Virginity Sold : A Night To Remember Auction

2. Elena

An intense burning sensation shoots from my feet up my shin with each step. I rest my hands on my hips and groan, stretching the muscles in my back. Sinking into a bath full of hot water to ease some of the tension sounds like heaven right now.

But I can’t. No matter how much I want to.

It’s only three hours into my shift. How am I going to make it another seven? I think of the stack of bills waiting on my dresser, reminding myself why I’m doing this. Another sixty dollars and I’ll have my light bill paid. Come on, good tippers, I need you to come in today.

I make my way around the empty tables now that we have a lull and begin to clear the dirty dishes. We don’t have a busboy today, so we’re having to do it ourselves. At this point, I’m running around the diner like a chicken with my head cut off.

“Hey, Lena.” Jackie bumps my shoulder as she pops up next to me. I’m so lost in my thoughts, I about jump out of my skin.

“Sorry. Did you need something?” I turn to face her, blowing the stray hairs out of my face, only for them to fall right back where they were.

“Yeah, that guy’s back, and he’s sitting in your section. Someone has an admirer,” she sings songs with a wink.

“Yeah, I’m sure he’s fallen for the poor waitress who doesn’t even have two pennies to rub together.” I roll my eyes as I pick up the pile of dirty plates and head to the kitchen. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome can wait.

I place the plates in the soapy water, already dreading coming back to take care of them. Fuck, if Vince and Betty don’t hire someone soon, I’m going to scream.

“Get out there, girl, and make some money. I got the dishes.” Vince’s gruff voice fills the air, before falling into a coughing fit. When he gets closer, the smell of tobacco smoke wafts off him. Betty’s going to have a conniption if she finds out he’s smoking again.

“No, leave them, I’ll get them.”

“Pish posh, go handle your tables. Cal is on the grill, so I can handle it. I may be sixty, but I’m not an old man.” He gives me a toothy grin and my heart melts. He’s been so sweet to me, giving me a job when I was barely out of junior high when no one else would.

I pick up a dish towel and dry my hands before stepping away from the sink. As I pass by Vic, I stop and lean in, kissing him on his cheek before heading back out to take my customer”s order. The mystery man never says much, but always sits in my section and leaves a decent tip.

Stepping out of the kitchen, I take a deep breath. I can do this. I put on a smile, a mask I’ve perfected, never letting anyone know the pure hell I’m in. As I walk by the counter, I pick up a menu and some silverware.

When I reach the table, he’s reading a paper. He’s truly handsome in an older man kind of way. He has salt and pepper hair and a muscular build. My mystery admirer, as Jackie calls him, has just a hint of a mustache and a five o’clock shadow, and he’s always dressed in a designer suit. I still haven’t figured out why he eats here so much.

“What can I get you started with today?” I ask, laying the menu and cutlery down in front of him.

“Hello, Elena, how are you today?” His voice is deep and intoxicating, causing my pussy to pulse.

“Umm, how do you know my name?” I take a step back as my heart races, fear building within me that this man, though nice looking, may have sinister intentions.

The corners of his lips turn up in a smile as he lets out a low chuckle. “Your name tag.”

As a breath of relief escapes me, my face and chest flush from embarrassment for thinking he could have any interest in me.

“I’ll have some coffee to start and a slice of your sweet potato pie.”

“Coming right up.” I spin on my heel and head behind the counter, taking a mug off of the stack and pour his coffee. He always takes his coffee black, but orders a different pie each time. Kind of bland if you ask me. Give me all the cream.

Jackie sidles up beside me. “So, did he ask you out?”

I whip my head to look at Jackie, my eyebrows lifted and my mouth slightly open, before quickly glancing around the room to see if anyone heard her. “No, and he isn’t interested. You should look into being a writer with these crazy ideas of romance that fill your head. Now, I need to get to work.”

Placing his cup on a tray, I pull a slice of pie from the dessert refrigerator and head back to the table, setting the items carefully in front of him.

“Anything else I can get you?” Just as the words slip across my lips, my phone vibrates in my pocket.

He shakes his head and I take my leave, stepping into the hallway to the bathroom and pulling out my phone. My mother”s name flashes across the screen.

“What is it, Mama? Are you okay?” I ask as I hold it up to my ear.

“I need some money. I’m hungry, and there’s nothing in the fridge to eat,” she slurs. I know that’s a lie because I just went grocery shopping three days ago.

“I’ll bring you something from the diner when I get off,” I tell her quickly, knowing I need to get back out on the floor and check my tables.

“I can’t wait that long. I’ll come there and get some money from you.” Her voice rises with each word and my stomach churns. I don’t need her coming here and making a scene.

“No, Mama. I don’t have anything to give you. I’ll bring you some food when I get off. Until then, you can either eat what’s in the cabinet or not, but under no circumstances are you to come here.”

“Don’t—” I end the call, not wanting to hear anything else from her. It’s a useless battle. She’ll be right and I’ll be the spoiled brat who never helps her. Yeah, she’s firmly living in the land of delusion.

I slide the phone back in my pocket and quickly spin around to head back out when I slam into a brick wall. No, that’s not right, a person. Large hands grip my arms, holding me tightly.

“Are you okay?” the deep voice asks. My eyes trail up and I see it’s him—Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome. I really need to find out his name.

“Yeah, sorry,” I stammer. “I should’ve been watching where I was going.”

“It’s fine. You look upset. Are you sure everything is okay?”

“I am.” I quickly pull away from him. “Don’t mean to be rude, but I need to get back out there.”

Moving around him, I rush back to the floor and check on the rest of my customers. What is it about him that has me so nervous?

A few minutes later, he sits back down in his booth, his eyes on me as I move through the diner. I’ve been procrastinating going back to his table, but I know I have to. I stop behind the counter long enough to pick up the pot of coffee and head over to his table. “Refill?” I ask.

“Please. Elena, I didn’t mean to intrude when I asked if you are okay.”

“You’re fine.”

“How good is the money here? Do you make enough to cover your expenses?”

I raise my eyebrow, curious about the odd questions. This is the most he’s ever said to me. “I manage.” Lies, I’m drowning, and I don’t see a life preserver anywhere in my future.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a card, sliding it over to me along with the cash for the pie and coffee. “Keep the change and check out the website on the card. It’s an opportunity to make some money.”

I smile, not knowing what to say, as he slides out of the booth and stands. I’m still stuck in my spot, motionless.

“Have a good day, Elena.”

Before he can leave, I blurt out, “Who are you and what’s on the website? A job?”

He grins as his eyes twinkle. “My name is Edward, and yes, a job, in a way. Just have an open mind when you check it out. Think of it as an opportunity to make your life just a little easier.”

“Okay.” I’m not sure what else to say to him. He grips my chin between his fingers, tilting my head up to look at him.

“Remember, keep an open mind. Embracing those possibilities it presents could lead you to a whole new world of opportunities.” He releases me and turns, leaving the diner without looking back.

I pick up the cash, noticing for the first time he left a hundred-dollar bill. What he ordered wasn’t even ten dollars. He’s always been a generous tipper, but nothing to this degree. Next, I pick up the card and look at it. It’s a beautiful emerald green card with Club Lust written in elegant black cursive letters. His first name and an email are listed at the bottom, nothing more.

I don’t have time to wonder about what he meant. When I get home, maybe I’ll look up the website on the card. It couldn’t hurt, right?

The rest of my shift swings between periods of highs and lows. It’s crazy how you can be swamped one minute and it be a ghost town the next.

Today has brought me another two hundred closer to having the money needed to keep a roof over our heads. The sad part is it took ten hours to get it and I’m still short on not only the remaining rent but the fucking electric, as well. I’m never getting ahead at this rate.

“See you tomorrow.” Betty hands me the food order I placed for Mama, and I smile.

“Yes ma’am, another day, another dollar.”

Hopefully, hundreds of them. I never want to go through the misery of trying to find somewhere to shower again when there’s no power or water at home. At least I’m not in school. That was the worst. Kids are not forgiving and are the cruelest toward someone less fortunate than them. It’s even worse when you have no one. You’re a loner because you can’t risk anyone knowing what your home life is like. That you barely have food, and can go days with no power, or not knowing where your mother is because she’s on a bender somewhere.

I shake off my thoughts quickly and rush out the door just as the bus pulls up to the curb. Normally I walk to save the fare, but tonight I’m beat. I climb on board, giving the older driver a nod as I drop my change into the slot and make my way to a seat.

It’s crowded at this time of evening, everyone getting off from their day jobs and heading home to an empty abode or their families. I block out the multitude of smells that are overpowering. It reeks of urine, cologne, and perfume, and maybe even some dirty diapers.

God, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I can’t wait to get home.