Chapter 5 #2
“Yes,” Bellamie says definitively.
“She’s in, Laz!” Jolene calls through the open door.
All of the extra time we had pours into getting Molly ready when she arrives.
We’re all friends with her, but she’s new in town and very private about her past. Not wanting to create a false narrative about why, I’m simply happy for her to participate and have a dream future.
Roxy shows up with the dress and we put the finishing touches on a very grateful, slightly shell-shocked Molly.
With minutes to spare before Jolene takes the stage, I pull everyone in for a group hug. “I have to admit, I thought we were going to break the auction, but here we are, and with Molly.”
She tears up and Bellamie whips a tissue out from somewhere. I’m not surprised, Bellamie is always prepared. “Quick, dab so you don’t smear your makeup.”
“I don’t know how I’ll ever repay all of you.”
“No repayment necessary,” Bellamie says.
“We’re always here for each other, and we’ll be here for you too.” I hope she learns to trust us. Whatever baggage she’s carrying, we’ll help with the burden.
Laz calls Jolene to be the first one to take the stage.
We wish her well then wrap our arms around each other as we listen to the bidding take off. It’s a defining moment when she’s officially won.
I celebrate with Bellamie and Molly. “It’s really happening. We get our happily ever afters!”
A few more details about Jolene’s winner reveal that she was won by one guy, not a harem or even a ménage, and he happens to be her brother's best friend, who she’s swooned over for years.
He’s happy. She's happy. The charity will be happy about the $1.5 million donation the guy made for her.
I nibble on my fingernail. It's my turn to take the stage. I didn't expect to be this nervous. My knees threaten to give out. I keep pulling my fingernail out of my mouth. I can’t figure out where to look, so I settle my gaze on Jefferson, the emcee.
“Let’s hear it for Starla.”
Wow, the clapping and cheering is loud. I smile while pretending to look at the awaiting bidders, but can’t focus on anything.
Another voice booms through the PA system. Numbers. It’s the auctioneer. It’s so surreal to be on stage. To be the center of attention. To finally give up on the silly fantasies that my stepbrother was my dream guy or that Cullen would risk his lifelong relationship with my father.
"Six hundred... Do I hear seven?" the auctioneer works into a repeated ramble of asking for seven.
Why is my starting amount so low?
"We have seven. Who's going to take us to that million mark? Don't be shy... who's in it for eight?"
It’s a pretty big leap from seven hundred to a million. As I try to make my steps across the stage look more like a seduction than nervous pacing, the auctioneer’s numbers start to make sense. He meant six hundred thousand.
A lightness washes over me. It's going to be fine. Everything's fine. I keep repeating it in my mind until a ruckus in the back of the room causes a halt in the bidding.
Cullen is at the back of the room arguing with an attendant.
Oh no. I can’t think. Can’t move. Can’t breathe.
Jefferson’s arm wraps around me just in time to keep me from falling. He says softly, “Are you okay?”
Managing a few breaths, I say, “I’m fine. Can we get the bids going again, please?”
The attendant ushers Cullen out of the room as the auctioneer resumes the bidding. I force myself to focus on the men who are raising their paddles for me.
Please, please, please let one of them win me before Cullen finds a way to mess this up.
Movement up the side of the room catches my attention. Cullen. And he's holding a bidder's paddle.
Laz made it clear that every bidder will be told definitively what they have to do if they win. Is Cullen prepared to give me an orgasm… to have sex with me? That’s what I’m voting for.
Or is he here to defend what he said? There’s no way my best friend’s daughter is going to sell her virginity.
The contract gives me the right to decline any winner. Should I decline him? I can’t worry about that unless he wins.
I smile at the engineer-looking man in the button-up shirt and slacks who's been steadily inching my numbers up. Is he slow and steady or is he slow because of his upper limit?
Cullen raises his paddle in turn. The engineer and another guy I can’t see as well continue to alternate. Then I realize the auctioneer is repeating numbers more. The bids are slowing down.
The guy I can’t see and the engineer are putting more and more thought into the price tag.
Cullen is quick to counter them. He’s going to win.
I keep smiling at the engineer, hoping he'll up the numbers, and yet, I'd love to be won by Cullen. I'd love for him to give me my happily ever after. I'd love to experience what we had in the kitchen and then some. But I don’t know if that’s why he’s here.
I glance to the side, seeing Molly and Bellamie peek around the curtain. I wish they could come stand with me. Molly gives me a thumbs-up.
The auctioneer calls, "Going, going, gone!”
The engineer gives me a sad smile and shakes his head. Oh no, it wasn't him. I move my gaze to the side of the room where Cullen stands.
How can so much be packed into the look in his eyes, the smile, and the nod? I don't know how, but I have a feeling he's going to make good on the contract, and not just because it's obligatory.