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  Please, please don’t ask to see my ID, please just let me through, I frantically thought, in spite of the smile that was plastered on my face.

  By a stroke of sheer luck, he stepped to one side, letting me past.

  I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I squared my shoulders and drew myself up to my full height. He continued to study me as I walked past him and into a dark hallway. I was ushered along with the people who were spilling in through the door toward another door. I could hear the faint sound of music that was almost club-like, but with a different feel to it.

  Another doorman let me into the room, but nothing could have prepared me for the sight that greeted me there. There was indeed club music playing over the speakers, though it was quieter than being in an actual club. The lights were dim and there were people everywhere. Everyone had a drink in their hand, and there were servers walking around offering hors d’oeuvres and champagne in small flutes.

  The room was elegantly decorated, with a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling and expensive-looking paintings and gently glowing light fixtures lining the walls. The floor was covered in a plush carpet, and I was surprised to see that the room was completely open. There was no furniture of any kind—perhaps it had been moved for the event?

  There was another oddity that caught my eye, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it was intended for.

  On the left side of the room there was a large stage. It was made of what appeared to be mahogany, with lights that could be focused toward either the stage or into the room, as they now were. There was a microphone in the center of the stage, but there weren’t any instruments or any indication that a band would play. I was incredibly curious, but I played it off as smoothly as I could and accepted a flute of champagne from one of the servers.

  There was a bar set up on the other side of the room, filled with all kinds of liquors, and a man dressed in black from head to toe was mixing drinks. He had black hair and a short beard, and was wearing black eyeliner, as well. I had seen some interesting sights in my life, but that man really caught my attention. He looked up and made eye contact with me briefly, and I quickly looked away.

  I felt my breath catch in my throat as I looked around, amazed at the sheer volume of wealth that was around me. Suddenly, my cocktail dress (which I’d splurged $100 on) felt cheap, and the gold necklace I had proudly boasted at the restaurant felt like a toy that came out of a fifty-cent vending machine.

  Women with dresses worth thousands of dollars turned and glanced at me while men who looked like billionaires eyed me with a hunger that sent more shivers down my spine.

  I reminded myself once more that I was supposed to be my sister, and I wondered if there was anyone in the room that I was supposed to know. I did my best to look like I belonged, though I was silently hoping no one would attempt to make conversation with me. I wasn’t sure how these people interacted with each other, or what they talked about.

  I knew just enough about my sister’s career to be able to carry on a conversation, as long as there were no names involved. Sure, she’d mentioned names to me before, but I’d never bothered to remember any of them—they hadn’t mattered at the time. I locked eyes with a few people, though I found it difficult to maintain eye contact with anyone. These people were intimidating and incredibly wealthy—they came from a different world than I did.

  A warm smile from a woman in the corner of the room offered me some reassurance, and I considered walking over to her and starting a conversation, but at that moment, all eyes were drawn to the stage.

  A woman had walked into the center and held the microphone, calling for the attention of everyone in the room.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m glad to see so many of you have made it. I apologize for the delay, but I am pleased to announce that now that all the lots have arrived, we are ready to begin!”

  The crowd cheered, and though I didn’t know what was going on, I clapped, too.

  Suddenly, a man came up beside me and grabbed me by the arm. He was dressed the same as those who were guarding the doors, with dark sunglasses and a suit, and he began ushering me toward the stage. Part of me thought to resist and ask him what he thought he was doing, but I had to remind myself that I wasn’t me, I was my sister.

  With a knot in my stomach, I allowed myself to be swept along with the man.

  What is this, Maddy? What are you a part of?

  Chapter Three

  Emily

  I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next, nor how to respond. I had to keep reminding myself that I was supposed to be my sister, and that I should do what she would do—but in the moment, I wasn’t certain what that was. Maddy had always been calm and collected, and I could only imagine that she would be in this situation, as well.

  But then again, Maddy would know what was going on here.

  The man led me through a side door and into a narrow hall where we were met by a woman.

  “You’re late!” she hissed into my ear as the man transferred me to her.

  “I’m sorry. I was having dinner…with my sister,” I explained.

  The woman gave me a look that made me feel as though I had just said the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard, then she turned and pushed me into what appeared to be a dressing room. I wasn’t sure what she wanted me to do, but I didn’t have to wait long. Within seconds, two more women had appeared and were stripping me of my cocktail dress.

  My first instinct was to tell them to leave me alone and walk out, but I was curious to see what was going to happen. They took my red dress and presented me with one that was black and lacy.

  There was little left to the imagination once I had the garment on, and I was pleased that I had taken care of myself and had a job where I was on my feet for ten hours a day. I might not have the exact same body as Maddy, but I was in good enough shape that I could pass for her—a commercial model.

  One of the women zipped up the back of the dress while the other handed me a pair of stiletto boots. I quickly slipped them on, then looked at myself in the mirror. The dress was incredibly short, barely reaching to the very tops of my thighs. The black leather boots reached up over my knees, giving me an instantly edgy look I never could have imagined myself wearing.

  I thought that was the end of it, but I was quickly ushered out of the dressing room and into a seat in front of a mirror where a man quickly went to work on my face. He swiped a baby wipe over my skin, removing all the makeup I had applied myself, before getting to work. I would never have chosen to go so dark with the eyeshadow myself, but by the time he was done, I had to admit: I looked good.

  I wasn’t given any time to admire myself, however, as I was immediately steered toward the stage I had seen just moments before. I was doing my best to keep my footing in the high heels as I was hurried along next to one of the men, but I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder back at the dressing room. Another girl was already being rushed inside, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she knew what was going on, or if she was just as uncertain and surprised as myself.

  A bright light caused me to put my hand up and over my face, but the man who was escorting me quickly pulled it down again. The woman who had announced that the “lots” had arrived was still standing on the stage, and she turned with a broad smile as soon as I stepped into view.

  I hadn’t yet understood what was happening with the crowd, until the woman announced me as the first lot of the night.

  My escort walked me directly to her side, then stood for a moment before turning on his heel and walking off the stage with the same deliberation he had brought me on with. I watched him go with a knot forming in the pit of my stomach.

  Though this experience was all very new and unfamiliar to me, I knew that there was something going on—and I was the object everyone was looking at.

  I knew before the woman even said so that I was about to be auctioned off, and I couldn’t help but think of my sister once more—what kind of people did s
he hang around? What kind of a party was this?

  “I would like to point out that this is one of the fullest groups we’ve seen here at the Gathering, and I am pleased. I trust that all of you know how this works, and you’ll all play by the rules. May the highest bidder win! Let’s start the bidding at five thousand dollars,” the woman said, before adding, “I know it’s on the low side, but there are a lot of new faces here, and we don’t want to scare anyone off.”

  A murmur of quiet laughter ran through the crowd, and I started to feel lightheaded. I reminded myself to stay cool—if this was the kind of thing Maddy did, then I could do it, too. She didn’t have to be the only cool Shadows sister; I could hold my own in the same field that she could. At least, that’s how I felt, until the bidding started.

  It wasn’t the kind of auction I thought it would be. It didn’t take long for the bidding to reach into the tens of thousands of dollars, but the bidding process was slow and deliberate. I had expected only men to be bidding, thinking that I was going to be auctioned off to spend a lust-filled night with any one of them. I was surprised to see that there were women bidding on me, as well.

  One woman in particular seemed to have taken a special liking to me, though I found it difficult to maintain eye contact with anyone due to the bright lights and my increasing anxiety. I may have only been on the stage for a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity.

  The bidding began to slow, and I was convinced I would be spending the night with a distinguished-looking older gentleman standing close to the front of the crowd. I didn’t like to think of myself as potentially being “bought”—if that was really what this was about—but I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like spending the night with this man.

  Then, another bid came in from the back of the room. The woman standing on the stage next to me appeared surprised by the sudden gesture, though she was quick to recover.

  A murmur ran through the crowd, then, and I got the impression that $100,000 was a far higher bid than many had heard before. I didn’t know what it was about me that had prompted such a high bid, and I wondered if this kind of thing happened to Maddy often.

  I kept my hands at my side, refusing to fidget with my dress though I didn’t know what to do with my hands, and the woman beside me suddenly spoke.

  “Is there anyone that wishes to go higher?” she asked with a clear voice. Another slight murmur ran through the crowd, but no one offered to go any higher. With an elaborate gesture of her hand, the woman announced the bidding over.

  “Miss Shadows is sold to Mr. Cunningham! Thank you!” She clapped her hands and the crowd responded, and I found myself being ushered from the stage.

  I smiled nervously, keeping my footing as best I could on the narrow steps leading down the side of the stage. Another girl had already taken my place, and the woman had begun the bidding process again.

  I glanced over my shoulder, amazed that the next girl looked completely at ease with the situation, almost as if she was enjoying being the center of such attention—as if she wanted to see just how much men were willing to spend to get a night with her. My attention was soon turned to my own situation, however, as I was presented to the man who had bought me for the night.

  “Mr. Cunningham, Miss Shadows,” the bouncer said, rather flatly, before leaving us.

  I looked at Mr. Cunningham, and once again, I felt as though all my breath had been stolen from me. He was tall and muscular—very clearly a man who spent a lot of time in the gym. His dark brown hair was cut and styled in a sophisticated, messy manner, his eyes so blue they seemed otherworldly.

  His smile revealed the most perfectly straight and white teeth I had ever seen, and I thought I could detect the very bottom of a tattoo peeking out from beneath the golden watch on his wrist. I was instantly mesmerized by the aura this man exuded. There was an attitude about him that I found instantly captivating, and although I had just met him, I desperately wanted to know more about him.

  He glanced back toward the stage as the woman made the announcement that the new round of bidding would begin, but he didn’t seem interested in anyone else in the room but me.

  Mr. Cunningham put his hand on the small of my back and turned me toward the bar, moving with the kind of assurance I’d never seen before.

  “Can I get you a drink?” he asked with a suave smile. I nodded, unable to speak.

  My heart was pounding in my chest with a frenzy unlike anything I’d experienced before.

  Chapter Four

  Kyle

  I don’t know what came over me when I walked into the club. I’d been there a hundred times before, and this time wasn’t any different…or so I thought. The Gathering was nothing new to me—I would walk in, look over my options, and make my selection.

  I knew I had more money than the richest man in the room; I knew all the men wished they were me, and that all the women wished they were with me.

  Kyle Cunningham was a name that circulated around the club often. The attendees knew that I was a no-nonsense kind of man, and when I wanted something, I was not afraid to get out there and take it.

  I sauntered through the room, making eye contact with everyone I passed but not bothering to hold their gazes for long. I had more important matters that needed my attention, and I was going to address those before anything else.

  Cora, the stage manager, was making her normal announcement, filling the time before the first of the lots would appear. I was used to this speech; it was the same thing she said every time the bidding was about to begin, and I nearly had the script memorized. I could probably recite it myself if I had the inclination to head up onto center stage and command the attention of everyone in the room.

  Center stage. I always had center stage, no matter where I went. Other men would pretend that they weren’t intimidated by me, but I could see it in their eyes. Each time I passed by, regardless of the club I found myself in or the company I found myself surrounded by, they would take a step back or to the side, offering me plenty of room to walk through.

  Of course, I make a point of walking through with my shoulders pushed back and standing tall at my full height. There was no need to hide anything or to act as though I were ashamed of even a single thing I was.

  I was proud of my accomplishments, and I wasn’t afraid to show it. As the CEO of KC Holdings, I knew what it meant to handle money. KC Holdings was one of the largest financial institutions in the world, and I was on top of my game.

  If I were being perfectly honest with myself, I had to admit that it could be a lonely life at times—jetting all over the world, darting from one meeting to the next, never staying anywhere long; long nights in luxurious hotel rooms, telling myself that I was happy and fulfilled with the life that I was leading.

  Sure, there were times when I wondered what would happen if I were to find a steady girlfriend, but I honestly couldn’t see such a thing working very well for me.

  All the women I knew were the same. They looked good, they were good in bed, and they were crazy about money. They didn’t care so much to get to know me; they cared about what was in my bank account. I had taken home women from all over the world—in every kind of situation possible. There were those who had textbook daddy issues, others who were looking for a fling with a guy far better-looking than their ex was.

  There were some who, stupidly, were convinced that they were going to win me over with their skills in bed—doing anything and everything they could think of in order to make that happen.

  Yet, in spite of how hard these women tried to win my affections, the end result was always the same: I had no interest in having a relationship with any of them. All I cared about was getting what I wanted out of them for a night, then turning them loose in the morning. I had built quite the reputation as a playboy, and while I wasn’t proud of the title, I certainly wasn’t bothered by it, either.

  When I reached the bar, I ordered a shot of whiskey. I always enjoyed having a nice, warm sho
t in my stomach when the bidding began; it made me more daring. Not that I needed any more encouragement to get what I wanted off the stage—I just felt like being selective with the woman I chose that night.

  After paying the bartender and leaving a generous tip, I walked over to a dark corner at the edge of the crowd. A redheaded woman was being led to the center of the stage, and I could immediately see that she was new to the club.

  It was odd, I thought she looked rather familiar in the face—I was certain I had seen her somewhere before. But the way she looked nervously at Cora, then turned her attention to the crowd, revealed that she had no idea what she was doing.

  Still, I couldn’t help but let my eyes travel over her body. She was wearing a lace cocktail dress that hugged all her curves in all the right ways, as well as boots that reached high above her knees—nearly to the top of her thighs.

  The dress left little to the imagination, and I couldn’t say that I was upset by that. She had been given lavish jewelry that looked like it belonged on her, though the way she carried herself on the stage gave her away as a newbie.

  I became so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear when the bidding began, and once I turned my attention that way, I realized that the bids were rising quickly. Though it was more than obvious that this girl had no idea what she was doing, she was clearly a crowd favorite right from the beginning.

  I was used to seeing all kinds of women at the Gatherings, and I had grown used to seeing them all looking nervous as they stood on stage. However, there were clearly some who were more nervous than others, and those were the women I had a tendency to pass on. I had no interest in a woman who was too nervous to hold her head up high, and I was very particular about that.

  However, there was something about this girl in particular that caught my eye. The “first lot”, as she had been referred to as, stood out from any other woman I had seen in the past. Though I wouldn’t know her name unless I was the highest bidder, I was intrigued from the first moment I laid eyes on her.