Lost And Bought

Chapter 4~ Vincenzo

Vincenzo

I dreaded the auction like all the times before and took a swig of whiskey to make it less painful. That also never worked, but since I didn't know how to make anything fancy, I stuck to whiskey.

Rick spoke to me from the driver's seat of the limo, "We should be there in five minutes Mr. Jilani."

My plan was the same as always: find the girl that one of the men really wants, bet on her for a little, and then let them win. I had been to six of these since I started running in these circles and hated every single one of them. I refused to partake in any illegal activities, but I had to maintain my image in the underworld. As we pulled up to the mansion, I tried to remind myself of that. Just a few hours of small talk and pretend bidding before I could get back to business. That is, until the next dinner party or something or other.

"We're here, sir." Rick put the limo in park next to a few others as well as some flashy sports cars. I adjusted my tie, downed the final drops of whiskey, and stepped out of the limo and made my way towards the mansion. I gave my name to security and walked to the showing room where the men were all standing with drinks and evil smiles.

"Enzo Jilani!" Wilson came over with a smile and a glass of scotch.

I smiled back, "Tom, always a pleasure." Only Mary called me by my full name. To everyone else I was Enzo, Mr. Jilani, or sir. "Looking for anything in particular tonight?" A waitress came around with a tray and I grabbed the first drink my hand could reach.

"Actually, I already have something at home, and while I'm sure I'll get bored in the next few weeks, I think it will take someone truly mesmerizing to get my money tonight." He took a sip of his scotch and I took a sip of some more whiskey. Something. He had referred to a girl as a thing not a someone. Then again, who am I to talk to? I'm almost as bad as these men. I might not buy any of these girls, but I still come. And although I hate these events, it's more so the inconvenience. I don't buy any of these girls because I don't have time for someone in my life.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts by a man on stage, "Good evening gentlemen. Tonight we have a very special evening planned with six lovely ladies. As always all payments must be made in full, in cash." And as always I brought half a million to keep up appearances. "Now then, we will begin in a few minutes with a line up of the girls followed by individual showcasing for placing bids. If you could all find your seats we will begin shortly."

I rolled my eyes and walked to the third row. These things always sounded like a high school play production. Much more elegant than a balck market sale, but I guess that's what it was. All these men were dirty rich. They came from old money and were corrupt, or were new money and thriving in the dark world of illegal business like me, well almost like me. These men were sophisticated and when they bought goods, they didn't do it on the internet.

The lights dimmed barely and subtle spotlights were put on stage as the line of girls started walking out. I quickly turned my gaze to the men to try and find out who I would be 'challenging' tonight in a fake bid war. Funnily enough, Tom seemed to have his sights set on a girl, although he had said otherwise. I followed his line of sight to the stage where my eyes landed on the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She had dark brown hair and the lights made it look like it had strands of gold. Her eyes were almost black and tears fell from them down her full, rosey cheeks. They kept trailing down her face until they fell to the floor, past her curvy body, slightly covered in black lingerie.

I swallowed a lump in my throat. Holy crap. What was happening?

The girls were led off the stage and we were given a few minutes to have some time to think about who we wanted to buy. Usually this would be the time where I eavesdropped on some of the men's conversations or looked to see who had the most lust in their eyes from who they were looking at moments ago. Except this time, I had problems. One, I hadn't been paying attention to any of the men once I saw her. Two, I was currently arguing with myself over what to do next.

I don't do this, I attend illegal events, but I never ever participate in them. I keep my business legitimate, shady, but legitimate. I've never even considered buying a girl from here before and I shouldn't break my rule now. Not just because she's pretty.

The first girl came out and the bidding started. She was crying and hyperventilating and it looked like she was about to pass out she was so scared. Of course, some of the men loved this and the bidding went on for a few minutes until she was sold. Another girl came out and was much different from the first. She looked numb, like she wasn't even living, just breathing. This brought in less money, but there were a few men who just wanted someone who was obedient. The rest of the girls followed with a mixture of fear, worry and sadness, until there was only one girl left.

The curtains parted and she walked through with binds around her wrists. She wasn't wearing any shoes and her legs were toned like a runner's. I looked at her lingerie again, the lace trimming fitting her surprisingly perfectly. My eyes followed her curves up to her puffy eyes and blotchy face. She still looked gorgeous and I realized why she intrigued me. Obviously she was scared, but she didn't look like the other girls. Her breathing was even and I think if she could, she would stop the tears. Her gaze was focused on a spot on the wall behind the rows of chairs and men that were trying to buy her. She was trying to be strong and it made her that much more captivating to look at. She wasn't in shock, or breaking down, she was...I couldn't quite place the-

"Fifty-thousand!" Tom's voice rang out and I snapped my head in his direction. I was right, he wanted her and he was going to get her. What was I going to do, buy her? Ruin everything I have worked towards for some random girl, all because she wasn't scared? I looked at her tear streaked face again. She should be scared.

"Come on men," the organizer probed, "I'm sure she can do better than that."

She had accepted her fate. She realized what was happening to her and yet, she tried to not let it show.

"Going once!" he called, sounding irritated, "Going twice!"

Before I even knew what I was doing I held up my marker, "Seventy-thousand!" For the first time all night, the girls' eyes focused on something other than the wall. They focused on me. We made eye contact for a second before she quickly refocused on the wall. But that second was all I needed to know I wouldn't be giving up.

"Ninety-thousand!" Tom called again.

"One-hundred." Usually this was where I stopped. I rarely went over seventy unless I knew the other men were desperate and then I would stop at one-hundred. Then I faked defeat as the men claimed their purchases.

"One-hundred five thousand!" Tom smiled at me, prematurely assuming victory.

"One-fifty," I kept my voice even as I said the bid and all the men looked towards me.

Tom seemed just as confident as he said his next bid, presumably thinking my previous bid was a fluke. At this point I think he was just trying to flaunt his money, "One-sixty."

"Three- hundred thousand dollars" There was no pause between Tom's and my own answer. I didn't see Tom's face, but I'm sure he was shocked. I returned my gaze to the girl and her eyes met mine again as I said the bid. Her lips parted slightly. That was the highest bid all night. I turned back to Tom with a challenging look in my eyes.

"Going once!" Tom's face remained neutral as he stared at me. "Going twice! Sold to Mr. Jilani for three-hundred thousand dollars!"

I looked at the girl one last time before she disappeared off the stage. Her eyes momentarily locked on mine and I finally saw fear.

There was one more girl after the one I...bought... and her price was under 6 figures like the rest of the girls. When it was over, all the men stood and began to mingle like they hadn't just bought a human being. I had just bought a human being.

Tom started to make his way towards me, but the guards indicated that our 'purchases' were ready. I followed the five other men to the back of the stage where all the girls were lined up. I can't believe this is happening.