“What do we have here?” Madam Alana clasped her hands together and rested her chin on her fingertips.
Dakota hooked a thumb to her miserable stylist. “Anna wants me to wear a thong. I don’t do thongs. Not even on my feet.”
I snorted under my breath and pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.
“Anna, do you recall the sporty sets that new designer created? Van Wyk?”
The stylist nodded and raced across the room to the long shelves filled with clothing. She grabbed two sets of something and brought them over.
One was a dark eggplant color, and the other was red.
“The purple, darling.” She snapped her fingers and made a ‘give-me’ gesture.
Anna placed the items in her hands.
Madam Alana held the material against Dakota’s frame. It was a unique style that I’d not seen before and was made of shiny fabric that caught the light, much like a bathing suit would.
“Put this on. Hurry along, dear. We don’t have all night.” Her tone was direct and lacking any humor.
Dakota pushed down her undies, and I noted all of us looked away, especially the single guy, Memphis, who was wearing only a pair of black boxer briefs that molded to his muscular form magnificently.
“Now that, my dear, is quite astonishing,” I heard Madam Alana say.
I turned around and watched as Dakota looked at her form in the mirror. The boy-short bottoms provided full coverage but had cut outs that crisscrossed at the hips, making them sexier. The top, however, was smokin’ hot. It wrapped around her neck and crossed over each breast, making an “X” shape, and then came down and around her ribcage in swaths of stretchy fabric.
“Put her in the purple halter. The reveal will be incredible,” Madam Alana gushed.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Madam Alana. I’m much more comfortable in this,” Dakota admitted, fingering the fabric at her hips and over her bum.
Madam Alana dipped her chin and then moved to the center of the room facing all eight of us, including the two newcomers. “This is the plan. Each of you will be introduced one at a time. You will walk across the stage slowly as though you were a model on a catwalk. Once you get to the end, I will prompt you via the microphone to stand and turn around so the bidders can see a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of your shape. You will then walk to the side of the stage where I have placed red Xs on the ground. Once all eight of you have been seen by the audience, you will head back to this room, where you will remove your dress and put on the robe that matches your lingerie set. We will repeat the process. The second time you walk, when you get to the end of the stage, I will instruct you to remove your robe. You will then turn around and give the bidders time to view the entire package once again. Then you will go back to your spot, and the bidding will begin.”
I nodded and swallowed against the fear and uncertainty rushing through my veins. I hated being the center of attention, but if this would secure a safe future for me and those I loved most, I’d do whatever it took.
“I cannot express how important it is that you not speak during the entire process. Do not make ugly faces. Do not attempt to hide your body. Confidence is key tonight. If any of these things go wrong, you may not be bid upon. The odds tonight are high that most of you will be chosen. You are all beautiful in your own unique way. Each of you has a reason for being here. Keep that close to your chest as you take to the stage. Also, anything can happen. If I address you and make a request, follow my instructions to the letter. I do not make money unless you make money. We’re in this together.”
She walked along the line until she got to me and held out her hand. My stylist put a small recorder into it. Madam Alana pressed the record button.
“Faith Marino, this is your chance to walk away. No questions asked. You are willingly entering into The Marriage Auction. You agree to marry whoever secures the highest bid for your hand in an arranged marriage. The rules have been explained, you’ve signed the contract, and now I want your verbal agreement that this is what you want, that you understand what you have committed to and are not being coerced in any way. Please confirm your name and your agreement.”
I nodded, and she held the recorder closer.
“I’m Faith Marino, and yes, I understand what I’ve committed to and willingly agree to all the terms as set forth in the contract I signed. I am not being coerced or forced in any way. I am here of my own accord.”
“Excellent. You may finish getting ready. The auction starts in an hour,” Madam Alana stated, then moved to Ruby and repeated the same process with her and then each member of The Candidates Club and the two new additions thereafter.