Page 104 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 4

Only I couldn’t exactly escape one hundred percent because I owed Diego a marker, and he intended to cash it in today.

He wanted a wife for life.

My phone buzzed, and Jade’s voice came through crystal clear on the speaker.

“Mr. Salazar is here. Shall I bring him in?”

“Yes, Jade, I am ready.”

I was nowhere near ready, but if I was going to go back to living my life, running the business I’d put thirty years of my soul into, I had to make myself do scary things.

Jade entered with Diego a few paces behind.

I stood up as Diego approached, a huge smile on his face.

We shook hands, he nodded at Christophe, and then clapped as if this was a celebration.

“So, who am I going to marry?”

“Please take a seat. Jade, this was your idea, and I’ve decided you will be running this new side of our business.”

Jade blanched but adjusted to the change in stride, standing taller, nodding, then took the seat next to Diego. She sat primly, crossed her legs and put her tablet on her thigh.

“Have a seat, Mr. Salazar. I’d like to introduce you to our new division: The Marriage Auction: After Dark.”

“Sounds intriguing.” He sat and turned to face both me and Jade. “Please explain.”

“The concept is a bit different than what we have now. You see, the current Marriage Auction offers a three-year period of marriage. Bidders bid on individuals and the highest bidder wins. Everything is on the up-and-up. We meticulously vet our bidders and candidates, ensuring there are no hidden skeletons in either of their closets, no previous entanglements with the law, and that their finances are as they say they are.”

“I’m guessing I don’t fit into one of your approved bidders categories.” He smirked but didn’t say more.

“No. As the leader of the Latin Mafia your alleged crimes…”

“Allegedis the key word, Ms. Lee,” Diego interrupted with conviction.

“I understand, and I, for one, believe everyone deserves a chance at true love. The difference in your situation being we cannot in good conscience prepare a list of candidates that are not already familiar with your—how should I put it—”

“Lifestyle choices,” I added.

“Thank you, Alana. Yes, your lifestyle choices.”

“What you’re saying is you don’t want to put some innocent woman into an auction lest she end up with a man who allegedly runs a criminal empire?” Diego supplied.

Jade smiled. “Exactly.”

“This does not make me happy, Alana.” His dark gaze cut to mine. He started to remind me of my commitment. “You owe me a marker of my choosing—”

I lifted my hand. “Diego, I have every intention of providing you with exactly what you desire. Please continue, Jade.”

“As I was saying, we cannot enlist our normal crowd. What I propose is we hold a private auction for you. This will be held “After Dark” or immediately following our normal auction. We’ll have selected a series of women all willing to be tied to a man of your…” She tapped her lips. “Caliber and lifestyle.”

“Noted. I like where this is going.” Diego eased back in his seat, making himself more comfortable.

“We’ll choose women who have a history of similar tastes,” Jade shared.

“Meaning criminals.”

“Allegedly,” Jade continued. Then she pulled out a list of women she’d already vetted specifically for this job. Not only did it show pictures, but it was essentially each candidate’s rap sheet. Some longer and more detailed than others, as they had a darker history, or more smaller convictions. All of them were free of any current sentencing, all of them having been to jail or arrested in their past, and all of them were interested in marriage for life, provided they got a lot of money out of it. None of them had even flinched at hearing Diego’s name.

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