Page 2 of Auctioned to the Billionaire

“Call me if you need anything. Call me when it’s over. Or text! Just text me for the entire time,” she orders and I smile.

I’m lucky to have at least one good friend who is looking out for me.

“I will,” I promise her, and we say our goodbyes.

No one comes to the door after a moment, so I resume my pacing back and forth across the marble floor. I did a lot of research for this auction house. It moves from one city to the next, and it’s exclusive. As in, you have to be filthy rich to even be considered to be invited to one of the auctions. That’s what convinced me to sign up. I knew that it was the best way for me to make the most amount of money, quickly.

When I showed up at this place a few hours ago to get ready, my mouth had dropped open. The house—no, not house. Mansion. Thismansionis situated in a remote part of Wolf Valley. I missed the road to turn down three separate timesbefore I found it. The place is nestled amongst the trees, perched right on the edge of the mountain. The room they showed me too overlooks the forest and I’ve spent most of today staring out at the trees, wondering how this became my life.

I’m here because my piece of shit older brother took a loan out in my name and then skipped town. If he had gone to a bank for the loan, I could have gone to the police and gotten it sorted, but he didn’t. He went to some scary, lowlife loan shark. The loan shark doesn’t care about who pays him back, he just wants to get his money, and since my brother is long gone, that means that it’s up to me to pay him back.

I had thought about going to my boss and asking for a loan, but in the end, I couldn’t. I like and respect Hugh. He was in the military, a Marine, and he got out and started his own company. Now, he has defense contracts, works with the government, and is worth billions. The thought of asking him for money was too embarrassing. I know that he would ask what happened and why I needed it, and I didn’t want to tell him. So now, here I am. About to sell myself.

“You’re up,” an older woman says, poking her head into the room.

I jump, startled out of my thoughts, and nod, pasting on a smile as I wobble towards her. I follow her out into the hallway, and my eyes dart to the other end, to the exit sign glowing in the dimly lit hallway.

I could make a run for it…but I’d probably break an ankle before I made it to the door. And I’d still be stuck. I’d still need a way to make two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in the next few days, and there’s no other way for me to get that much money in time.

“Gentlemen, up next here at the Tease and Please Auction, we have a special addition. A virgin!”

Cheers go up, and I feel like I’m going to throw up. My stomach revolts, and I brace a hand on the nearest surface and try to take a few deep breaths.

I can’t believe that I’m about to sell my virginity to the highest bidder. Unfortunately for me, it is the only thing of value that I have.

Nerves eat at me as I take my first wobbly step up towards the stairs. I try to peek out behind the curtains to the crowd, but all I can see is shadows beyond the bright lights.

I fix the short babydoll dress that I’m wearing, trying to pull it down slightly. I groan when it just exposes my breasts even more. Although, maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe it will bump up the bidding a bit.

I roll my shoulders back and take a deep breath. My pale blonde hair falls over my shoulders in soft waves, and I push some of it forward, wanting to use the thick mass as a type of shield.

I climb up to the next step as the announcer waves me out onto the stage.

Please be kind. Please be nice. Please be generous.

Please be kind. Please be nice. Please be generous.

I chant that over and over again as I make my way to the center of the stage. I blink as I stare out at the spotlights and the sea of men sitting around the tables.

“Gentlemen, let’s start the bidding at one hundred thousand,” the announcer says, and I swallow hard.

That much? So soon?One hundred thousand is almost half of what I need! Maybe this really will work.

“Do we have the first bidder?” The announcer asks, and I stand up straighter.

“Ten million dollars,” comes a dark voice from the crowd, and my mouth drops open.

Not because of the staggering amount of money. No, that’s not what shocks me.

It’s that I recognize the voice.

No.

It couldn’t be.

Then the man steps forward into the light, and I gasp.

“Now, end the auction,” my boss orders, and the announcer grabs his gavel.

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