Page 117 of Fall

“This one is a thoroughbred ivy leaguer who likes to bend the rules. As per the color she’s wearing, there’s not a cherry to pop, but with the right candy, can do whatever you need her to. And if she doesn’t behave, discipline is encouraged,” Genna says to the crowd.

The television screens jump to life. The large ones in the middle are connected, making them look like one big screen. The picture is a close up of Alexis on stage, and my heart starts to beat rapidly in my chest.

There’s another screen that shows Alexis’s profile with her height, weight, eye color, and other apparently important details. The screen opposite looks like a tracker of sorts.

I can make out three pieces of information from here. A timer, a dollar amount, and a list of names. The names keep changing order as the dollar amount increases, much like a stock market ticker. The tracker movement starts to slow down once the dollar amount reaches ninety-four thousand US dollars.

“Come on, boys, you can do better than that,” Genna says into the mic. “The sweetener here is that she does play nice with others.”

At Genna’s comment, the tracker starts to move rapidly again and finally closes at one-hundred-and-forty thousand US dollars. There’s a quiet murmur in the crowd as Genna closes the bidding for Alexis and proceeds to bring out the next girl.

This one in a different color, but I can’t stomach any more of this. So when the dining host escorts another man to his table, I hurry out of the room, but instead of going toward the exit, I go farther down the hall.

What the hell did I just see?

I lean my head against one of the darkened windows, trying to regain my composure and not throw up. Unfortunately, the room behind the window isn’t empty. I peer inside and see a stage surrounded by stools and a bar with yet another topless bartender.

There are naked women wearing collars, performing for the men in the room. Outside of the collars, it looks like a regular strip club, only smaller. Before I walk away to sneak back upstairs, something catches my eye.

Adjacent to where I’m standing, there are two naked women chained to the wall. With everything that I’ve seen this evening, I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am. One of them looks very much like Elijah’s mother. I only met her once, years ago, but I’m almost positive it’s her.

The other one, though, I’m one hundred percent positive is none other than Dr. Sadie Lewis, and suddenly, I can’t breathe. I’m glued to the window as a man walks up to them and rubs his hands between both their legs. They both whimper as they open their legs wider.

The man releases a latch that drops their arms, and he pulls on a singular leash that is connected to both of their collars. He brings them to the stage, and I watch Dr. Lewis and the woman who looks like Elijah’s mom begin to perform for the men in the room. Dr. Lewis grabs the other woman’s throat and aggressively kisses her.

The man who released them casually sits on a bar stool. He takes out what looks like coke, puts it on a small mirror, and sets it on stage. Both women eagerly go to him, snort the thin lines, and proceed to go back to kissing and fondling each other.

I ease away from the window in shock. I have no words for what I’ve seen, but what I do know is that it’s time for me to go.

* * *

“Where have you been?” Taylor accosts me as soon as I enter the grand ballroom. “You missed the entire dinner.”

I feign innocence and tell him that I got lost, but by the look he gives me, I doubt he believes me. I follow Taylor to the bar and come to an abrupt halt when I see Celeste.

My world spins as the man she’s talking to casually touches her arm and she laughs. Taylor grabs my elbow as I stumble and brings me closer to where she’s standing.

“Oh, Evie, there you are,” she says, her eyes alight with happiness at my arrival. “Have you met Elijah’s dad, Mr. Jackson? He’s quite the accomplished attorney.”

“I’m sure he is,” I say and bite the inside of my cheek to refrain from saying anything more. My veins sing with vengeance as the little girl in me cowers.

“It’s a pleasure,” Isaac says and attempts to shake my hand, but I just stare at his empty palm.

“Evie,” Celeste whispers, bumping my elbow. “Don’t be rude.”

Isaac chuckles. “It’s quite all right, Ms. Monroe. I sometimes have that effect on women.”

My skin goes cold when he raises his glass, showing off his family’s ring, and suddenly, I can’t breathe. I will my body to calm down and beg my demons to put on my poker face. Thankfully, they listen.

When I’m sure I can control my reactions, I lean into Celeste.

“I need to start heading back. Can we go soon?”

“Sure,” she says and turns to Isaac. “If you’ll excuse us, Mr. Jackson. It was a pleasure to meet you.”

Before she gets a chance to shake his hand, I pull her elbow, and she stumbles slightly. She looks at me like I’ve lost the plot, but smartly says nothing.

Taylor grabs her hand, unaware that she stumbled because of me.

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