Chapter Four
Olivia
“A lright ladies, gather around!” The woman with the clipboard clacks at us.
I’m not sure what to expect and I would be lying if I said I was not silently panicking on the inside. But if I panic right now, I know the trouble it will cause.
I need to go in and weigh my options and my circumstances.
None of these men are gentlemen. I know that from listening in on some of father’s meetings when he did not know I was near. I have heard some of his men talk about their wives . . . now I am afraid to say I just assumed they were their wives; could they have been women who were kidnapped for their pleasure?
My mind races while I secretly hope no one around me can tell. Smiling, I listen to this woman talk.
“You will each walk down the staircase once your name is called. The announcer will say your first name and your number that is pinned to your dress. In no part of tonight will you take your mask off. Keep it on until your gentleman pays the money for you. Then you will go home with him for the night. You are to do as he says until you hear from one of us.” She gestures to herself and Dorthy.
“We will be in touch to take you shopping and to classes for you to be the best woman of the house for your gentleman.”
I snicker and the whole room looks at me.
“Is there a problem, Olivia?” Dorthy asks me sternly.
I glance around the room and notice the woman who hugged me when I first arrived in this part of the building is giving me pleading eyes; secretly trying to tell me to behave.
“No ma’am.” I finally answer Dorthy, looking at the floor, embarrassed.
“Good. Proceed.” She gestures to the woman with the clipboard.
“Miss Olivia, you are new to this, I see. But your father has assured us that he has brought you up to be the best wife someday.”
Not giving me any time to answer her, she goes back to looking at her clipboard and talking, “You will all walk the floor tonight. Once you get off the stairs, you are to mingle with the men and be polite.”
Thoughts of throwing one of their drinks on a few might have crossed my mind while she continues. How has my night turned into this? I’m being pranked, right?
Someone is coming in any moment now and telling me ‘Got you!’
A man clears his throat at the door that makes my hair standup on my arm; unfortunately, it’s not the man saying, ‘Got you!’
It’s my father.
“Ladies.” he says when he walks in, and I think I might puke from the tone in his voice.
“A word with my daughter.” He tells everyone and they leave us alone quickly.
The bastard really tries to hug me once everyone leaves. Fighting back tears, I give him a side hug and pull back to ask, “Father, what is going on? Is this for real?”
He looks at me confused, “Of course it is, Olivia. You were always destined to marry within my men and help him lead in my businesses.”
“Which is what?” I ask.
“Well, that is for your future husband to know and for you to tend to his home and his children.” His voice turns cold, “You will not disappoint me tonight, do you understand? These men will pay millions if not billions for you and I am willing to let them if it means their loyalty to my legacy.”
“Your legacy?” My tone is clipped without realizing. “Father, I am supposed to be your legacy. You should care more about someone caring for and loving me than what your men will do to me.”
The bastard ignores me.
“If you are going to make it in this life we live, Olivia, I suggest you get a backbone and ignore your feelings. I have sacrificed a lot to give you this life and if you want to keep it, you better do as you are told tonight.”
I fight back my tears, refusing to let him see me weak; so instead of talking, I nod. There is no use in fighting this man. He always wins. He always gets his way no matter what.
“Good girl,” he says lifting my chin, “There’s a certain man out in the crowd tonight I want you to keep your eyes open for. His name is Dante, and he is who I am banking on winning your bid tonight.”
I nod in defeat, knowing there is no sense in arguing with him because he knows I will not try to test him.
He is the man on the throne, barking all the orders, and just wanting me to sit tall and pretty with my mouth shut obeying his every word.
Before he leaves, I finally ask, “What about the other women?”
He chuckles, “Have my eye on a few of them myself.” And with those words, he turns walking out of the room.
No hug, no I love you; nothing.
Tonight, I am seeing firsthand all the things I used to ignore about my father; he is worse than the devil himself. Hell, maybe he is the devil, and all my life I had been too blinded by the material things this life could give me to notice.
I was na?ve to the fact that innocent people were getting hurt in the process.
“Alright, ladies, let’s line up. Miss Olivia, you are second in line. Get behind Miss Gloria here.” Dorthy orders me and I smile at Gloria as my heels click over to her. Thankful I can finally put a name with the woman who said I looked so much like her.
I am almost certain this woman knows who my mother was.
Gloria leans down into my ear, “Whatever happens tonight, Olivia, don’t show them your weakness. Don’t cry in front of them. Don’t show them fear. You are a woman and that is power. Use it. You are so much stronger than you even realize. So much stronger than any man thought about being.”
I smile at her, “Did you know her? My mother?”
I don’t know how she could; Gloria is a stranger and just someone who was taken off the streets, right?
The lights go dim for us to silence ourselves but right before the lights go off, I see a twinkle in her eye and a smile go across her face.
Whatever happens tonight, I need to make sure I find this woman again.
I have so many questions. She is the first person to even mention her.
We all stand in a line behind a curtain that leads out to a walkway with stairs on both sides. A man with a microphone is standing beside us behind the curtain as he calls our names.
The men down below go silent, and once the volume for the music slowly fades, the announcer calls Gloria’s name first.
My gut wrenches as soon as she steps out from behind the boundary keeping us hidden as the men go to whistling and cat calling her.
How am I supposed to keep silent when they do that?
Is that all we are to them? Pretty little playthings that keep them na?ve to their tiny little ego and small dick problems.
Nothing about these men is gentleman-like and that tells me all I need to know about the den of wolves I am about to face.
Hayes
––––––––
F OR THE MOST PART, the men have left me alone since Dante has run around to all his buddies letting them know of my arrival.
I am not foolish. I knew as soon as the bastard saw me that he would run and tell. Trying to act all cordial to my face when I know he really hates my guts like I do his.
What I was certain about was he did not have the balls to run to Frances Ashton and announce my arrival. Dante would be too afraid he would ruin the night and ruin his chances at getting his hands on one of these women.
Now his goons? That is a different story. They are always trying to outdo one another—telling Ashton of my arrival could get them closer to him.
Men chuckle all around me as they discuss their orgies, and women they have been with. Some even share their women with one another, not giving a shit about the trauma they are inducing on them.
This is all a game to them and once a woman is used up, she is thrown away to someone else or, worse, killed.
Ashton only has these events twice or a few times a year, mostly in the fall and a few times in the spring. But you cannot tell me he does not do smaller trades on the side.
I look around the room once more, making mental notes of the exits, stairs, and where all my security is.
The lights dim, making me sit up, anxiously waiting to see who comes out first.
The priority tonight is all the women stay safe. I do not care how many men of his we must kill to be able to make this happen. None of these women leave with any of them.
The first woman walks out and my heart sinks hearing them call Gloria’s name.
She paints a perfect smile on her face but it’s her eyes I notice. They are numb. She has been through this more than once. Her bidders get tired of her, sign her back over to Frances Ashton and he reenters her into the auction for another husband.
I am not certain when she got into the trade or how, but I am certain she has been here most of her life.
Unfortunately, she is so close to Ashton and his minions, I have never been able to fully get her away from them.
If I do, I risk blowing my cover and my men’s cover. Ashton would shoot and kill anyone who worked for me if he knew what my plans really were. I must remember the bigger plan at hand. Sometimes that means a couple of innocents get hurt in the process.
The sick fucks around me whistle and holler at Gloria as she descends the stairs.
It hurts like hell to keep my composure, but when her eyes meet mine at the bar, I nod.
She smiles, a twinkle suddenly in her eye; she knows why I am here. She knows eventually I will get her out, too.
“Olivia, number 69,” the announcer says getting my eyes off Gloria and on the girl who Maxwell said to keep an eye out for.
My breath halts. This woman is breathtaking.
She looks made for luxury and all the things money can offer, although she seems timid like this is her first time here. Like this world in general is fresh news to her.
The fear in her eyes tells me all I need to know; she needs to get out first.
My dick twitches.
For fuck’s sake.
This is not the time for that.
The men are louder when Olivia steps off the last step and onto the floor.
My rage takes over and before I know what I am doing, I have her on my arm.
So much for keeping a low profile.
“Um,” she mumbles over her words, “Hello.” she finally says, remembering her etiquette.
“Someone almost forgot her manners.” I tease.
She smiles and I think my heart just did a summersault.
Not tonight. What is wrong with me? This is business. Stay focused, Ricci.
Something in her eyes makes me curious; for a moment, she almost tried to defy me.
Silly girl. Does she not realize that will get her killed by these men for trying to be defiant?
Finally, she remembers where she is and says, “I am so sorry Mr. -” her eyes question me.
“Ricci.”
“Mr. Ricci. My apologies. You see, I was not expecting to be here tonight. But here I am. How lucky I am to have found you.” She says in the fakest voice I think I’ve ever heard. I try my hardest to shut down my laugh before it escapes.
She really does not understand how lucky she is right now.
This woman really has no idea what kind of wolf pit she has stumbled into.
“Ricci,” Dante’s voice comes up behind us, “Now you know this is not a good idea. Ashton would have a field day. I’ll take over from here.” Dante says to me with piercing eyes.
Why would Ashton have a field day about this?
“I’m sorry. Don’t believe I know your name?” Olivia asks Dante, getting his attention off me and I cannot tell if she meant to do that or if she is just trying to play a part.
He smiles, “Dante, Miss Olivia.”
Her smile fades but she recovers so quickly I do not think Dante even noticed.
But I sure did.
“Ah.” Olivia says and my gut hitches. “You are the one I was told to find.”
Uh oh. Whoever told her to find this bastard is trying to set this girl up for a lifetime of misery or death.
“Mr. Ricci,” Olivia turns to me and says, “It was so nice talking to you. I must say goodnight now and give Mr. Dante a chance.”
“Of course.” I kiss the back of her hand.
“If you get tired of this guy, you can find me at the bar.” I give her a reassuring look.
Dante’s eyes pierce me but look away soon as I look at him.
Coward.
He knows I am not scared of him. He knows I did not come alone, either.
Once Olivia and Dante walk away, I motion for Alan to come over to me.
“Yes, boss?” he whispers.
“We got a fucking problem.” I snort.
“And what is that, Sir?” he asks.
“That woman does not go home with Dante, do you understand?”.
Alan nods and sends a text message to his men.
“Ricci.” A hand goes to my back, and I sigh, perfect timing fucker.
Turning around I give my best shit eating grin. “Frances, I wondered when I would be seeing you tonight.”