Page 5 of Cookies and Control

My stomach churns. I fuss with my tulle skirt. One stupid glance at the audience—at my stepdad—reignites my fear. What if no one bids on me?

What if my stepdad and his brother witness the humiliation? What if they still want to bid on a virgin this evening? There’s no way they could have known my friends and I would end up on stage. It would be so icky if they won one of my friends.

Otherwise, I’d say the woman they win would be lucky. My stepdad and uncle are stupidly handsome billionaires. Maybe that’s part of why my fantasies are always so outlandish, particularly the ones they star in.

If only the feelings could be mutual, but I don’t even know how far above me they are on the one-to-ten scale. It’s easier not to put numbers to it and simply accept that they’re above my station.

Hottie McDollarSigns catches my eye from his spot near the front. He told Sabrina he wanted to bid on her, but he’s bid on Jasmine and Naomi too. Was it just to drive the bids up? He didn’t win either of them.

“You okay?” Sabrina squeezes my arm. “You look pale.”

I force a smile. “Maybe I should back out. The charity’s already made millions.”

“I’ll drop if you do.” She meets my eyes. “We can let Lazovski know it was too rash of a decision and change out of these dresses.”

I glance at her fitted red dress, and how it highlights her curves. I think of Hottie McDollarSigns. This could be Sabrina’s chance at something special.

“No.” I shake my head. “You have to do it.”

Sabrina watches Naomi on stage for a second. “This is the bold opportunity Jasmine waited for. This is the dreamy one you waited for. This is too sudden for me. Don’t let me ruin your night.”

“You’re not ruining anything, Sabrina. I just realized I’m not right for this.”

“Are you worried about having sex?” Sabrina won’t let this go.

“That’s the least scary part.”

“So you’re worried about the auction?”

“What if I’m too… what if nobody bids on me?”

She turns me so I can see the bidders. “Your future husband, who will be thrilled to find out about all the kinky shit you want to try, is in that audience. Now, out of all the times to take your head out of the clouds, this is not it.”

Is she right? Is this my chance to let my freak flag fly? Or should I listen to the only father figure I’ve ever known?

Before I can shake my thoughts free from my stepfather’s control, my name is announced, and Jefferson, the auctioneer is extending a welcoming hand in my direction.

Sabrina nudges me forward.

Bidding paddles fly into the air.

The auctioneer calls out numbers faster than I can listen. My fears are put to rest.

Then my brain catches up.

The first bidder I identify is Sabrina’s Hottie. That’s okay, he bid on the other women. He’s keeping it fun. I hope.

The next bidder stirs up an interesting cocktail of excitement and anger. My stepdad.

Did he read the contract? Is he willing to have sex with me or is he protecting me like always?

The saving grace of other men bidding on me diminishes as my value tops a million dollars and most of them drop out. What lengths will my stepdad go toprotectme? If we don’t have sex before the evening’s over, I’ll be offered to the next highest bidder.

Surely he read the contract. Which means… he wants to have sex with me? Or maybe he’ll turn me over to his brother? I do my best to lean into my fantasy world.

The possibility that my wildest dreams will come true tonight is a bit far-fetched, but it’s exactly how the auction works.

Hottie doesn’t back out of the bids as quickly this time, and I fear ruining this for Sabrina. I could back out and ensure he doesn’t win me.

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