Chapter 2 : One Million Dollars

Maxwell Barlow's POV

“The bidding starts at 1000$” the pudgy bald man in the black suit who was hosting the auction announced.

It made my skin crawl. 1000$? Was a woman’s virginity worth only so much? I hated this whole charade. Scantily clad women who were barely legal were paraded in front of a room full of men like cattle which were about to be butchered, as the leering eyes invaded every inch of the woman’s body on the podium which was lit brightly from every angle. The entire room was bathed in darkness except for the podium where the girls were being shown.

“1500$” A voice called out from the dark.

“2000$” called another voice.

On and on it went until the final bid of 20000$ was fixed.

“Charles, why have you dragged me here? You know that I hate this place” I groan.

“Common Max. You need a break. You work so hard. Yet you never seem to have any fun. When was the last time you went on a date?”

“If I wanted to go on a date I would go on a proper date and not buy a woman for her virginity. Besides you know how dangerous it is in our line of work to get involved. I don’t want to have any weakness” I state the obvious.

 Charles and I are like brothers to the Kingpin of East Phurrieel. It was touted to be the next Silicon Valley and a lot of developments were happening fast. Of course, not even a brick could be laid without the permission of the Kingpin Xander Benson. Which meant that Benson was raking in huge amounts of money and we were always busy. There were constant threats to his life and Benson trusted no one with his life except Charles and me. Charles, Benson, and I were cousins and we had grown up together. We were practically brothers. Benson was the reason our families were living comfortable lives back home. We could lay down our lives for him for everything he had done for us and our family. Benson had got married and was visiting the hometown for their blessings. He would be honeymooning for a week after that.

So that left Charles and me to hold the fort down which also meant that we had a lot of free time on our hands as the business practically ran itself. Benson has a reputation for hiring loyal and talented people. Charles was a womanizer and loved sleeping with a new woman every day. He was especially fascinated with this place and always came here looking for a new girl. Tonight, he was adamant that I join him.

“Geez live a little would you! Who is asking you to get married? Why don’t you let off some steam tonight? You don’t know what you are missing until you have slept with these lasses” Charles was rattling on in his semi-drunken state

“I am no virgin bro. Don’t lecture me. It’s just that I am not into having a one-night stand. I like to get to know the person before sleeping with her. I have tried one-night stands before and I don’t like it. Maybe I will hit the bar next door and try to get myself a date instead of buying one here”

That’s when she walked on the stage. I felt like the air had been knocked out of my chest. I could not get up from my chair. I was rooted to my spot. My eyes fixed on her. She was petite barely 5 feet 6 inches with those heels on. Her skin shone like it was made of porcelain in the harsh light. Her soft brown hair fell around her in waves and reached up to her butt. She had a cute round face and slightly chubby cheeks. Her lips were plump and red. She was trying not to show any signs of her discomfort but she was biting her lower lip now and then which only made her look even sexier. She has big brown eyes and one-inch thick lashes. She was watching everyone in the darkness and even though she could not see anyone clearly as we were hidden in the darkness. I felt like she was looking directly at me. I felt a strange stirring in my stomach. She has the body of a seductress. Plump curves at the right places. She was probably conjured up by a wicked magician to tempt all men. She would probably have me wrapped around the pointed end of her heel if I ever got the chance to get close to her.

My Goodness. How and why did an angelic girl like her end up in a place like this?

“The bidding starts at 1000$” the host announced.

“See something you like” Charles who has noticed my face nudged my side with his elbows “What are you waiting for? Start bidding”

Even though I hated the process of bidding to sleep with a virgin girl, the thought of this girl sleeping with someone else was making my heart sink. This girl was awakening something primal in me. Some strange desire to be with her, get to know her, hold her hand, smell her hair. I was experiencing a tornado of emotions that I had never felt before. Who isthis girl and what is he doing to me?

“5000$” another voice called out from the dark.

“6000$” Charles called out.

“What the fuck Charles?” I snapped out of my reverie. The thought of someone else sleeping with her was impossible for me to imagine let alone seeing Charles who was like my brother.

“I am bidding for you Max. Before someone else can finalize the bid. I can see you drooling over her like a puppy. Sit back and let me handle this” he put his hands on my shoulders and assured me.

I was relieved that I didn’t have to take part in this uncomfortable process myself. It turned out that I was not the only man whose heart this girl had set aflutter. The bidding game seemed like it would not end and was going on and on. I was getting tired of it. Even the girl seemed uncomfortable and kept shifting in place and biting her lip. I wanted to put her out of her agony.

“50000$” Charles called out. He was visibly getting frustrated that the bidding was not stopping and people kept going on and on, so was I.

“55000$” called out another voice.

“For fuck’s sake end this already” I muttered to Charles.

“1 million dollars” Charles bid.

There was a collective gasp across the room. The girl’s eyes and mouth popped open with surprise. There were no more bids and the final bid was at 1 million dollars.

“Well, well, well. Not too bad for your first time eh” Charles teased me.

Was I sure about this? I looked at the girl again and I knew that I had never been surer of anything else. I didn’t want her for one night. I wanted her to be with me for life. I just hoped that she would not break my heart.