Page 31 of Red

He chuckled and tugged her along.

“There aren’t any other women here,” she remarked. Men in suits overwhelmed the room, but she still hadn’t seen another woman.

The door to the mansion opened, and Erik gestured for her to pass through ahead of him. He stopped them at a coat check area and removed her coat for her and then handed it over along with his.

“Erik?”

“There will be plenty of women inside.” He picked up her hand again and pulled her down a long hallway, keeping up with the crowd.

They were stopped at the entrance of what appeared to be a ballroom.

“Erik Rawling and my fiancée, Melinda Manaforte,” Erik announced.

The stuffy man holding an iPad searched a list of names and tapped his screen.

“Welcome, Mr. Rawling. The announcements will begin in five minutes,” the man stated in a flat tone.

Erik began to walk past, but he was stopped.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t see this. There’s a note. Mr. Titon would like to meet with you and your fiancée after the announcements have been made. You can wait in his office or follow him once he’s finished.”

Erik’s ears twitched. “We’ll meet him in his office after he’s spoken. Thank you.” His hand tightened around hers.

Erik pulled her into the buzzing room that was brimming with more men dressed in suits, but there were women, too. The dark carpeting soaked up any sound of the high heels the women all seemed to be wearing.

Melinda had grown up with little to no fashion sense. Grams wasn’t into the fancy stuff, and Melinda’s friends, what few she had, didn’t care about clothes or makeup. But these women milling around, they cared—a lot. Not an eyelash was out of place.

Melinda tugged at the neckline of the dress Erik had given her to wear. A simple black dress with a scooped back and a deep neckline.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered in her ear. The man had a knack for hearing her thoughts.

She touched her neck.

“I think the words you’re searching for are thank you.” He winked again and grinned.

“These women. Are they all here to be sold?” Her throat dried. This would be her future soon if she didn’t take the offer Erik was making.

Erik pulled her into his side. “Most of them. A few, like you, are here with a guest, and even fewer are here to make a purchase themselves.”

“And this is where I’ll go if—”

“This is one option you have, yes.” His fingers tightened around her hand. “Not my favorite option.”

She could agree with that.

“None of these women are forced to be here, Melinda,” Erik began. “This is a safe place for them. They have complete control over who they work with and if they take a contract. Nothing here is as unsavory as you’re making out in your head.”

She noticed the confidence with which the women walked through the room. She detected no fear or trepidation from any of them. Men gave them appreciative stares, but none of them touched or made derogatory comments. These women owned the room.

“Why did you bring me here?” she asked.

“Because you seem torn with your decision.”

“If these women are so well cared for, why would I not prefer this to marriage?” She tried to add snark, but her heart wasn’t in it.

Erik stiffened beside her. She glanced up at him, sure to find a scowl. But his attention wasn’t on her, it was focused on the entrance. She followed his gaze to see a man, same height as Erik, but much older, walk into the room.

“Do you know that man?” Erik asked her forcefully.

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