Chapter 2: Sold

The doorbell’s sharp ring echoed in my ears as I stood frozen in the living room. My cheek still burned from Sercei’s slap, but it was the fear pounding through my chest that left me breathless.

She adjusted the hem of her dress with a precision that felt almost mocking. “Don’t just stand there like a fool, Jane. Go upstairs and get your things.”

I hesitated, my voice small. “But—”

Her eyes snapped to mine, sharp and dangerous. “Did I ask for your opinion? Move!”

My legs obeyed before my brain caught up, carrying me up the stairs two at a time. My chest tightened as I reached my bedroom, the familiar thud-thud-thud of my weak heart threatening to drown out my thoughts.

Get my things. What did that even mean? I owned exactly five dresses, and all together they were nothing Sercei would consider “my things.” My fingers fumbled through my closet as I quickly packed and shoved them into a bag. The bag was torn, but it was the best I had.

I slipped it on and gave myself a last look at the cracked mirror. My reflection was a pale ghost, eyes wide and lips trembling. This didn’t feel like getting ready for a meeting. This felt like a journey of no return.

The sound of Sercei’s voice shouting my name jolted me back to reality. I tugged at the hem of the dress and hurried downstairs. Sercei stood by the door, her face a mask of impatience as she waved me toward her.

“Finally,” she snapped. “Let’s go.”

There was no time for questions, not that I dared to ask them. She yanked the front door open, revealing a black sedan resting in the driveway. The man standing next to it was broad-shouldered, his face shadowed by the brim of his cap. He opened the back door without a word, and Sercei pushed me forward.

The air inside the car was thick, the leather seats cold against my bare arms. I tried not to let the claustrophobia show on my face as Sercei slid in beside me, her perfume sharp and suffocating. The driver didn’t speak, didn’t even glance in the rearview mirror as we pulled away from the house.

The drive was silent, except for the hum of the engine and the occasional sharp intake of breath from Sercei. My mind raced with questions I didn’t dare ask. Where were we going? Who were we meeting? Why was Sercei acting like this? And why did I have to pack a bag?

The car finally came to a stop outside a building that stood against the night sky, its neon lights casting a weird glow. A club. The thumping bass of music vibrated through the air, so loud I could feel it in my chest.

Sercei stepped out first, her heels clicking against the pavement. She turned back to me, her eyes narrowing. “Fix your face. You’re already pathetic enough without looking like a kicked puppy.”

I bit back the retort that bubbled in my throat and followed her inside.

The club’s interior was stuffy. The air reeked of sweat, alcohol, and cigarettes. The pounding music made my heart skip dangerously, and the flashing lights made it hard to focus. Sercei didn’t seem to notice my discomfort as she marched through the crowd, her head held high.

A man in a suit greeted us near the entrance to a staircase. He gave Sercei a quick once-over, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer. I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

“She’s with me,” Sercei said curtly. The man nodded and gestured for us to follow him upstairs.

The private suite was nothing like the chaos of the club below. It was quiet, the only sound the low sound of conversation from the three men seated on the plush couches. They turned as we entered, their eyes sharp and accessing.

“Right on time,” one of them said, a smirk tugging at his lips. His dark suit was tailored to perfection, his smile as polished as his shoes.

Sercei smiled back, but it was the kind of smile that never reached her eyes. “Of course. I don’t like to keep anyone waiting.”

She nudged me forward, and I stumbled slightly, my heart pounding as all three men’s gazes landed on me. I felt like a deer caught in the headlights, every instinct screaming at me to run. But I couldn’t. Not with Sercei standing so close, her nails digging into my arm.

“Have a seat,” the man said, gesturing to the couch opposite him. Sercei sat first, pulling me down beside her.

“You weren’t kidding,” another man said, his voice low and deep. His eyes raked over me in a way that made my skin crawl. “She’s a pretty little thing.”

My stomach roiled, but I kept my face blank. I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew better than to show fear. Sercei had drilled that into me enough times.

“She’ll do,” the third man said, his tone dismissive. “Let’s get to the point.”

Sercei leaned forward, her smile widening. “Of course. I’m sure we can come to an agreement that benefits everyone.”

The words blurred together after that, their voices blending into a sick coordination of negotiation. I caught bits and pieces—numbers, terms, conditions—but none of it made sense. All I knew was that they were talking about me. Selling me.

My chest tightened, the realization hitting me like a train. I wasn’t here for a meeting. I wasn’t here to help Sercei with some deal. I was the deal.

“Fifty thousand,” one of the men said, his voice breaking through the haze in my mind.

“Seventy-five,” another countered, his tone sharper.

My stomach turned as the bids climbed higher, each number making me feel smaller and more insignificant. I wasn’t a person to them. I was a commodity.

“Eighty,” the first man said, his smirk widening.

Before anyone could respond, the door opened, and a new figure stepped inside. The room seemed to quiet as he entered, the atmosphere growing heavier. He was tall, his dark hair falling over his forehead in a way that seemed both effortless and deliberate. His eyes, sharp and piercing, scanned the room before landing on me.

“Lincoln,” Sercei said, her voice faltering slightly.

He didn’t acknowledge her. His gaze stayed locked on me, his expression unreadable.

“Ninety,” he said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

The other men fell silent, their confidence evaporating under his presence. Sercei’s smile wavered, but she quickly recovered, nodding as if she’d been expecting this all along.

“Sold,” she said, her voice firm.

My heart stopped.

Lincoln stepped closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “Let’s go.”

And just like that, my world shifted on its axis.