers walked out on the stage as the music got more intense.

  Seven days? Oh my god! I can’t stay here seven days…

  “At the end of each night, you have the choice of offering your pin to one person.” The man held up the pin that we were all given. “If they give your their pin in return, you can leave together.”

  Maybe my parents were right. This doesn’t sound anything like what they described when I was a kid.

  “If you decide it isn’t meant to be, you can swap pins again and return to the World Ball.” He smiled and held up his hands. “Enjoy the Masquerade of Sin!”

  The music changed to a classical song and I watched as people started to pair up. I looked around and quickly moved through the crowd to get to the bar that was set up in the corner. I wasn’t confident enough to just start dancing with a stranger, even if that was why I came in the first place. I ordered a glass of Champagne and sipped it for a few minutes as people moved across the dance floor like they had prepared for that moment their entire lives. I had as well, but I didn’t know the steps to the song. A few seconds later, a man walked up and extended his hand.

  “Can I have this dance?” He was wearing an orange and red mask with feathers along the top.

  “What are you supposed to be?” I tilted my head and looked at the long cloak he was wearing with similar colored feathers.

  “I’m a phoenix.” A smile spread across his face—a smile so charming it practically made my heart flutter. “A phoenix that is very interested in a mermaid, even if I drown in the water trying to take your hand.”

 

‹ Prev