Prized, The Payment Series book 1 Read Online Free PDF Page B

happened she’d made sure to
keep up a strict beauty regimen of monthly cuts, colors, massages,
facials, manicures, pedicures, waxes—the works. God only knew how
much she’d spent on treatments in the past couple of years, as her
finances spun out of control, and yet she hadn’t even considered
stopping them or even decreasing their frequency. What an idiot
she’d been.
    When she returned to DMA, Raoul stripped her
completely and then gave her directions.
    “There are about thirty-five men here. A
very good turnout, really. Ten girls are being auctioned today.”
Catrina’s mouth fell open and Raoul said, “Surprised there are that
many? You actually came to us at the perfect time. We only hold
these presentation events,” What a nice term for it, “once a
month, so some of the girls have been waiting.”
    “Are there always this many?”
    “No, not often. Sometimes there are more,
but we average four to six each month.”
    “Wow. I guess I’m not the only one with a
spending problem.”
    “Unfortunately, no, you’re not. Anyway, I’ll
bring you in there and we’ll walk amongst the men. They are allowed
to touch, but that’s it. If they have a question they will direct
it to me. You will not speak. Once the auction is about to begin
we’ll go up on stage and I’ll remain with you. When it’s your turn,
I will display you, to what I think is your best advantage, while
the emcee explains the particulars about your debt load and term of
service, and the auctioning for you will begin. You will keep your
head down at all times once we enter the room, unless given other
instructions. With me so far?”
    “Yes, sir.” The surreal quality of this
entire situation hit her and she took a deep breath in and blew it
back out. She had to do this. She had to let some
stranger essentially buy her for an entire year. There was no other
way to get herself out of the mess she’d created. Her eviction had
come through and she’d actually been forced to spend the past
couple of days with Meghan, who was the only person who knew what
was actually happening.
    Most of her friends and family thought she
had gotten a new position as a personal assistant to an executive
and wouldn’t be around much, since he was so demanding of her time.
They’d been surprised when she’d told them she’d be living with the
man, and though some way-too-close-to-the-mark comments had been
made Catrina had ignored them, fearing breaking the confidentiality
agreement she’d signed as part of the contract with DMA.
    And isn’t what they said the truth in a
sick, twisted way?
    Raoul went on. “Once a price has been agreed
upon, your new benefactor will come up on stage to claim you from
me and then you’ll be sent back here to gather your things. You’ll
stand in the corner, still naked, until your benefactor meets you
here. He will decide what you’ll be allowed to wear home. Do you
understand?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Good. Then let’s go. I’m attaching a belt
with a leash to your midsection. That may seem demeaning, but it’s
actually for your protection, because it ensures I’m never more
than three feet from you.”
    “O-okay.”
    “Remember, you do not talk. Some of the men
may try to get you to, so they can test your obedience. If that
happens I will deal with it.” He fastened the contraption around
her waist and took hold of the end. “Ready?”
    “If I have to be.”
    He led her to the end of the building and a
room she’d never seen before. As Raoul had said, about three dozen
men milled around. A few girls were already there, presumably with
their trainers, and a general air of anticipation floated through
the room. When she entered with Raoul, several of the men looked
over.
    “Eyes down.” Raoul reminded her, leading her
toward a group of men standing around a bar-height table.
“Gentlemen, this is number nine.” It was then that Catrina noticed
there was a nine button attached to her belt. That’s all I am