19
“Sold!” Tiffany yelled dramatically, pointing at one of the men on stage.
The auction was in full swing, and the sheer amount of money being thrown around was absurd. I couldn’t believe it. The current guy alone had sold for five hundred thousand dollars, and a small train of others before him had sold for similar amounts. That much money was more than I’d probably make as a writer in my entire life, much less something I could ever drop on a single dance with one guy.
“I’m going to let you all in on a little secret,” Tiffany said from the stage, working the crowd like a pro. “A little birdie told me just how thirsty you all are, and based on the bids, I think you’re ready to take a look at my special stock. What do you say?”
The crowd went wild at the spectacle. I was happy for Tiffany, the crowd was clearly responding to her exuberance, but that was about all the joy I was able to get out of this event.
“Get your checkbooks ready!” Tiffany cheered. “You’ll need to use them to fan yourselves once you see the three guys I’ve saved for the last haul of the night.”
I reached over and took a glass of Champagne, taking a drink and forcing a smile on my face as I waited for my boys to come out.
“Allow me to introduce to you, fine bidders, the gentlemen behind the steamy, spicy rise of the VIP Literary Club, starting with our first handsome specimen, the Editor-in-Chief and our residence royal, Luka Perlitch!”
The crowd went wild as Luka came out, flashing his perfect smile all around. His movements were refined and fluid.
“Let’s start the bidding at two-fifty,” Tiffany said.
The crowd shot back and forth, higher and higher. Two-seventy-five, three hundred, five-fifty, seven hundred. It all happened so fast. What took minutes for the other gentlemen took seconds for Luka. I waited to see if anyone would go higher.
“Eight-fifty!” a familiar voice called out. I furrowed my brow and looked over to the person calling it out.
“Do I hear nine hundred?” Tiffany yelled.
“Nine!” a faceless woman yelled.
“Do I hear anything higher?” Tiffany asked.
“One million,” came the familiar voice. I spotted her this time.
It was Jessica.
“Do we have any other bids?” Tiffany asked. She counted it off. Going once, twice, and sold.
Each beat made my heart drop a little further in my chest. Jessica was my friend. She knew Luka liked me. She said as much in class a couple weeks back. I remembered the way she had put it.Those guys aren’t really my type,she had said, right to my face.
Tiffany worked the crowd a bit more as Luka disappeared backstage.
“Next up,” she began. “You’ve all see him walking around campus with those rolled up sleeves. Doesn’t he ever get cold with those muscled forearms on display?” Wolf whistles came from the crowd. “He’s the Finance Executive, all business in the streets, but let’s see which one of you gets to find out what happens on the dance floor with Jaeson Bay!”
The crowd went wild as Jaeson walk out, shoulders broad and chin up, arms spread wide.
“Do I hear two-fifty?” Tiffany asked.
The bidding war went just as fast as Luka’s, if not a little faster. I took a sip of my champagne, crestfallen.
“How’s another million sound?” came another familiar voice from the crowd.
I darted to look, immediately spotting Sunny. Another pang of hurt went through me.
“This last one is a special treat,” Tiffany said, grinning wide and eating up the attention. “I got a peek at him myself backstage. He’s everyone’s favorite bad boy, the former lead singer of From Love To Hate, The Creative Executive, Riot!”
Riot stepped out. My mouth went dry. He was clearly no stranger to the stage. He played his part beautifully, wearing a dark expression with his hands in his pockets, showing off by not showing off at all. What I wouldn’t have given to bid on all three of my boys. The whole situation was depressing, and getting worse by the second as my friends turned on me. At least there was Tiffany. I could talk with her later. Maybe she would have some insight.
The bidding yet again went lightning quick, stalling out at nine hundred thousand.
“We’re so close, you guys!” Tiffany cheered. “Do I hear anything higher?”
