Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“There are seven here…did you do all these tonight?”
“Yes.”
She looked through them again before she stared at me through her round glasses. “That’s the most you’ve ever done in one sitting—by a landslide.”
Ten’s endless curves, bright blue eyes, and the sexy hollow in her throat got my imagination expanding. I wanted to show off every feature of her body, highlight all of her gorgeous attributes with the perfect fabric. I needed the right lingerie to accent the woman, but I also needed the right woman to accent the lingerie. “I guess I was inspired.”
“Conway, these are all incredible. It’s truly remarkable…your best work.”
I was passionate about my work, taking it seriously when others scoffed at it. Sex was the most beautiful and obsessive thing on the planet. We all thought about it every single day. We all meticulously picked out our outfits before we went to a bar with our friends. Why wouldn’t we do the same in the bedroom? Why shouldn’t a woman look her best before she gave herself to a man? It made fucking more sensual, more erotic. There wasn’t a single man on the planet who didn’t love lingerie—unless he didn’t know how to work a bra. “Thank you.”
“We have to get these into the show this weekend. I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you, Nicole.” I relied on her to do everything for me. She was a smart woman and a dedicated worker. I never needed to micromanage her because I trusted her to do her best. Her best interests were my best interests.
“You haven’t made a decision about your grand finale.” She walked over to the silver halter dress hanging on the wall. It took me three weeks just to conceptualize the piece. I didn’t design it with a specific woman in mind. That wasn’t the way I designed anything. The women in my head were usually faceless, just naked women with gorgeous tits and a perky ass. “Are you going to have Lacey Lockwood feature it? She’s been asking me about it almost every day…”
Lacey was definitely impatient. “I’m not sure.”
“Do you have someone else in mind?”
Ten immediately popped into my mind, the most gorgeous woman I’d ever laid eyes on. Perfect in every way, she looked like someone put her together in a factory. She was too beautiful to be true.
“Shayla is another favorite. She’d be great.”
No, not Shayla.
“Meredith?”
I shook my head.
“Lacey definitely has the most experience, and she’s the most famous model of the brand. You can’t go wrong with her.”
Lacey was a veteran. She had perfect grace, a dazzling smile, and she knew how to smolder for the crowd. I’d used her in a lot of photographs and live performances. She was in three different pictures on my walls at that very instant.
But she didn’t feel right.
“I want to use the new girl.”
Nicole hardly ever questioned my decisions, but she gave me a skeptical look now. “The one who was in here this morning? The brunette?”
“Yes.”
She set her pen on her folder. “Conway, I’m not sure if that’s a good idea. She doesn’t have a lot of experience, and the grand finale is the part of the show everyone is anticipating. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a beautiful woman. But Lacey has a lot more experience. With her—”
“No. I want it to be her.”
Nicole slowly shut her mouth, accepting her defeat. “Alright. Would you like me to have someone work with her?”
I needed her to be flawless, and the only one who could make sure that happened was me. “No. I’ll handle it.”
* * *
I was checked at the door before I walked inside.
The basement of the old opera house was filled with circular tables covered by red tablecloths. Low burning candles sat in the center of each table, creating a light so dim it was difficult to make out the appearance of everyone else in the room. Their policy for no masks almost seemed pointless.
I was escorted to a private table with a number on a paddleboard.
A scotch was brought to me instantly, and then I was left alone.
Each table was reserved for a single man, creating space between each competitor. Sometimes when a woman was particularly beautiful, the bidding war between men became heated. Then it turned into a pissing contest—who had more money. I’d seen slaves sell for twelve million dollars before—far over their value.
I enjoyed my drink and didn’t make eye contact with anyone. I’d left my phone in the car because those weren’t allowed either. They didn’t want any of us being traced, and they didn’t want these events recorded.
They waited an extra five minutes for any last-minute stragglers.
Then it began.
One by one, the naked women were pushed forward, and the bidding war began.
I made a few bids just so it wouldn’t be obvious there was only one woman I wanted.