“Yes, it will work perfectly.” I wait for Samantha to say more, but she doesn’t and I don’t ask. I should’ve known that tactic wouldn’t work on her.
“Done,” the redhead says, but before I can thank her she’s gone to work on another woman's makeup.
“Where is the rest of it? All I’ve been given is this robe and a white thong. There's more than the thong and wings right?” I joke, but then think that really might be all there is for the costume, because I’m here to sell my body after all.
“Of course not.”
Samantha turns walking over to a cabinet pulling out a pair of high heels. When she hands them to me I can't help but stare at them. They’re beautiful four inch heels completely covered in diamond rhinestones that match the jewels that line the angel wings. I quickly strap them on like they might disappear right before my eyes.
“I wanted to check with you one more time about the virgin thing.”
Samantha‘s words pull me away from dreamily admiring my heels.
“What about it? I thought we went over that already?”
“Well, a woman's first time should be handled with care, and if the winner isn’t made aware of this before he takes you for the first time it might cause a problem. Virgins are supposed to have their first coupling here on the property, and your contract holder might not agree to that if he doesn't know. He’s not required to have your first time together be in one of our rooms to monitor for safety. And let’s not forget, virgins make a fortune out there.”
I wonder if that’s the problem. That this is cutting into her bottom line, the more money I rake in, the more money she makes off her ten percent. She really should just call it a finder’s fee. That’s what Samantha does; she finds the women for men.
“Is this about the money?” I ask, cutting right to the chase. I don’t want to beat around the bush; we are on a time crunch here and I’m not sure I want to go out there if she’s going to admit to everyone here that I’m a twenty-five-year-old virgin. It’s embarrassing and I’m already barely holding onto my confidence as it is. I’m surrounded by eight other beautiful women who have bodies that will play seductress better than I will. I’m not built with dips and curves in all the right places, I’m tall and lean and barely fill out a B cup. We should be focusing on getting me a push up bra right now, and not about my V card. This was settled days ago or so I thought.
“While most things are about the money Mandy, I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing. My girl’s safety and wellbeing always come first. That’s why I had the Virgin Clause implemented to begin with, but since you’re waiving that protection, I just want to be certain you’re okay with it.”
She doesn’t look offended that I tried to say she was all about the money. I should apologize, because everyone knows Samantha takes care of what she thinks is hers. I should respect how far she’s come in this hungry man-run city of Vegas, but she cuts me off before I can.
“And with you, I don’t have to worry about the money.”
What the hell does that even mean? Is she saying she doesn’t think I’ll go for much or that she thinks I’ll go fast? I'm scared of the answer, so I just don’t ask. I don’t want to take a hit like that before I go out on stage. I’ll stick to what needs to be covered right now.
“Yes I’m sure, I’ll tell him before we…” I pause for a minute looking for the right word to reassure her I’ll be fine “you know, go at it.” I finish. Jesus I couldn’t just say fuck.
“Alright then. You’re a smart strong woman, Mandy, I trust you’ll be able to handle anything he throws at you.”
I hold my tongue at telling her that maybe selling myself isn't the smartest thing I’ve ever done, but the point is moot.
“The rest of my costume?” I ask dropping my robe. I’m standing in just the white thong and heels. My brown hair is long enough cover my small breasts, but I’m still essentially naked.
Samantha doesn’t answer my question, and goes about placing the clear straps around my arms securing the wings in place.
“That’s it,” she says, eyeing me with approval.
“You want me to go out like this? With no freaking top?” My question is ridiculous and I know it. This is Vegas, most women on stage around here are topless. It should be a given and it’s dumb that I’m here auctioning myself off and thinking I wouldn’t be topless myself.
“You have legs for days and your breast are perky as hell. Your nipples are some of the best I’ve ever seen, you should be proud.” She says the words like it’s a compliment and obviously I should know this. “You don’t have to tell them you’re a virgin, but you’re not putting a top on.”
With that, I know the discussion is final. I’ve learned working as an executive assistant when to push, and when to let things go. I knew winning the virgin argument was where it ended.
“You’re first.” Samantha motions me to follow her, and I’m shocked.
“First?” Jesus, I wanted to maybe stand back here and listen to a few rounds and get a little more comfortable standing around naked.
“I’ve been doing this a long time Mandy. I know what order I should put the girls in to get the best bidding out of everyone. This is after all still a business.”
I follow her, and then in a flash find myself standing in front of the black curtains. They’re closed, but I feel my heartbeat pick up, knowing that any moment they are going to part. Shit, without a shirt people might just be able to see my heart pounding in my chest.
I take a few deep breaths to calm myself, and to quell the urge to bolt. I close my eyes, and it hits me; this is the most alive I’ve felt in forever. I can do this, just like I’ve done everything else I’ve ever sought out to do. I’ve lived on the streets for almost a year when I was a teenager; if I can do that, I can do anything. I open my eyes and see Samantha standing in front of me.
“There she is. I was wondering when the girl I saw snapping orders and keeping her composure at the Cortez casino would show up.”
I smile at her words. I’m here to try and change part of who I am, but she's right, there are some things I want to keep in place. My will to power through anything is one of those things, and keeping calm under pressure is another. I just need to shift it to other parts of my life. I need to focus more on getting the things I want.
I gasp when I feel something cold hit my nipples, and I go to jerk away.
“Ice. Just making them nice and hard for the boys out there.” She goes back to applying the ice to my nipples making them harden instantly. “All set.”
She passes the ice back to her assistant, and stands in front of me adjusting my wings and hair just so. Samantha takes my shoulders and looks in my eyes, “You remind me a lot of myself, Mandy. Don’t you ever let go of the fighter inside you.”
She walks to the side of the stage, and it’s then I hear the auctioneer’s voice from the other side of the curtain.
“Good evening gentlemen. Let’s begin.”
The reality of it all hits home. The curtains are parting at any second, and a room full of men will be sitting there staring at me nearly naked. I shake my head letting some of my hair fall forward to cover my breasts. I can't help but look over at Samantha who gives me a ‘really’ look. I just shrug in response and smile. Sometimes a girl needs a little bit of a buffer and my hair is all I’ve got right now.
“Tonight, we begin with the stunning Mandy. This is her first time at the Mistress Auction. She’s new to us, and she’s eager to please.” The curtains draw open, and I can feel my breath catch, but I make myself release it slowly and calmly.
“With this sexy angel, we’ll start the bidding at fifty thousand dollars.”
“One million dollars.”
At the sound of his voice, my spine goes ramrod straight. I squint my eyes to try to find the source of the voice I’ve known all too well for the past four weeks. The lights shine brightly on the stage, and it makes it difficult to see anything. I take matters into my own hands and walk to the edge of the stage so the lights no longer block my view.
“You!” I point down at Charles who’s on the edge of his seat, looking like he’s ready to come out of it at any moment.
“We have one million to Mr. Townsend. Do I have two?”
The auctioneer carries on like I’m not causing a scene. I expect Samantha to come onstage and pull me back, but nothing happens. We just stand there, both of us staring at one another.
Why is he doing this? Is this to prove some point? Is he pissed that I defied him the other night at his casino, something no one ever does, so he’s here to make an example out of me? What’s he going to do? Drag me back to his hotel and make a fool out of me or something?
That’s when I see Aaron and Justin sitting next to him. Seeing them makes everything that much more complicated. Is he still trying to blackmail them? They aren’t jumping to outbid him to save me, so I’m going to take care of this myself.
Pulling my eyes away from their table, I make my way to the center of the stage, but I don’t retreat back into the light.