CHAPTER 1 - SLENDER BEAUTY

As she stood behind the curtains of the club’s VIP showroom, she knew she was next in line. She stood with the other remaining girls about her age, all dressed in milk-colored robes, awaiting their turn to be called by their name tags. She was tagged "The Slender Beauty" with a starting price of five million dollar.

Slender Beauty had initially asked why she was priced higher. According to the boss, she was a unique product, and the buyers would devour themselves to have her.

"Seven hundred thousand dollars," one of the guests in the showroom staked in for the girl tagged "Burning Desire."

"Eight hundred thousand dollars," another guest staked.

"One million dollars," followed by another.

"Two million dollars."

Slender Beauty felt a wave of disgust grow through her veins as she listened, still standing behind the curtains and waiting her turn.

She wasn’t the only girl waiting. There were other girls with her behind the curtains, each with their own name tag, awaiting their turn as well. They could hear everything happening in the VIP showroom. Whenever one of the girls was auctioned, they shivered and fidgeted in fear time was ticking, and any one of them could be next.

"Two million dollars! Do we have another bidder here?" Cassius asked.

Cassius also known as The Boss was an effeminate man who managed the underground club. He had groomed the girls and taught them everything they needed to know to appeal to his guests. At this moment, based on what Cassius had told them, the girls knew exactly how their fate would end, in the bed of the highest bidder, who would take delight in exploring them to fulfill their sexual fantasies.

A familiar silence fell over the VIP showroom after the last bidder’s price was mentioned. The other guests who hadn’t placed their bids took their time to observe the female features of the girl before deciding if she suited their desires. Then, based on their assessment, they would bid higher.

"Burning Desire" one of the girls still being auctioned was exposed, her breasts bare, wearing only a G-string as she stood in front of the bidders who were still assessing her. She was consumed by shame, unable to look at their faces.

When nobody showed further interest, Cassius stamped a tag on the nameplate hanging from her neck. The stamp indicated that she was purchased; finally for $2 million. She was then immediately taken away.

"The next product we have here is Slender Beauty... incoming," Cassius announced with a devious smirk, his eyes darting toward the curtains.

Slender Beauty’s heart skipped a beat when she heard her name and the word "incoming" a code to reveal herself. But she ignored it. She was supposed to step out and walk as she had been instructed.

Cassius stood patiently, waiting for her to reveal herself.

"When I say 'incoming,' I mean come in and let your assets be seen," he emphasized, indirectly signaling to her in case she had forgotten. He knew for sure she was standing behind the curtains and that she could hear him.

He stood for a while, smiling sheepishly, watching the curtains while the eager guests waited. Yet, she was nowhere to be seen. This delay angered him.

"That brat better have a really good excuse," he muttered to himself, his teeth clenched and a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Ingrate," he whispered, then walked out of the showroom, flashing a half-witted smile to assure his guests that all was in order.

When Cassius approached Slender Beauty behind the curtains, he was furious.

"What's your excuse for not showing up?" he shrieked.

She stood still in her high heels, exchanging deep, hate-filled looks with him.

"I can't go out there," she said boldly, a sudden surge of audacity she hadn't known she possessed.

Something in her made her realize that she wasn’t just a girl from the brothel, abandoned by her mother when she was little a story Cassius had told her ever since she questioned her existence in his sordid whorehouse

"I don't have time for this. The moment I announce, you step in," he roared.

"I can't show up naked. I deserve better than this life," she said.

He laughed mockingly, shaking his head in disbelief.

"You think you are high and mighty? Better than the other girls? Not at all, my darling. You are just a filthy brat who only cares about herself."

Slender Beauty snapped back, her voice almost teary. "That's not true! I care about everyone, but you made this difficult for us!"

"No, darling. You are the one making it difficult for yourself," he flared up, breathing heavily.

"Now," he said, taking a deep breath, "kindly step out there when I call you, and don’t let those incoming crocodile tears mess you up.

"I am never going out there," she said, facing him head-on.

While still maintaining eye contact with her, Cassius signaled by snapping his fingers.

Suddenly, two bodyguards appeared, taking hold of her.

The other girls were instantly gripped with terror and consumed with anxiety. They knew what the boss was capable of, torture. The sight of those bodyguards traumatized them further, knowing what they had been through at their hands before