Chapter 6

Cora

I stare at the screen in mild shock. “Huh,” I say to myself.

Last week, I was a wreck after losing my job. I felt lost, like I didn’t know what I was going to do. I’d have to start looking for another job, but who knows how long it would take. The job market is hard as it is, and it took me a while to find the job that I had.

So, after a lot of thinking, I searched up the website listed on the card. From what I read, I would be auctioned off for a weekend. That's it. A weekend of my time, maybe my body and I’d get five hundred grand. So, I emailed them and told them I was interested.

It’s crazy, I know. But they look legit and professional. I had to go through a lot of testing to make sure I’m clean, and that there was no risk of pregnancy. They require the buyers to do the same. They seem to vet the people who take part in this. It’s not like I’m going out onto the street corner and getting into some random guy’s car for a bit of money. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. This is just more safe and clean. And a hell of a lot of money to turn down.

After I attend my screening appointment they set me up with, it’s just a waiting game.

All I have left to do is fill out this questionnaire.

My eyes scan the questions, filling them out as I go. They all look pretty standard. Name, age, sex.

And then I pause, eyes widening. BDSM orientation. “Sex slave,” I whisper. “Switch, domme, sub, sadist, masochist. Wow.” I blink a few times, not sure how to answer that.

While I’m not a virgin, I’ve only had sex a few times with a co-worker from a past job. We both worked crazy hours and had a friends with benefits relationship. Not really romantic to fuck in the back seat of a car, the bathroom or back alley, but it was something I had a choice in. Something I wanted. I needed that release, that moment away from my shitty reality.

He ended up moving away and I didn’t bother looking for another guy to mess around with.

But because of our situation, it didn’t leave us much room to explore.

Wanting to play it safe, I go with switch but lean more towards sub. I know I liked it when he told me what to do and how he wanted it, but I also enjoyed giving him a few demands too.

Next one is sexual orientation. I put bisexual.

The next few are about my body and asking for a recent photo of myself.

I cringe when I put high school for my highest level of education. At least I graduated.

“Please describe yourself as a person,” I read aloud. I take a moment to think about it. I’m not really sure who I am anymore.

So I do my best. “Hard working. Determined. Easy to get along with others.” My brows furrow. “Fucking hell, it sounds like an answer you would give when looking for a job.” I sigh. “Kind. Understanding. Easy going?” That’s the best I got. Now, if you had asked me this ten years ago, I’d have more of an answer to give.

I answer somewhere in the middle for the introvert and extrovert question. I’m not as shy as I used to be, I’ve developed a backbone or maybe it’s just the trauma from my life. But I’m not really outgoing either. I don’t go anywhere or do anything but work. I don’t even have friends.

“Why do I want to be in this auction.” I huff out a laugh and type. “My father died and left me in a mountain of debt. This is the only way I’ll be able to pay it off without working myself to death and still not die with money being owed.” A little blunt but hey, it’s an honest answer.

Next question. Kinks. I bite my lower lip as I think. I don’t have any I’ve experienced myself, but there have been some that I think I’d like, based off the books I read. So I type. “Praise, degradation, cum play, choking, spanking.” That’s all I really know off the top of my head.

For the hard limits, I put scat play and water sports because it’s just not for me.

I say clean for STD’s but my test results will show that. Also said no to drugs, but yes to alcohol, but only occasionally.

After answering the last few questions and sending it off, we wait.

I’M MAKING brEAKFAST , trying to get my mind off everything, when I hear a ding, letting me know I have a new email. Rushing to my laptop, I open it and quickly check.

My eyes widen when I see it’s from the club. I click on it and quickly read it.

“Holy shit.” I smile. “I’m in.”

I’m all smiles as I read the rest. They are going to fly me out, that's actually amazing.

I have enough in my bank account for a few nights at a cheap hotel. I’ve decided that I’m going to use some of the money to start over fresh, maybe in the town the auction is in. There’s nothing here for me, no family or friends. No point in staying. It’s not even my hometown.

Looking around my apartment, my smile falls. How sad it is that everything I have that is worth anything can all fit into a few suitcases.

I read over the rest of the email. “No.” I whisper, my brows furrowing as my stomach sinks. You have got to be kidding me.

According to the email, I’ll have to go back to Detroit, Michigan. The place I left ten years ago, leaving behind the only two people I ever truly cared about. The only two people who ever meant something to me.

It’s been years, maybe they’re not living there anymore? Maybe they moved away and started new lives somewhere else.

Or maybe I’m delusional because why would they when their estates are there?

I’m not sure what happened to Zack or Kimmy since I left. My father took my phone, I disabled all my social media. If they’ve tried to get in contact with me, I wouldn’t have known.

Not that Zack would want anything to do with me after what my dad did to his mom. He probably hated me just as much as he did my dad.

For a long time, it ate at me. Wondering what they thought, if they missed me, were they sad? Mad? Happy? Did they try to find me?

Or did they move on and forget about me?

They’re probably both married with kids by now. Maybe even to each other.

Nope. Not going down that road. It’s been a long time since I’ve thought about them. And I highly doubt that they would be at something like this. Zack wouldn’t need to buy someone when he’s always had girls falling at his feet.

Shaking my head out of those downward spiral thoughts, I email back letting them know everything is good and wait for the next step.

The next day, I get another email with all the information I need. Looks like I’ve got a one way ticket to Detroit.

Is this going to be a new start to a better life, or am I about to make the biggest mistake of my life?