Sold to the Sultan (the Breslyn Auction Club Book 2) Page 3

  “Please… take a seat.” Her voice was a little husky like she was older. 40s maybe. I sat down, feeling nervous. This woman had a certain presence about her that I couldn’t quite understand. In the silence of the room, I couldn’t help but admire her perfect black hair that fell down her shoulders like a sheet of ebony. It nearly blended into the expensive black suit she wore. If I didn’t focus my vision, I was certain she would have melted into the gloom of her office.

  “Uh… thank you for this opportunity…” I had to say something to break the silence. The smirk on Victoria’s face just deepened. I fidgeted, feeling anxious around the mysterious woman.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “What’s your name, honey?” Victoria asked, reclining in her seat, assuming a more comfortable position. I relaxed a little and loosened my grip on the armrests. My fingers felt like they were going to fall off.

  “Estella Ryder,” I said with as much confidence as I could muster. I’ve had quite a few interview experiences in my life. I was used to sitting across from the person behind the desk, trying to sell myself, but this felt different. There was a lot more riding on this interview than any other I had ever had. I gulped, feeling a sheen of sweat all over my body. I hoped Victoria wouldn’t notice.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Estella.” She smiled before her face was completely cloaked in the shadow of her hat. “And let me just say, it’s not every day that we get someone as beautiful as you coming through the doors.”

  “What?” I spat out before I could stop myself. How could she say that when I knew she had girls like Rosie working at the Club? I blushed, my whole body heating up at the compliment.

  “It’s true. We get a lot of blondes, even a few redheads, but very few with hair like yours… with such a fine complexion.” She chuckled, running her fingers through her own hair. “You know, you remind me of a younger version of myself.”

  At her words, I pictured myself in her position. Had Victoria once sat where I was now seated? No, it couldn’t be. Victoria felt like she had her position for all eternity. She was timeless. Motherly. Nothing about her seemed to hint that she once had her life falling apart around her.

  “Thank you?” I said awkwardly. I toyed with the hem of my dress, not sure what to do with myself. I couldn’t make eye contact because her hat was in the way, but at the same time, I didn’t want to look away. I tried to steady my nerves, but it was getting harder and harder with each passing minute.

  “You’re most welcome.” Victoria leaned forward again. “You know, you’re just the type of girl we’re looking for here at Breslyn’s.” She tilted her head and a part of her sharp nose came into view. “Are you single?”

  Her question came abruptly and for a moment, I didn’t know how to answer. “Huh?”

  “Are you single?” She repeated herself. She sounded like she had all the patience in the world as she addressed me. I was thankful for that.

  I nodded. “I don’t have time to be in a relationship.” When she didn’t respond, I felt compelled to explain myself. “I’m a medical student, so I don’t really have time to commit myself to a man.”

  Victoria nodded and she picked up a pen off her desk, twirling it expertly between her fingers before she rested it back down. “And why are you here?” I felt myself relaxing more and more in this woman’s presence. While she was daunting at first glance, she now seemed very kind and gentle.

  I almost couldn’t handle her kindness. After everything that had happened, the sound of her motherly voice brought me to tears. I bowed my head, trying to hide it, but Victoria had already gotten up from her chair and wrapped her arms around my shoulder. “Shh… there’s no need to cry, dear. We all have our rough patches…” She cooed into my ear, calming me down.

  Nevertheless, I kept crying, feeling bad that I was ruining her designer suit. I wanted to pull away, but her embrace was so warm and inviting. She rubbed my back, pulling me close, almost as if she really was my mother. I cried harder, remembering how my mother had forgotten who I was the day before. I shuddered with sobs.

  Victoria was very gentle with me throughout my episode. Finally, I managed to compose myself. Victoria handed me a tissue and smiled, sitting down beside me. “Why don’t you tell me what that was all about?”

  She took my hands and squeezed them. “I’m sorry I broke down like that…” I looked away, ashamed.

  “Don’t apologize.” She tilted my head up, her finger under my chin. “Just tell me what’s wrong.”

  I nodded and took a steadying breath. “It’s just… I’m here because I need money to pay for my mother’s medical expenses. She’s in a nursing home and I haven’t made all the payments. They’re threatening to cut off her care and if that happens, I don’t know what I’ll do. I feel like a horrible daughter for putting her there in the first place, but I don’t know how to take care of her myself… and I’m still in school. It’s just… I feel so helpless and alone without my mom.” I wiped my eyes. “Yesterday, she didn’t recognize me…”

  “That’s terrible...” Victoria sounded sympathetic.

  “To top it all off, I haven’t paid my tuition and bills are just piling up higher and higher and I feel like I’m drowning. I know I sound desperate… but I really need this job and the money that comes with it…”

  Victoria nodded, handing me another tissue. I took it and blew my nose, trying not to be too disgusting as I did so.

  She pointed to a large clock I hadn’t noticed before. Its hands were frozen in place, precisely at 3:35. “That was the moment my fiancé left me at the altar.” She sighed, her shoulders sagging from their usual, rolled-back position.

  “I use it as a reminder to never fall in love again.”

  I couldn’t understand why she was telling me all of this.

  “And if I were you, I would do the same. Men will only hurt you and make your life even more difficult than it already is.” Her voice was dark and I felt a shiver run up my spine. She got up and grabbed a dress bag hanging on the back of the door. She handed it to me. “A limo will arrive at your house at promptly 6 PM on Friday. Don’t be late.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Friday came faster than expected. I rushed home from school and jumped into the shower. Luckily, the hot water was working again and I took my time, enjoying its warmth. I stood under the hot stream, carefully washing my hair. I massaged my scalp and took my time, wanting my hair to be perfect. After all, this job relied on my looks, so I had to look my best.

  I scrubbed down my body with an exfoliator until my skin was all nice and pink. At one point, my fingers grazed my nipples to find they were rock-hard. I didn’t even realize that I was thinking about all the hot men I had seen on the website.

  Austin was once again pinning me to the bed. He took one of my nipples into his mouth, flicking it back and forth with his tongue as his other hand traveled down my body. It snuck into my panties, his thumb caressing my clit. I couldn’t help but moan as I bucked my hips into the air, my body silently asking for more.

  With his free hand, he pinned my wrists above my head, keeping me trapped under his piercing gaze before kissing my lips. I melted into it, my hips still grinding into the air, searching for him. He continued to tease me, one of his fingers pressing inside of me before he pulled away, a smirk on his face. I groaned, wanting more.

  I shook my head, chasing the fantasy away. I didn’t have time for this. I blushed darkly, realizing where my own fingers had been. I washed my hair one more time, conditioning the tips before I jumped out. I wrapped a towel around my chest and grabbed my makeup bag, placing it on the vanity. I would have to do an amazing job with it.

  I rummaged through my stuff, looking for my hairdryer. It had been so long since I had to doll myself up. Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t been to a proper date in over a year, maybe even two.

  Eventually, I found it at the bottom of a drawer and plugged it in. I curled my hair around a brush, forming some subtle curls that I
hoped would suit me well. I pushed my bangs into a side-swept style. By the time I was done, my hair seemed to shimmer. I smiled, grabbing a small broach and pinning up half of my hair, letting the other half fall in ringlets down my shoulder. My hair hadn’t looked this nice in ages.

  Feeling confident, I opened my makeup bag, ready to tackle my next task. I was lucky that my skin was pretty nice to begin with. It saved me the step of putting on concealer. Besides, after the exfoliation in the shower, it looked even better than usual. All I had to do was put on some eye makeup, maybe a little blush, and finally, lipstick. I could handle that.

  I primed my eyes first, making sure I covered everything. I didn’t want my eyeshadow to crease or fade during the night. I didn’t know what I would end up doing, so I wanted to make sure my makeup would last.

  I grabbed my shimmery turquoise color and applied it to the inner third of my eye. I was so close to the mirror that my nose was practically touching it. My hand shook as I tried to apply the shadow. I was nervous. I hadn’t worked so hard to put on makeup in quite a while… I had no idea whether it would come out good or not.

  Next, I grabbed a vibrant green color and packed it into the center of my lid with a worn-out brush I had in the bottom of my bag. I struggled to get an even coat, but eventually, I managed, blending it in with the turquoise.

  “Oh c’mon… where is it?” I looked through all my makeup, looking for my favorite color: midnight blue. I finally found it and applied it to the outer v, connecting it with the green.

  I pulled back to see the result. My eye seemed to shimmer in a mixture of blues and greens. I grinned. It seemed like my makeup skills were still up to par. Ready to finish up my look, I grabbed the eyeliner and traced my waterline before I dabbed my bottom lid with a bit of the midnight blue.

  Finally came the mascara. I coated my lashes evenly. “Damn…” I chuckled. I didn’t think it would look this good. Feeling ready to put on the dress, I unzipped the bag Victoria had given me, unveiling it for the first time. With school and everything else, I hadn’t had the time to look at it.

  I gasped the moment I opened it. The dress was gorgeous. I could tell it was a designer piece, just by the expensive material and the way it was cut. Even in the dull light of my bathroom, it sparkled like the night sky.

  Feeling giddy, I slipped it on. The material was soft and form-fitting, perfectly hugging all of my curves. My curves were often my biggest insecurity, but when I looked in the mirror, I couldn’t even recognize myself. Somehow, the dress gave me a flawless hourglass figure, making me look like I belonged on a magazine cover or something.

  I moved closer to the mirror, in a state of shock. The dress had a dipping neckline that showed off my large bust. I blushed softly, seeing how good it looked. I turned around and admired myself. The train in the back was a nice touch. Victoria seemed to have amazing taste. I wondered how she had managed to guess my size so accurately. I hadn’t even given her my measurements.

  I looked at my phone. 5:50. I still had to put on lipstick! I hurried back to the vanity, my heart pounding as 6 PM got closer and closer.

  CHAPTER NINE

  The limo arrived promptly at six, just like Victoria said. I felt nervous walking up to the luxurious vehicle. I could feel my cheeks burning with blush as the chauffeur opened the door for me. I got inside, sinking into the genuine leather.

  The driver said nothing as he started to drive away. I looked out the tinted windows, watching the scenery pass us by. My mind couldn’t stop speculating about where the night would take me. I felt my heartbeat quicken the closer we got to Breslyn’s.

  I moved closer to the driver, feeling lonely at the back of the car. “Feel free to have whatever you’d like, Miss.” He looked at me in the rearview mirror.

  “Oh?” I noticed the minibar. It was stocked with bottles of champagne and sparkling water. I grabbed a water and took a sip, careful not to smudge my lipstick. It was labeled as long lasting, but you could never be too careful. I pulled my compact mirror out of my purse and checked my makeup. Everything looked good for now.

  “Have you been working for Breslyn’s for long?” I asked the driver, trying to start a conversation.

  “Fifteen years.” He said with a smile. “Had plenty of girls like you sitting in that same spot.”

  I blushed softly, realizing he was probably telling the truth. I wondered just how many girls had been picked up from their homes in this limo. I wondered where they were now. Were they living in the lap of luxury like Rosie or had they learned they weren’t cut out for the Breslyn lifestyle.

  “Do you know much about the Club?”

  “Not really. Unfortunately, I just drive the limousines. I’ve never actually been to an auction myself, but from what the other girls have told me, it’s quite the experience.” I just nodded. I could imagine. All those eyes on you while you were on stage. Billionaires bidding on a night with you. “So, what made you join? I haven’t seen you before. You’re new, right?”

  “Yeah…” I trailed off. I didn’t want to tell this man just how desperate for money I really was. “I just thought I would try it.” He raised an eyebrow at me as if he wasn’t convinced by my answer.

  “Is that all?”

  “Yes.” I fidgeted, my fingers tangling together before I noticed the condition of my nails. I had forgotten to trim them. I quickly hid them as best I could, feeling self-conscious. If only the dress had come with gloves…

  And just like that, all I could think about was my nails. While everything else was perfect, I was sure they would stick out like a sore thumb.

  “We’re here.” The limousine stopped in front of the same large mansion I had seen during my interview. At night, with its shining lights, it looked even more beautiful.

  Just as I was about to open the door, someone did so for me. Another security guard, different from the other night, stood there. He held out his hand, waiting for me to take it. My hand felt tiny in comparison to his.

  My dress nearly touched the floor as I steadied myself on my high heels. I followed him to the estate, this time entering through the front door, just like all the other individuals that were attending. Behind me, the train of the dress flared out, announcing my presence. I just hoped no one would step on it.

  The walkway leading up to the building was longer than I expected. On either side, the manicured lawn looked pristine. The water fountain bubbled. The hedges looked like formidable guards, protecting the castle. The large columns at the entrance reminded me of ancient Rome.

  Inside, I was met by a marble foyer. My heels clicked against the floor as we passed a large, spiral staircase. I barely had time to admire any of my surroundings as the guard walked at an incredibly fast pace that I was struggling to keep up with.

  Finally, we arrived at a set of large wooden doors. Two guards were posted there and they promptly opened the doors, holding them open for us. I held my head up high and stepped into a grand ballroom. This room surpassed any other in the mansion I had seen so far. High vaulted ceilings with painstaking gold leaf detailing loomed overhead. Beautifully decorated tables lined the dance floor. Fresh flowers formed the centerpiece of every table. Gold banners hung from the walls. Velvet curtains framed the floor-to-ceiling windows. I suddenly felt very small in the grand room.

  “Wow…” I mumbled under my breath.

  I looked forward and my eyes grew wide. While the room was beautiful, the people who filled the room were simply breathtaking. Men wore designer tuxedos that showed off their powerful physiques. Women wore awe-inspiring gowns that hugged their bodies to perfection. Every person wore something that suited them well.

  I stepped forward and suddenly, a naked woman approached me. I stepped back in shock, but she just smiled at me, her bright red lips dancing with delight. She wore a black mask on her face and her hair down in a natural style. “Champagne?” She asked, offering me a glass.

  Hesitantly, I took one, trying not to stare, but it was next to imp
ossible. She looked like a goddess crafted out of the purest marble. Perky breasts. Wide hips. A shapely ass. Everything about her looked divine.

  When I took my glass, she stepped away from me, serving some of the other people in the room. I was surprised when she approached a group of men. I half-expected them to start fondling her, but instead, they were all very respectful, looking into her eyes and thanking her for the refill. A few other naked women waltzed around the room, serving those in designer clothes.

  I blushed and looked around for some place to go. Somewhere I could fit in.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Nervously, I downed the glass of champagne, enjoying the sensation of the bubbles. I was glad for the warm feeling that spread across my chest, calming me down.

  I continued to walk around the ballroom, feeling horribly out of place. Maybe it was a mistake to come here. I wasn’t cut out for this stuff. I wasn’t the beautiful woman that walked around, flaunting her stuff. I could never picture myself as one of those naked women, serving champagne. What if they wanted me to work as one of them? I blushed at the thought, gravitating toward a corner.

  What was I supposed to do? I was just about to sit down when a handsome older gentleman with gray hair walked up to me. “Hello.” He said, his voice husky as he got inappropriately close to me. “I couldn’t help but notice you across the room…” He had pushed me against the wall, his hand on the side of my head, keeping me pinned without actually touching me. “And I must say, you’re the most ravishing creature I have ever seen…” His face got even closer to mine and I felt my breath catch in my throat. “I must know your name.” His blue eyes blazed with passion as he grinned, sending a shiver running right through me.