Page 18 of Spice and Revenge

Everyone in the room bursts out in laughter as Aurora walks out with a red-faced Fabio.

“Good. The kids are gone,” Marco says before clearing his throat. I chuckle because Aurora and Fabio are far from being kids. “I've got something new in mind for my club's nighttime lineup,” Marco reveals.

Giovanni rolls his eyes. “Here we go again.”

Marco, the ever-innovative club owner, is always adding new ideas and segments to his club. The most recent one was the auctioning of girls to VIP members. He never fails to keep things interesting.

Exclusive to the VIP members, willing and eager girls are lined up on a stage, and bids are placed on them. The man with the highest bid takes the girl to one of the exclusive rooms, and they have the night of their lives.

That has been my favorite addition to the club so far.

“Well, it’s like the previous update I made,” Marco says, shooting me a knowing look. “But with a twist.”

I already like where this is going. It seems I’m not the only one who likes it too, because everyone, including Francesca, pays attention to what Marco is about to say.

“What I have in mind is this,” he demonstrates animatedly, “Instead of the girls on stage, they'll be hidden inside colored boxes. Guests bid on a box without knowing who's inside…”

“Okay, you lost me right there,” I say with a frown. “Why would I want to bid on a fucking box when I don't know what's in it?”

“There'll be a woman inside, obviously,” Giovanni butts in.

“I get that, but I have preferences. Contrary to what you guys believe, I won’t just have sex with any type of woman,” I huff.

“I personally think it’s a good idea,” Alessandro says, but before he can continue, his phone interrupts him. Glancing at his phone screen, he stands up. “I have to take this.”

“I’m with Alessandro,” Giovanni says as Alessandro walks out.

“Why?” I ask exasperatedly.

“I don’t know, I just think it’s fun. It adds a layer of mystery to it,” Gio says, and Marco smirks at me.

“Fuck mystery. If I’m going to have sex with a woman all night, I have to like what she looks like,” I say.

“You need to be a little more open-minded, Leo. I’m just trying to heighten the fun, that’s all. And I didn’t think you would be against this,” Marco adds.

I huff. “If I’m paying, it just makes sense that I know exactly what she looks like. I’m starting to agree with Francesca that you might not be very smart.”

Marco completely ignores my statement, turning to face Gio. “I’m glad you see my vision here. I want to provide my guests with an out-of-the-world experience that they never expected,” he says.

I roll my eyes before turning to look at Francesca, who hasn’t said anything the entire time. “Come on, Francesca, back me up here.”

She sighs reluctantly. “As much as it kills me to admit this, Marco's idea is intriguing…”

“See! Francesca hates me, but she agrees,” Marco begins to say, but one glare from Francesca shuts him up.

Turning back to me, Francesca explains, “Like Gio said, I think it makes the experience more exciting. It adds an element of surprise to the act of sex. Not everything has to be conventional.”

“Still not buying it,” I say, stubbornly continuing our debate until I notice Alessandro's absence. I wonder why he isn’t back yet.

Excusing myself, I step into the living room, puzzled. I don’t see any signs of Alessandro. My eyebrows furrow in confusion. I start searching, only to hear his voice coming from the kitchen.

Approaching stealthily, I catch him deep in conversation with Lorena. He says something that makes her laugh, her amusement filling the room—a sound I've never heard from her before.

An unfamiliar rage burns within me, and before I can stop myself, I'm striding toward them, fists clenched in anger.

Chapter Seven

Lorena

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