I’ve been a nervous wreck since waking up this morning and now, as I sit here, waiting for the town car to show, I feel like I’m going to throw up. My stomach is in knots and if I didn’t know better, I’d think I was cramping from my period.
It doesn’t help that when I went by the police station this morning, unfortunately, they didn’t do anything to help. They filed a missing person’s report, but the detective thinks she simply took the money and ran, most likely shacking up in some seedy hotel with a man.
But I don’t believe that. Not Mama. She’d be home by now. At least… I want to think she’d want to be home with me. All my childhood I’ve dreamed of what it would be like to have loving parents, wishing I had different ones. But now that Mama is missing, I just want her back.
I must be a glutton for punishment. It’s not like I crave the abuse and what comes with having an alcoholic parent. It’s just all I’ve ever known, and being alone sucks.
Sitting down on the couch, I pull back the curtain and gaze out the window to the street. There are children playing a game of baseball on the asphalt, which can only end in disaster.
A sleek black car rounds the corner, slowing as it nears the children. They all stop their game to stare at it in awe. It’s a town car like Edward said, and it’s five thirty, the time it’s supposed to pick me up. Could this be it? When it pulls to a stop in front of my house, I know it is. My heart starts racing and I suck in a shuddered breath.
This is it!
It’s really happening!
I’m going to lose my virginity to a stranger.
Standing, I pick up my purse. Do I go out? Does the driver come to the door?
Before I can decide, there’s a knock at my door.
One foot in front of the other. I move the short distance from the couch to the door and open it.
“Hello, I’m Jeeves. I’ll be your driver for the weekend.” His British accent is posh and proper, and his black suit is perfect, not a wrinkle in sight. He’s even wearing a cap. The corners of my lips turn up and I can’t help it. I start giggling uncontrollably, holding my stomach. This is too good to be true.
“Are you okay, Miss?”
It takes me a minute, but I compose myself, straightening my body as I smooth down my dress.
“Yes. I’m sorry, that was rude of me. It’s just, you’re like something you see out of a movie or on one of those red carpet shows. And Jeeves, is that your name for real?”
His eyes twinkle just a bit as he gazes at me, but he doesn’t confirm. We stare at each other until he finally speaks.
“Very well. Shall we go?” He steps back and gestures toward the town car that now has a horde of children descending upon it. He still didn’t give me the answer I asked for.
“Sure, just let me lock up.” He steps back, and I exit the house, turning my back to him to lock the door.
But when I go to turn back around, I just about run smack dab into him. “Crap. Shit. Ughh. I’m sorry. Wasn’t expecting you to be standing right behind me.”
“Just waiting on you, Miss. Shall we?” He holds out his arm and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do, so I link mine with it. I seriously don’t want to mess this up and end up looking like a fool. He leads me off the porch toward the car, so I’m guessing it was the right thing.
“Alright kids, time to go,” he tells them, tuning out all their questions about who he is and what he’s doing with me. I do the same. There’s no way in hell I’m telling a bunch of kids I’m about to go have sex for money. I’m sure their parents would love me for that.
I can’t control the giggle, but I try really hard to keep it quiet, as Jeeves stands stoic, holding the door open.
“Thank you,” I whisper as I slide in.
“My pleasure, Miss,” Jeeves replies just before gently shutting the door.
He gets in the driver’s seat, starts the car, and cautiously pulls off, avoiding the children who don’t seem to understand they need to get out of the way.
Jeeves turns the radio on and soft jazz fills the car. I don’t know if I’d rather be nervously rambling or if the quiet is better. Doesn’t matter since neither of us is saying anything.
I press down on my knee, trying to stop the bouncing and calm the anxiousness coursing through me. Will the man who bids on me be handsome or some greasy slob? Or maybe he will be old like that man who had all the girls living in the mansion with him? What were they called again? Oh yeah, bunnies.
Edward seems to be going out of his way for me and with the payout being astronomical, I assume the clientele in the auction will be high-end.
Jeeves pulls up outside what looks to be an old abandoned warehouse.
Wait! This can’t be right. This can’t be where it’s at.
Fuckity fuck fuck! I’m about to be murdered. I knew you couldn’t trust those charismatic men. Seems like Edward is the new serial killer to make history.
Jeeves opens his door and steps out. My heart speeds up as fear overtakes me.
He comes around to my side and opens my door, gesturing for me to exit. “Here we are, Miss. I’ll be your escort inside the club.”
I step out and look around. There’s not a soul in sight. If I screamed, no one would hear me. I’d run, but he’s already looped his arm with mine and his hold is firm. There’s no way I’m getting away, and where would I go? Maybe this is fate answering my pleas to be free from the pain of the world I was born into.
“Are you sure we’re at the right place?” I ask sheepishly.
For the first time since he showed up at my door, Jeeves smiles. A warm one full of joy. “It is. This is to deter people from knowing what’s inside. You’re in for a surprise. Just wait.”
He continues to lead me inside, all the way to an elevator. He pushes a series of buttons and the doors slide open with a hum. There’s no one inside of it, nor around.
Hello sweet death, here I come.
One of two things will end tonight. My life or my virginity.
I just don’t know which yet.
We step inside and the doors close as he pushes a button. There’s nothing on it to tell me what floor. All I know is instead of going up, we go down.
Oh shit!
We come to a stop and exit where a woman is waiting. “This is Virtue,” Jeeves tells her.
“It’s lovely to meet you. As you may have guessed we will call you by that name for the weekend. It’s how you will be known to all those involved with the auction. My name is Andrea and I’ll be escorting you to your dressing room. I have a note that your clothing for the night is already waiting for you, and you’ll have a team to come and get you ready. There will also be drinks and appetizers in your room since the event will take a while.”
“Okay.” I don’t know what else to say. Instead, I give Jeeves a help me look, but he just smiles before disappearing back into the elevator
“Good, now before we go, I need you to pull a number for us to log your position on the list of merchandise to be auctioned off.”
She holds out a bowl and I reach in, feeling through the folded pieces of cardstock until I grip one, pull it out, and open it.
Holy crap!
“I’m number one.” Turning the slip of paper, I show her so she can confirm.
“Aren’t you lucky! What a way to start the night.” She punches something into her tablet before glancing back at me. “Now, let me show you to your room so you can get ready.”
She leads me through a door and down a long hallway before stopping in front of the door with my name on it. Well, not my name, but Virtue.
“Here you are. Your team will be in momentarily, they’ll help you get dressed.” She shuts the door behind her and I’m left standing all alone.
There’s a mirrored vanity with makeup spread out across the top. Next to it is a rolling cart covered with various items for doing hair. I step further into the room, and as Andrea said, there’s a table with snacks and an ice bucket with water and soda. I kind of wish there was something harder, but I would never touch it. No, I’m too afraid I’ve inherited my parents’ genes and one taste of alcohol would turn me into them.
There’s a plush black couch with a throw blanket and pillows. It looks so comfy. The last thing I see is a garment bag hanging off a hook on a full-length mirror.
Reaching up, I take hold of the zipper and pull it down. Inside is a hanger with a white lace see through bra, but it’s more like a tank top with garter belt clips hanging from the bottom. I’m sure there will be fishnet stockings to hook to them somewhere in this bag. There’s a delicate diamond shape cut out right under the sternum. The underwear is more of a satiny material, and while it’s not see through, it’s a thong, which means my ass will be on display. The kicker is the lacey cuffs with a string between them that go around my wrist. A pair of white heels sit at the bottom.
Holy fuck! He really meant it when he said he was playing up my virginity. First my name and now my outfit.
There’s a knock on my door before two women enter. Guess they’re my beauty squad.