Page 5 of Her Double Desire

“Doesn't matter. Take your dress off.”

This seems normal enough in my disoriented state, so I slide it free, tossing it aside and leaving me in nothing but my pink lingerie. “The boys will be happy,” she says, whistling. “You're gorgeous.”

“No I'm not,” I giggle. “I'm plain ol' Veronica.”

“Well, we don't get too many natural girls in here, that's all I'll say.” Sunnie motions for me to lie back, so I do, happily resting my eyes.Gotta piss Tim off and quit with a bang.

Falling in and out of sleep, I hear them whispering. I'm distantly aware of cold palms rubbing me all the way down to my toes. Then they're gone again and I wonder if I imagined it all.

“There,” Sunnie says, “That oil will make her look even better under the lights. Go get her out on the stage, it'll be done with soon. I doubt she'll be happy if we let her sleep and tell her she'll have to come back next month.”

“Right,” Franklin snorts, half lifting me off the table. “Come on, now. Veronica, was it?”

Hooking my arm around his shoulders, I hang on to him. “Bingo bingo. Who're you again?”

“Just your guide.” He leads me out of the room and down a narrow hall. I can hear the buzz of voices. Together we break through some curtains, exiting into a room with a stage and rows of mostly empty chairs.

“Shit,” Franklin growls, “think we missed the cut-off. Hey, hold up!” I grunt when he drags me bodily to the platform. “We got one more, sorry.”

There's a squat man with too many chins standing in front of me. He twists a notebook in his grip, considering me curiously. “Fine, what's her name?”

“Veronica,” Franklin says. He backs away, giving me a pat on the back as if to say “good luck!”

And then... I'm standing in the center of the stage all alone.

People are chatting. None of their faces are familiar. The cool air reminds me that I'm wearing nothing but my lingerie. It's so absurd, I start to think I'm asleep. Nothing else could explain this.

“Gentlemen, we have a late and final entry!” The man with the notebook marches back and forth across the front of the stage. “Do we have an opening bid for the young Veronica?”

Well, now I'm definitely dreaming.

“Has she been trained before?” It's a rich, male voice that shouts the question.

Another voice angrily says, “What's it matter? We lost out on all the others. Just bid on her so we can bring someone back with us!”

My head is burning, my stomach cold and uneasy. Brushing back my hair, I try to clear my vision, but everything is moving, things doubling before me.I drank too much, damn you, Sonya.

“No bids?” The announcer asks.

“Answer the question!” The first voice yells, and people mumble in agreement.

The auctioneer flaps his book at me. “Well? Any training?”

“Training?”

“Yes, have you worked with anyone before?”

“Uh,” I answer slowly, “Of course. I guess I have... what, four years?”Is that really how long I've worked for my asshole boss?

The announcer raises his eyebrows, seeming impressed. “Hm! Folks, the answer is four years! What a surprise.”

Everyone begins talking louder, excited by this new information.

I wish my boss was around to hear this. Maybe he wouldn't fire me after all.

“Thirty grand,” a new voice calls.

“Fifty!”

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