Page 11 of The Bachelor Auction

5

The day drags on forever.Between choosing the best clothes to suit the occasion, refreshing my presentation skills, and making a checklist for what to say and what not, I have been constantly checking my emails for Lucky’s reply to the message I sent him last night.

I shouldn’t tell a complete stranger all my secrets, but he’s actually a great listener, and somehow in the bleakness that is my world, he always knows how to lighten the mood.

Brenda’s like my only friend since college—that’s how we met a few years ago—but I can’t tell her everything, and for a good reason. She enjoys dishing out advice, whether you want it or not, and at times, her optimism is more than one can bear.

Call me an introvert, but I always felt safer hiding behind a screen, which is something Brenda’s always teased me about. Maybe that’s why I thought our two-people business idea would work: me doing most of the brainstorming and administration of our day-to-day activities, such as cold calling companies, and Brenda playing the communicator, mediator, you know, the pretty face of our brand.

It’s after five p.m. when Lucky’s reply comes in. Anticipation flows over me as I click to read his message.

Subject:Re: Guess who’s just landed the chance of a lifetime…

I’ll haveto say I’m jealous that some stranger gets to see those Ds straining your business suit, and I don’t. After all, I should get preferential treatment due to the fact that we’ve known each other for so long, while he’s just popped up. But congratulations are due, so…congrats on landing that business trip.

As to those ten inches I keep mentioning, I can assure you they’re real…I’ve just measured to make sure I take good care of each and every inch. Just as I’m forced to take your word for everything you’ve ever told me, you’ll have to take mine. While I can’t risk sending you photographic proof, I could arrange for a personal meeting, say, tonight?

I keep seeing your status as online, so I figured it’s either you’re waiting for my reply, or you’re chatting up my competition. Either way, I can’t help but wonder why we don’t just go for it?

What if your plane crashed and I’ll never get to see you? My dirty fantasies and the knowledge that I’ll never get to act on them would haunt me for the rest of my life.

I can’t afford that. I need to make you scream my name.

So, you see, I have a good reason to insist that we meet. Tonight.

Choose a restaurant from one of those places on your wishlist and I’ll get us a table within the hour. And then we can talk some more about that fantasy of yours, i.e., the one involving me bending you over whatever we can get our hands on and end that dry spell of yours.

— LuckyLuke

I stareat Lucky’s latest message. I’ve been so consumed by my attempts to get our company name out there that I’ve completely neglected my private life, and in particular, anything related to the opposite sex. I could at least go out to dinner, scratch off one of the restaurants on my wishlist, see what the guy looks like, and then politely part ways if I’m not into him.

I’ve been wondering about the person behind the strange profile, anyway.

So, what’s stopping me?

Why the heck am I hesitating to take him up on his offer?

Because I want to be able to dine at one of those restaurants paying with money I’ve earned rather than as someone else’s arm candy. Besides, he couldn’t possibly get a table at any of the restaurants on my wishlist, at least not within the hour.

And if he could…

No, the probability of that is equal to nil, unless he’s well-connected and/or filthy rich, which, judging from all the expensive restaurants and places he’s rated, isn’t completely farfetched.

Subject:Re: Re: Guess who’s just landed the chance of a lifetime…

While your offeris incredibly tempting, you know I couldn’t pay half of the bill, which is one of the many reasons why I must decline. Wish me luck in Vegas.

— Bumblebee07

I’m aboutto log out of my account when a message notification pings.

Subject:Re: Re: Re: Guess who’s just landed the chance of a lifetime…

Whether you can affordit is irrelevant to me. When I take a woman out to dinner I’m always the one paying the bill.

— LuckyLuke

I skimover his message when I notice the digits at the bottom following his usual sign off.

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