Page 13 of Proposition 1

8. Leo

Anyone who’s ran anything long enough, knows that the secret to pulling it off without going insane, is delegation. I had people in charge of each step tonight, and more in place to oversee them. Each person had been through the plan more than once, but I knew things rarely went off without some kind of hitch.

So far, my people had been able to handle all the little hiccups without me, which meant I was able to greet the guests with my father as they came in. Tonight had been deemed a no-business event, though it was impossible for men like my father and our guests to ever truly relax. They were all watching each other, waiting for any sign of weakness they could exploit later.

Bored with the posturing, I was glad when I received a message that the car I sent for Cadence had returned. I excused myself from the men gathered around the bar, making my way to the room she should be waiting in.

The other girls were all getting ready in the prep area backstage, but I’d left orders for Cadence to be taken to a private room. I had a feeling if she saw the other girls too soon, she may bolt.

The club below us was in full swing, oblivious to what was going on upstairs behind closed doors. There was a private entrance that led into the room with a bar along the back, and couches lining the walls. A second door opened into the room with the stage.

Some people had already taken their seats in the audience, so I peeked in to make sure everything was fine before moving down the hall. The men we worked with tried to pretend they were civilized, but there had been instances of things getting ugly, so I had plenty of men on hand in case there were any issues, though for the moment, they seemed content to sit and drink while they eyed their opponents. Tonight was about showing off and flaunting money, not fighting.

I didn’t need to check backstage, because Madame was there, and I knew nothing would happen under her watchful gaze. Madame was a stern woman with a wicked sense of humor once you got to know her. Everyone called her by her chosen name, and even I didn’t know who she really was. Any time we saw her she was painted up like a geisha, complete with kimono and intricately styled hair, though her accent was that of a native German.

Chuckling as I heard her voice pierce the hallway as she scolded one of the girls, I paused outside the door where Cadence should be. Everything was in place, my cousin one of the men already seated in the audience waiting for the auction to begin.

I gave a light tap on the door before pushing it open. I couldn’t help the grin that crossed my face as I dragged my eyes over Cadence.

She was wearing a bright yellow dress that hugged her curves in sinful ways. Her blonde hair was curled and pinned up, her lips painted a cherry red. If I had seen her on the street, I’d assume she was a working girl, and the look didn’t fit her at all.

“Hi. I hope this is okay. You didn’t say what to wear.”

Her voice was quiet, her fingers plucking at the fabric and giving away how uncomfortable she was.

“I actually got an outfit for you. It’s in there.”

I pointed to the small box sitting on top of the table against the far wall. The room was meant as a place to have a private meeting and only had the table and two chairs.

“Oh.”

Her head turned, brow creasing at the small size of the box. Her hands fidgeted though she didn’t move to look in it.

“Will this not work?”

Her big eyes turned back to me, the worry in them obvious. I tried to hide the hunger and give her a reassuring nod.

“It was chosen to match the others and highlight your assets. I’ll give you five minutes to change, then I’ll be back for you.”

I stepped back into the hallway, closing the door behind me. I was surprised she had taken the initiative to wear something provocative, but that dress wasn’t what I wanted to see her in. As much skin as it showed, the bidders would demand more.

With a few minutes to kill, I venture into Madame’s domain. From the moment I asked her to help with the girls backstage, she took control. She decided what they wore, how they did their hair and makeup, and even rearranged the order I planned to show them, but I let her have her say. I’d gone to her for a reason, and it doesn’t make sense to ignore good advice from people you trust.

The room where the girls were getting ready looked like chaos, and Madame stood in the middle of it all. The eye of the storm.

Since she didn’t look concerned, I assumed everything was going fine, and worked my way through the flying clothes, swinging limbs, and piles of shoes. By the time I made it to her I was sure that this room was far more dangerous than the one filled with criminal bosses from all over the state.

Madame didn’t say a word to me, or even spare me a glance as she called directions to the women making their last-minute preparations. Scantily clad to half-naked women were applying makeup, putting on their outfits, and curling hair.

To my eye it didn’t seem like they would be ready in time, but I trusted Madame to be sure they were. The first girl would be taking the stage in five minutes.

Without a pause, she pulled a wipe from a pack she had tucked in her sleeve and handed it to me.

“Bring her out of the room in fifteen minutes. She needs to see how the others handle their sale, but you don’t want her there so long she goes into shock.”

I chuckled, taking the wipe. Thanking her, I wove back to the door and slipped into the silent hall. Madame was a law unto herself, and the way she seemed to anticipate everything had me almost convinced she could read minds.

By the time I stopped outside Cadence’s room, her five minutes were up, and my cock twitched in anticipation of seeing her. The thought that she may have refused to change after seeing what was in the box crossed my mind, or that I may open the door to an empty room, but I was sure she was at the point where she was too committed to back out. I only needed to get her onstage and be patient.

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