Episode 17
Episode 17
One of the Good Ones
MEMPHIS
Jade led the group of candidates to the auction room and showed us where to line up behind the stage. I’d done this before, but had never made it onto the actual stage, having left my spot to help Jade when she ran off the last time we were here. Now she was working for Madam Alana and seemed to enjoy it. The woman was definitely in her element. She walked down the line of people, checking in with them and ensuring their comfort. I watched as she tutted over each woman and man until she got to me.
“Second time’s a charm, eh?” Her lips twitched in amusement as she reached out to readjust my tie into position.
I grinned. “Let’s hope.”
“I know I’ve said it before, but what you did for me—leaving the auction and helping me through my meltdown—was incredibly kind. No other man has ever been that chivalrous.”
“Well that’s a damn shame, Jade. You deserve a man who will treat you well and support you through all of life’s challenges.” I reached out and grabbed her hand and gave it a little squeeze.
“You deserve all of that too, you know. You’re one of the good ones, Memphis. Never forget that. And if the woman who purchases you tonight doesn’t treat you as such, we are here for you. Madam Alana has made it very clear that her candidates come first, no matter what.”
I chuckled. “I heard that, sister. Definitely. She drilled it into our heads when we signed on the dotted lines. And I appreciate it, I do. Though I certainly can handle myself. I’m going to make the most of this experience. Let’s just hope the woman who chooses me tonight has a great personality and a whole lotta fire within her.”
Jade grinned. “I think you’re going to be very surprised this evening. There’s one woman in particular who I think will absolutely adore you.”
“Oh yeah?” I nudged her shoulder. “Is she fine?”
“Stunning. Elegant. Smart and very wealthy.” She lifted her chin in a knowing manner she’d likely picked up from Alana because it was smooth as butter and just as rich.
“All right.” I rubbed my hands together, anticipation and adrenaline swirling in my gut. “And you think this queen is going to bid on me?”
She offered a coy smile. “Let’s put it this way, you are exactly what she asked for during her interview. I’d be shocked if she didn’t take you home tonight.”
I chuckled. “Excellent. I can’t wait to get this show on the road.” I rolled my shoulders and shook off the excess energy.
“Speaking of... Tonight we’re doing men first. You’re up, my friend. Follow me to the front of the line.”
I did as she requested. As I passed by Summer, she lifted her hand in the “rock on” symbol. “You’ve got this, buddy! Go get ’em, tiger,” she said.
The petite woman named Maia gave me a solemn wave as though I was heading to the guillotine. She was an interesting one. Didn’t say much through the entire process, giving nothing of herself. It was as if she wanted to fade into the background. It made me wonder where Madam Alana had found her.
Before I knew it, my name was called through the PA system and Jade held back the black velvet curtain. The lights blinded me momentarily as I pushed through.
“Welcome, Memphis. Please take your position.” Alana spoke from where she stood off to the side in front of a podium.
“Memphis Taylor is from Atlanta, Georgia. He played college football and loves fitness, as you can see.” A couple women in the audience made a few woot sounds which had me grinning. “Memphis comes from a large family and loves the outdoors, working out, and watching football. He is six foot three and twenty-four years old.”
“First, we’d like to ascertain the bidders’ interest in this young man. Please pick up your remotes and choose Yes-No-Maybe before we continue.”
I turned around to see the results, my palms sweating as my nerves replaced the earlier excitement. This was the make-or-break moment. The first step in being chosen by someone tonight. If I was, then my plans for a successful, financially secure future for me and my family would be set into motion.
Yes – 7
No – 5
Maybe – 8
“Hell, yeah!” I whooped, so caught up in the moment I forgot where I was. Some members of the audience laughed at my outburst while Alana’s lips twitched, showing she wasn’t upset with me.
Out of the twenty women bidding, fifteen of them were interested in me. An injured college dropout who had no clue what to do with his future. Not that I’d be sharing that information anytime soon. I fully planned on wooing my wife and being everything she needed during the three years of our marriage.
I just had to convince my family that getting engaged out of the blue to a woman they’d never met wasn’t suspicious. My mother would be concerned I was moving too fast. My father, would be thrilled beyond reason that I’d found someone. He’d always told me he knew the second he met my mother that she was the one for him. But my granny... Now, she would be the hardest to convince. She knew me better than anyone. I’d always been close to her, especially since my father had worked long hours driving while I grew up.
My mother was always there for us kids, but she had her hands full with the six of us. Dividing her time between my sisters, her job, and my sports schedule was difficult. My granny, however, had taken a shine to me from the second I was born. I’d gravitated toward her. She was wise, took no shit from anyone, and had three sons of her own. She knew how to connect without smothering. Getting her to believe I was marrying for love was going to be hard as hell, but I’d find a way.
“Memphis, please exit the stage and return in your robe for the second half of tonight’s auction,” Madam Alana instructed.
I smiled, waved at the crowd, and then spun around on my heel as though I was doing a complicated dance move. More chuckles could be heard from the audience as I suavely sauntered offstage.
* * * *
NAOMI
I sat with my mouth hanging open, my heart pounding, and my mind reeling as my dream man walked onto the stage. I could not believe it. Lady luck was finally moving in my favor.
Memphis motherfucking Taylor, in all his Black, handsome glory, stood tall and proud, looking even more dashing than he did when we’d run into one another in the elevator just this morning.
All last night I’d bemoaned the fact that I’d not gone after him. We’d had the best date of my entire life. I hadn’t met a man I’d connected to so completely before him. And after that goodbye kiss...I was a goner. But, I wasn’t that kind of girl. I didn’t steal another woman’s man right out from under her nose.
Now I realized what was really happening.
The clever man. He’d never said his fiancée’s name. Never mentioned how’d they’d met or why he was in town a day earlier than her. He’d only said that he would be meeting his wife the next evening.
And now I knew.
A million thoughts scrambled my brain as I stared at him. He wore a tailored suit that showed off his muscular arms and thick thighs. It was a dove-gray color that offset his complexion magnificently.
“Damn, I’ll be taking that man home tonight,” a scantily clad white woman to my left said to a bidder sitting next to her. “Look at that fine hunk of a man. Mm-hmm. I’m going to climb him like a tree the second I win the bid. And Daddy will be so angry when he finds out I’m engaged to someone without status too,” she snickered.
I snarled, grinding my teeth. There was no way in Hell I was going to be outbid on this man by a giggling, spoiled brat. It was probably his money she was spending. I, too, had been born and raised with a silver spoon in my mouth, but I’d actually worked to earn what I had. Was independently wealthy outside of the family trust.
Memphis Taylor would be mine.
This was the exact sign I needed. Memphis and I had connected in a way that I hadn’t experienced ever. It was as if our souls sighed when we’d kissed last night. I wouldn’t let something so beautiful between us slip away a third time.
And I simply couldn’t wait to see his face when I walked into the room to sign off on the final bid. He’d be shocked silly.
I smirked to myself as Madam Alana asked for the bidders to use their remote to show their interest. I clicked “Yes” so fast my thumb smarted against the painful amount of pressure I used to make my selection. Unfortunately, there were fifteen of us interested.
I tapped my foot as Madam Alana asked him to exit the stage and come back for the second round. I had no idea what the second round entailed. After he left, I watched each candidate come out and go through the same process of giving the bidders an opportunity to show their interest. The longer it took to get back to Memphis, the more irritated I became.
Listening to this woman next to me go on and on about what she was going to do in the bedroom with Memphis once she got her hooks into him made me want to pull on her blonde hair and rip her extensions right off her head. Instead, I minded my manners, sipped on my second martini, and tried my damnedest to wait patiently for my man to return—but it took Herculean effort.
Finally, the second half of the event started, and Alana called his name. He strutted through the dark curtains like a man on a mission. He was barefoot and dressed in a navy-blue satin robe tied at the waist.
I perched on the edge of my seat, my auction paddle ready to go.
“Memphis, darling, please remove your robe,” Madam Alana cooed in that sultry, elegant French lilt of hers.
He smiled wide, undid the tie, and let the satin fall to the floor.
My mouth went completely dry as his massive, well-built muscular frame appeared. He was cut... everywhere. He had toned pecs that were squared off and led down to a six, or was that an eight-pack, stomach. His dark skin glistened, making every dip and curve shine under the spotlights. He looked like the sun god Ra with his hands on his trim waist, his form seeming unbreakable, as we all looked our fill.
I gripped my paddle so hard my hand ached as I licked my lips. Damn, how I wanted to run my tongue all over his fine body. Press my nose to his neck and inhale his very essence directly from the source.
I used my paddle to fan my suddenly heated face. Hot damn! That man would make a nun wet between the thighs. Every inch of him was utter perfection.
“I’m going to pass out! He’s gorgeous,” the blonde gasped.
“Wow. You are not kidding. And look at that bulge,” her friend whispered loud enough for pretty much everyone to hear.
I scowled but stupidly looked at the bulge. The sassy bitches were not wrong. He was absolutely packing some serious heat down below. I clenched my legs together as arousal flooded my system.
“I’ll start the bidding at three million,” Madam Alana announced.
Before I could even move, the blonde waved her lit paddle.
I narrowed my gaze at her as another woman closer to the stage waved hers and upped the bid to four million.
I was stunned as paddles went flying. Still, I didn’t care. I not only was extremely wealthy, I had family money going back generations. There was no number too high. Especially since I believed Memphis and I had shared something truly special.
When the bids slowed to eight and a half million, and Memphis had turned his body around giving a nice view of his rounded, toned ass which he flexed so his cheeks bounced deliciously behind his boxer briefs, I finally raised my paddle.
“Ten million dollars,” I stated coolly, raising the bid another million and a half.
Madam Alana smiled for the first time and winked in my direction. That small display showing her approval in my choice this evening made me grin happily. Not that I needed her encouragement. She didn’t know what had occurred between Memphis and me before now. Still, having what I thought was her blessing at my choice didn’t hurt in the least. She knew what I wanted and that wink expressed her agreement that I’d chosen wisely.
“Bitch!” the blonde grumbled.
I turned my head toward her as Madam Alana said, “Ten million going once...”
“Sorry, ladies, you simply never had a chance. He’s far too much man for the likes of either of you,” I tutted and waved my hand nonchalantly.
The blonde glared and sucked down a full glass of champagne, practically choking on it as she did so.
I laughed heartily at her frustration as she promptly stood. “Well, you can have him.”
“Ten million going twice,” Alana continued.
“I surely will. In every way possible.” I lifted my martini up in salute. “Better luck next time.”
“Sold, to bidder number four for ten million dollars.”