I am more than ready.

I had been preparing for this for years. This was the last big challenge before my goal was in my sights.

Piper had helped me with a makeover. Nails, hair, heels—all of it with his tastes in mind.

A week had gone by in a flash, and suddenly I was on stage with what felt like hundreds of eyes on me. It was so much worse than the welcoming party. Especially because I couldn’t fucking see anybody.

I didn’t recognize the loudest of the voices, but I didn’t need to. Talk like that at these places was common, especially when the girls couldn’t see you. They treated us like terse objects at the party, but when the lights were out, their more animalistic side came out. They saw us as objects to be used and abused. After all, for them, money meant they could do anything.

Buy you a willing fuck toy. One who signed an NDA and could have her pussy waxed on request.

No wonder a place like this thrived under him.

The payout wasn’t worth it for most of the monsters in the crowd, but luckily, I was here for a very specific one. One who would have to bid on me.

I had worn my hair the way he liked it. Curled yet tucked behind my ears to give him a view of my face. Perfect red lips for him to destroy only minutes after we met. And a tight-fitting, scrappy, all-black lingerie set. The same one he had sent to my doorstep all those years ago.

“Now for our next auction item,” the announcer said, his voice crackling through the speakers. “Spoiled Brat!”

The curtain was pulled back, and the light from beyond burned my eyes. I had to blink a few times to get rid of the black dots that swarmed my vision. Cheers rang from all over, along with whistles and laughs.

Beyond the lights, I could make out shapes and some faces.

They did this on purpose. Blind you with lights so you wouldn’t see everyone in the theater.

I could clearly see the few front rows, but the ones up toward the back were out of sight. Those seats were where the wealthy would be. They were reserved for those whose donations made Black Silk Auction House millions of dollars. That was where he would be.

As the owner, he would be expected backstage, but his ego wouldn’t let him stay there. Especially if he knew I’d be on stage.

He wanted to be seen. Wanted his presence known to all.

“Come on, no need to be shy,” the announcer teased. “Step forward, lovely.”

Squaring my shoulders, I did as he said. One heeled foot in front of the other until I reached the end of the stage.