Page 40 of My Soul for Sale

I care about Sloane; I do. I have feelings for her, but are they more than dirty sex with my ex-stepdaughter feelings? I don’t know.

I don’t know if I can love again… or more so, if I want to.

Both times I fell in love, they ended up leaving. Although, I’m pretty sure what I had with Ali wasn’t love. She painted me a pretty picture, sold me a pipedream, and I bought it like a sap.

Atlas hasn’t been burned by that emotion yet. He’s felt it mixed with hope, and this one woman has the power to ruin it for him. Yet he’s still chasing it like a hamster on a wheel.

“Did you get her number or anything?” I ask, hoping that he can simply call her and beg for an in-person meeting.

“No. She was worried about post auction communication being against the rules and I stormed out pissed off.”

“Is it against the rules? I didn’t see anything about that on the website, did you? That Edward guy didn’t mention it either in any of his speeches.”

“I don’t know. I didn’t see or hear anything about it.” Atlas shrugs.

“Okay. So I’ll call Club Lust and see if I can get in touch with Edward and ask. Maybe tell him we knew Sloane before; that might get him to tell us more information. Perhaps he knows where she works or lives.”

My phone rings and I don’t recognize the number. That means it’s a new client, my car warranty is expired, or Edward is calling me back.

I called the club a few times over the past couple of days with no luck in being able to talk to Edward, but I did get to speak with Natalie again. She was just as bubbly on the phone as she was the night of the auction. I was assured I would get a call back within a few days and I’m growing impatient.

“Duttin Construction, this is Ripley.”

“Ripley, this is Edward. You are a persistent man, aren’t you?”

“Only when it comes to my son and money. I do appreciate your call, though.”

“What can I do for you, Ripley?” he asks.

“Well, as you know, me and my son attended your event.” I don’t want to say too much since I signed an NDA and we could be overheard. “Loved our merchandise. In fact, we knew it beforehand. Seeing it at your event was a surprise. However, my son really liked the merchandise, so I was hoping there weren't any rules about post event viewing.”

I feel like an idiot talking in code and riddles, but I’m taking no chances in breaking that NDA or getting on Edward’s bad side. The Sartoris were there, so he obviously knows them and that’s not a can of worms I want to open.

“Oh, a little post event puppy love.” He chuckles. “There are no rules on post event viewing. But the merchandise was entrusted to me, so if I find out it has been broken, I will come looking for answers. It might seem like I’m a cold-hearted bastard for this event, but it helps people out who have no other option. The merchandise means more than dollar signs to me.”

I’m glad to hear that this isn’t some get rich quick scheme for him and the people who volunteer to sell themselves are looked after, post auction.

“Not the intention at all. I was also hoping that you could drop us a number or a place of employment.”

I can feel the tension on the other end, and can picture him now, stick-straight posture while staring at his phone in disgust.

“If you knew it before, how do you not have this?”

How do I word this? He’s asking questions, which I understand, but we’re still talking in riddles.

“Ummm. Edward, did you know I was once married? She had a daughter named Birdie and when we divorced, she took Birdie and we never saw them again. Nasty drug and alcohol habit. I hear Birdie is grown, and well, my son would like to reconnect.”

“What an interesting turn of events.”

“However, on Sunday, the bird had to return to its cage. My son wanted to keep it. The bird went back anyway, and there was a falling out, and now he wants to make amends.”

“Your son must not hurt for money,” Edward muses.

“What do you mean?”

“There would have been no money if the bird didn’t return. They aren’t paid until Sunday night.”

“Shit,” I hiss.

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