Page 11 of A Christmas Auction

She shook her head. “My commission gets paid by the bidder. You pay nothing. On the night of the auction, once you both sign on the dotted line, you are sent a deposit of $250,000. Once you are married a third of the bid gets transferred. Then on your first anniversary the second installment, and the same on the next anniversary. By the third anniversary if you do not want to stay married, you get divorced.”

I sucked air through my teeth as I considered that once I got married to my bidder, I’d be a million dollars richer. That was alotof money.

“And what happens if the bidder doesn’t like what he purchases or I can’t stand him?”

Alana smiled. “There are systems in place for that as well. That is why we suggest the wedding occur within thirty days of the auction, so you have time to get to know your husband. However, I am doing something entirely different for the Christmas auction. For the next month, I have requested each bidder take the candidate they are interested in on a date.”

“A date?”

“Oui. This will give the candidate and the bidder a bit of time to connect. See if there is physical attraction, camaraderie, shared interests, maybe even an insta-love connection.”

I snort-laughed and received a raised eyebrow from Alana in response. “Do you mock me?”

“No, God no!” I rushed to explain. “I just think insta-love is only in fairytales. Insta-lust sure. I’ve experienced that a time,orten. But I’ve never believed in that love-at-first-sight stuff. It’s impractical and unrealistic, in my humble opinion. But you know, my mom always taught me, ‘to each their own.’ Just because I haven’t experienced it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”

“I agree,” Alana said.

“Um, now about the bidders. What’s in it for them?”

“Each bidder has their own reasons. I’ve heard and seen it all.”

“Could you be more specific? If I’m to consider a monster-sized risk, marriage to a stranger, I need to see this plan from both sides.”

Alana tapped her nail on the table and pursed her lips. “I cannot give you names or likenesses, but I can share some scenarios, if that would help.”

“It would. It totally would.” I smiled and danced in my chair encouragingly.

“Well let’s see, I’ve had twin brothers who were set to gain an enormous inheritance provided they were married. Another was hopelessly in love with a woman that had put herself up for auction in order to gain enough money to save her family’s land from being purchased from underneath her, by that same man in fact.”

“No way! That’s scandalous as all get-out. What happened?” I leaned forward, hoping to pull the details from her faster.

“They got married, fell in love, and are expanding their family.”

“Wow. I’ll bet that match made you feel like a boss bitch.” I chuckled.

She smirked. “Truth be told, I’m rather proud of that pairing.”

“What else?”

“Sometimes it’s not so exciting. One male candidate I had needed a great deal of money to help his very large family. Thewoman who purchased him had given up on the idea of love and just wanted a man in her life to be there for her. Another bidder was lonely and a single father who had been widowed. Let’s see… Oh, the last auction, I had a bidder who wanted to find a woman he could love and have children with.”

“Children?” I scoffed. “You mean some of these matches have babies even knowing they’re going to end their marriage in three years?”

Alana nodded. “Everything is up for negotiation.”

“Would I be required to have a child? Because if that’s the case, I’m out. There’s no amount of money that could make me want to have a baby with a stranger. I’m not even sure I want kids.”

Alana laughed. “No, no,chérie. Once you’ve agreed to participate, we go through all of your likes and dislikes, sexually and otherwise. We are professionals in setting up marriages of convenience, not baby breeders. However, some couples enter into the auction to find a forever pairing. Some actually want children regardless of the time limit. If both parties are open to such thing, we make that known in the contract.”

“Well, put me down for the ‘no baby’ option,” I said dryly. I couldn’t even imagine such a thing.

“Does that mean you are open to entering the auction? I’m afraid I do need an answer rather quickly as we have already entered into our one-month window of setting up dates with potential bidders prior to the actual auction on Christmas Eve.”

“I don’t know,” I worried my bottom lip with my teeth. “I need to think about it. Can I have a couple days?”

Alana nodded, grabbed her wristlet and pulled out another of those black business cards. Her name was on one side, a phone number on the other. That was it. So cool. She slid the card across the table and stood up.

“I hope to hear from you, Holly. I do believe you’d be the perfect candidate for this event. Think about it. And if you have any additional questions, feel free to call.” She pointed at the door to my apartment. “I’ll see myself out.”

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