Chapter Five
Mackenzie
I ’m going absolutely bonkers.
It’s been two weeks since Greg handed me the card for the auction. For a few days, I’d hemmed and hawed over whether or not I could do it. When Monday rolled around and I remembered I didn’t have a job to get to, I realized I didn’t have much of a choice. I’d sent over a picture of the card and was pleasantly surprised to get an almost immediate response.
I had to send them current pictures, fill out an application, list all my kinks—which was only a little embarrassing—sign an NDA, get tested, and then had an interview with a guy named Edward. He’d intimidated the hell out of me, but I feel like the interview went well.
Only, it’s been three days since the interview, and there hasn’t been a word.
I’d let myself hope that this would be what saved me, but maybe they just don’t want me. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I know I’m pretty enough, but I’m more of a girl next door than a supermodel. I’m sure there were a lot better people who applied.
Shaking my head, I focus back on my computer. I still need to find a new job. It’s harder than I thought it would be. There seem to be a lot of companies who just aren’t hiring right now. It’s probably because the economy is in the toilet with inflation as high as it is.
Sure, I can take a job that has nothing to do with my degree, but I worked damn hard for it. I want to put it to use. It shouldn’t be so hard to find a data analyst job. I even stopped looking for remote jobs, willing to drive the hour each way every day if I could just find someone hiring.
My frustration continues to grow day after day and paired with the despair slowly starting to sink in as I realize I’m going to lose the house, I’m an absolute mess. It’s hard to concentrate on anything for very long.
Except cleaning. I’ve cleaned every part of this house at least twice over the last week. What can I say? I’m a stress cleaner.
A ding alerts me to a new email, and I consider just ignoring it. But it’s not like the job search is going overly well. Clicking on the alert, the email pulls up and my mouth drops.
Mackenzie,
I am pleased to announce you have been selected to participate in the Night to Remember Auction held on May 10th at Club Lust. A town car will pick you up at the address you supplied and return you back there at the end of the event.
You are to ensure that you are free from Friday night until Sunday night at midnight. Once purchased, you, the merchandise, will spend the weekend with the winning bidder. At the end of the weekend, you will be returned back to Club Lust and you will be compensated with payment.
You will wear your best lingerie on stage. Hair and makeup will be supplied courtesy of the club. To keep identities private you are to choose a name to be called for the weekend.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Edward
Holy shit! I was accepted.
Glancing at the date, I realize the auction is this coming Friday. I’ll need to head into the city to get some lingerie. I haven’t owned any in years. I guess if there’s any time to splurge, this is it. If they’re paying me half a million dollars, then I can get the good stuff.
I’m working tonight, so I’ll head into the city a couple of hours early so I can go lingerie shopping and grab some dinner.
Leaning back in my chair, I decide to give up on my job search for the week. I’ll put my nose back to the grindstone after the auction is over.
Crap, I’m going to have to ask for the weekend off after getting Harrison to give me more hours. Hopefully, I can find someone to cover my shifts because I’m not going to let this opportunity pass me by.
Pacing across the living room, I glance at the time and suck in a breath. The car should be here anytime now. We have to be at the club by six and because I’m so far out, they arranged to have the car pick me up around four-thirty.
The more I pace, the more my nerves rise. What I’m doing is insane, but I take a moment to remind myself why I’m doing this.
It’s to save the house. Sure, I’m getting paid for someone to have sex with me, but I won’t lose the house. I can do this. It’s just sex.
I let out a yelp when the doorbell rings, chiding myself for being such a nervous nelly. I need to get my shit together.
Hurrying over to the door, I take a moment to straighten the wrap-around dress I’m wearing over the lingerie I bought for tonight. Grabbing my overnight bag from the hook on the wall, I swing the door open with a smile.
“Hello.” The man standing in front of me is dressed like the driver my parents sometimes hired to take us to events. He’s older but handsome nonetheless. And who am I kidding. I’m definitely into older men from time to time. His black hair is threaded through with silver, his eyes twinkling as he smiles at me. “You must be Phoenix. I’m Leonard, and I’ll be your driver for tonight and Sunday.”
For a moment, I just stare at him, wondering who the hell Phoenix is. Then it hits me—Phoenix is the name I chose to use for the weekend.
Damn. I really need to get it together.
“It’s nice to meet you, Leonard,” I tell him with a bob of my head as he reaches over to take my bag from me. “Oh, you don’t have to—“
He chuckles. “I often don’t have to do things, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do them. My mother raised me to be a gentleman, and I intend to be one until the day I die.”
“Well, thank you, then.” I release my hold on the bag, turning to lock the door before dropping the key into my clutch. I head down the pathway to where the towncar waits, Leonard holding open the back door for me. “Thank you, Leonard.”
“It’s my pleasure, Miss Phoenix.”
“Uh, just Phoenix, please,” I tell him before he can close the door.
He leans down with a smile. “If that’s what you prefer.”
“I do. Thank you.”
How many times am I going to thank the man tonight? My nerves are showing, but at least they’re showing up as politeness. Much better than some of the other ways it could show up.
My hand drops to my stomach, and I wince. I hope I haven’t cursed myself. I tend to have a nervous stomach, and that’s not what I need before the auction.
I startle when Leonard’s door closes, and he glances back at me with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Phoenix. I did not mean to startle you. Would you like me to play some music while we make the drive?”
“Yes, please. That would be nice.” And a good distraction to keep me from overthinking, if I’m lucky.
Leonard nods and starts the car. “Any preference on the type of music?”
“Rock?”
“Classic or modern?” he asks, bringing a smile to my lips.
“Driver’s choice. I love it all.”
Leonard nods, pressing a few buttons on his phone before classic rock sounds from the speakers. It’s loud enough to help block out any unwanted thoughts, but not so loud I can’t hear Leonard if he speaks to me.
I settle back into the seat as he pulls away, watching as the scenery passes by. I’m usually driving when I head into Detroit, so it’s nice to be able to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
A little over an hour later, the car comes to a stop. I frown, my eyes scanning the surrounding area to see if I can figure out why we’ve stopped. We’re sitting outside of what appears to be an abandoned warehouse.
“This is it,” Leonard says as he shuts off the car, turning around to look at me over the back of his seat. “I know it doesn’t seem right, but since the auction is meant to remain hidden, they keep the outside like this. I promise the inside looks more like what you’d be expecting.”
“If you say so,” I mutter as he steps out of the car. Surely, no one would’ve put in all that work of applications and testing if they intended to lure me out here and kill me, right? And Greg wouldn’t have sent me off to be murdered. At least, I hope not.
Leonard offers me his hand when he opens the door, helping me out. He already has my bag in his other hand.
“I’m not about to be murdered, right?” The words spill from my lips before I can stop them, and I snort out a laugh. I hadn’t meant to ask that out loud.
Leonard chuckles, shaking his head. “I assure you that you’re not.”
I shrug. “Okay, but if I do end up dead, my ghost is going to come back and haunt you.”
“That would certainly make life interesting,” he says as he leads me to the door. Once we’re inside, he leads me to an elevator where he enters a code before the doors slide open before us. “After you.”
Even though my nerves are so bad my knees are shaking, I keep my head held high as I step inside. Leonard follows me on and presses a button before the elevator begins descending.
“Holy, shit! You are going to kill me! You’re taking me to the basement to murder me!”
Leonard chuckles as he shakes his head. “I’m really not. The club is underground to help it remain a secret. But if it makes you feel better, you can continue to think that’s what we’re headed toward.”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I realize how ridiculous I’m being. “Sorry,” I say, ducking my head as my face flushes.
“It’s quite alright, I assure you,” he says as the elevator comes to a stop and the door slides open.
My mouth falls open as I take in the sight before me, the doors starting to slide shut again before Leonard sticks his hand out to stop it. His other hand goes to my lower back, where he applies a light pressure. “You’ll have to step out of the elevator to continue your evening.”
I do as requested, a pretty brunette stepping up to us, a smile splitting her face. “Hi, there. My name is Mel, and who do we have here?”
“Phoenix.” I stumble over the pseudonym, but at least I don’t fuck up and give my real name.
Mel’s smile only grows as she waves to Leonard before leading me over to a desk where I see a tablet and a small bowl. “I’ll be the one showing you to your dressing room, but first, you’ll need to choose a number to determine where you’ll appear in the auction.”
I dip my hand into the bowl she offers me, grabbing the first paper I find. Lifting it, I open to find it has the number twelve on it. “Twelve,” I tell her, and she smiles.
“You’ll be near the end of the auction,” she tells me, eyes focused on the tablet as she enters something into it. Once she’s done, she sets it on the table and steps further into the club, waving for me to follow her. “This way.”
My head is on a swivel as I take in the opulence of the club. Everything is black and gray. The chairs and barstools are black leather. Even the bar is black, though the top of it seems to be made of dark wood.
Realizing I’ve fallen behind Mel, I hurry to catch up as she steps into a hallway that is even more opulent. The walls are painted black with modern art hanging along them. I’m guessing the floor is marble, and there are freaking chandeliers!
We pass a few doors with names on them, but I don’t pay them much attention until we come to stop in front of one that has Phoenix emblazoned on it.
Mel pushes the door open, stepping aside and gesturing for me to enter. “This is you. Hair and makeup will be by shortly to help you out. I’ll be back to take you to the stage when it’s your turn.”
“Thanks, Mel,” I call to her as she shuts the door, leaving me alone in the lavish dressing room. The walls are a light gray with art on the walls, but I’m not much into art so I ignore them. The vanity is black with large bulbs surrounding the mirror, and the theme of black leather continues into the furniture inside the dressing room. There’s a door on one of the walls, and when I swing it open, I find a bathroom.
I also spy some drinks and snacks lying out. It’s nice of them to provide us with refreshments since the auction doesn’t start until eight. And who knows how late it’ll be by the time I make it onto the stage since I’m twelfth.
Damn, I should’ve asked how many people were up for auction. It’s too late now.
I settle onto the couch, lying down and closing my eyes. Now that I’m here, I feel a lot calmer. It’s not like I’m suddenly going to change my mind now that I’m inside. There’s still a bit of nervousness at the unknown, but I can deal with that. This couch is really comfortable. I think I’ll rest a bit before the hair and makeup people arrive.
A knock resonates through the room, and I jerk awake.
“Fuck,” I mutter as I sit up, then call out, “Come in!”
Blinking to clear the sleep from my eyes, I turn to see a gorgeous man step inside.
“Hello, Phoenix! My name is Sebastian, and I’ll be doing your hair and makeup tonight.” He pulls in a cart behind him before his eyes find me. “Oh, were you napping?”
I snort. “I guess so. I didn’t mean to fall asleep, but that couch is so comfortable.”
He grins. “That makes me feel better about being late then. Come have a seat, and we’ll see what we can do to enhance that girl-next-door vibe you’ve got going. If you want to show me what you’re wearing, it’ll help me too.”
“I’m already wearing it,” I warn him.
“You don’t have anything I haven’t seen before. I’m a professional.” Mischief plays in his eyes, and I decide I like him.
Pushing to my feet, I undo the tie and pull apart my wrap dress to show him.
“Well, damn. Yeah, that looks good on you. They’re going to eat you up.” Sebastian’s eyes meet mine before he nods to the chair in front of the vanity. “Come have a seat. I know just what we’re going to do.”
Once Sebastian is finished, it’s nearly eight, and I know the auction will be starting soon.
“Darling, it’s been wonderful working with you.” Sebastian leans over to kiss my cheek. “You look amazing, if I do say so myself.”
I snort. “Of course you do.”
He waves off my words. “They’re going to go crazy over you, Phoenix. Why don’t you relax until it’s time to go on stage? But maybe don’t fall asleep this time?”
I stick my tongue out at him as he waves one last time, and then it’s just me. Not knowing what else to do, I pull my phone out and start playing some mindless game.
When another knock sounds at the door, I know it’s time.
Setting my phone on the table, I quickly remove my dress and step back into my heels before swinging open the door to reveal Mel.
“It’s time.”