Chapter 1: How Much Are You?

Amara's POV

“And for tonight's star, allow me to introduce to you the Woman in Red!”

Tumambad sa akin ang nakakasilaw na mga ilaw pagkatapos nilang buksan ang makapal na kurtinang tumatakip sa espasyong kinaroroonan ko ngayon.

“Let's take a closer look at the ravishing Amarah Dalton,” maririnig mula rito sa kinatatayuan ko ang pagsinghap ng karamihan sa kanila.

Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba iyon sa pagkamangha nila sa itsura ko ngayon o dahil sa isiping kilala nila ako.

Sino nga ba ang hindi nakakakilala sa akin?

I am the fallen heiress of Dalton Group, dating isa sa mga pinakamayamang pamilya dito sa New York.

I once had everything. But right now, I am nobody with nothing.

“Standing at 5'5" with a figure that's simply stunning,” rinig kong pagpapatuloy ng host. “Her measurements are 36-24-36, a perfect hourglass shape. With her porcelain skin and fiery spirit, she's a true gem, gentlemen. ”

Inilibot ko ang paningin para tignan ang mga tao sa paligid nang makabawi ako mula sa pagkakasilaw.

“The bidding starts at one million dollars. Who will take her home?”

Kinikilabutan ako habang ang mga bilyonaryong tao at mogul ay nagtataasan ng bid, each trying to outdo the other.

Karamihan sa kanila ay matatanda na kaya mas lalo akong kinikilabutan.

Palaki naman ng palaki ang ngiti ng host habang tumataas ang presyo.

“Fifty million dollars! Do I hear sixty?”

“Sixty, sir?”

“Ah, yes! Seventy million dollars, thank you, sir!”

Hindi ako mapakali nang makitang isang mataba at pandak na matandang lalaki ang nag-bid ng huling amount na iyon.

I am silently hoping that someone 'better-looking' would outbid him.

Pero wala ng sumubok na mag-bid ng mas mataas pa kaysa sa kaniya.

Para na akong mahihimatay.

Ito na talaga ang kapalaran ko and it sucks to know na kailangan ko itong tanggapin para sa dad ko.

After a short silence, nagsalita na ang host.

“Alright. Seventy million dollars...”

Parang unti-unti akong nawawalan ng hininga sa bawat salitang binibitawan ng host.

“Going once, going twice... and sol—”

“One billion dollars.”

A cold, detached voice cut through the chaos from the back of the room. Nanlalaki naman ang mga mata ng host sa laki ng bid nito.

“Wow, one billion dollars,” hindi makapaniwalang ulit ng host, “Going once, going twice and...sold to Mr.,”

Binitin ng host ang sinabi niya para hintayin itong magpakilala.

The crowd parted.

Naglakad mula roon ang isang matangkad at matipunong lalaki na hindi ko inaasahang makikita ko pa ulit pagkatapos ng dalawang taon.

He stepped forward habang ang madidilim niyang mga mata ay nakatuon sa akin.

“Aldridge. Neagan Aldridge.”

Nakita ko kung paano nalaglag ang panga ng host nang magpakilala ito.

The crowd gasped as they take in the sight of the famous hidden Aldridge heir.

Mailap ito sa media kaya walang nakakakilala sa kaniya noon. At ngayon, he's standing boldly amidst the crowd while his cold dark eyes bore into mine like he's reading my soul.

It can't be.

Nang makabawi ang host ay nauutal siya nitong binati.

“C-Congratulations, Mr. Aldridge. The Woman in Red is yours."

Kung nakabawi man ang host, pwes ako, hindi pa.

All this time, I never knew that I once enslaved the sole heir of our biggest competitor.

I saw how Neagan's lips curled up.

I just can't believe that I'm being sold to my billionaire slave.

Two years ago...

“You should try their wine, bestie. It's one of the best!”

Si Dahlia iyon, best friend ko.

Dinala niya ako sa isang elite underground auction event at sinabing baka makita ko raw dito ang nararamdaman kong kulang sa buhay ko.

Just recently, I can't get to pleasure myself like I did before and I told her about it because we were always open to each other's secrets even with the kinkiest ones.

I told her something is missing but I just don't know what it was.

So she took me here to buy a toy. A living toy.

“Ohh, ayan na,” she giggled nang magsimula nang magsalita ang host sa harap.

I share the same excitement as her pero hindi ko na talaga mapigilan at naiihi na talaga ako. Para na ngang sasabog ang pantog ko e.

I've been holding it for hours now, that's why.

“Dahlia, I really need to go to the restroom,” paalam ko sa kaniya.

“Now?” paniniguro niya.

“Oo.”

“Pero magsisimula na, you'll miss it,” nanghihinayang na aniya.

“I won't take long.”

“Okay, sige,” payag niya at marahan akong itinulak. “Bilisan mo na do'n! I can't wait to choose from tonight's batch. Balita ko they have a fine fresh set of men tonight.”

She squealed at napailing na lang ako. This girl is really something.

Sa aming dalawa ay siya ang may pinaka-inosenteng hitsura pero pagdating sa ganito ay wala pa ako sa kalingkingan niya.

I hurried my way to the restroom at dali-daling pumasok sa isa sa mga cubicle. Nakahinga na rin ako sa wakas nang matapos ako.

Agad ko ng inayos ang sarili at lumabas na ng female restroom para sana bumalik na sa pwesto namin ng kaibigan ko.

But something from the male restroom caught my eye.

Nasa tapat lang kasi iyon ng female restroom kaya hindi malayong mapansin mo ang kaganapan sa loob no'n.

Tumigil ako at umatras para sumilip sa loob and there I saw a man.

Not a typical man though.

I find him so damn hot. I can feel myself throbbing and aching for him. The kind of sensation I had never felt in a short while.

He's shirtless and the way his body looks makes me drool.

Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Dahlia kanina.

“Balita ko they have a fine fresh set of men tonight.”

This man must be one of them. Why else would he be here, shirtless, for my eyes to feast on?

I can’t afford if someone else might be able to get him first.

Dapat ako lang. Dapat sa akin lang siya.

Pumasok na ako and asked him bluntly.

“How much are you?”

My heart skipped a beat when I was met with a pair of his brown piercing eyes as he looked at my direction.

Heck! He's a freaking total package.

Kung gaano kasi ka-perpekto ang pangangatawan niya ay ganoon din ka-gwapo ang mukha niya.

I can't wait to have him inside my playroom.

Mas lumapit pa ako sa kaniya at gustong-gusto ko kung paano ako nagmukhang duwende sa harapan niya.

He's probably what? Double my size? No, triple!

Ang tangkad niya rin sa malapitan, kahit siguro lumuhod siya sa harap ko ay magkasing-tangkad pa rin kami.

Gano'n ako kaliit tignan kompara sa kaniya ngayon and I love it even more.

He stiffened as I tried reaching for his cheek.

Naramdaman kong umigting ang panga niya nang bumaba ang kamay ko sa leeg niya and I didn't stop there, of course. Marami pa akong kailangang i-explore.

“If it weren't for the fact that you're one of the auctioned men I would've literally die to marry you right now,” salubong ang kilay niya akong tinignan sa sinabi ko. “Oh, you poor thing.”

It's just too bad for him.

I was busy feasting on his body, walking circles around him and running my fingers against his skin when someone walked in.

“Here's your suit, Mr.—” he was probably cut off by the scene. “Excuse me but who are you, Miss?”

“Amarah Dalton, the heiress of Dalton Group.” pagpapakilala ko. “And I'm here to buy him.”

He gasped like I said something horrible.

Did I?