1 - Auction Star

I was standing on the big stage in front of many people who seemed excited about what was going to happen next. Wearing this long white fitted dress that was full of diamonds on it, provided by our Manager. Somehow, I am not comfortable in this dress, I can feel that I can’t walk properly in this, it seems that I’m inside the web of the spider that wanted to get out from it, but I need to bring this dress as good as it can be. And the make-up artist did put something in my skin to make it more beautiful and shine like what I am wearing right now but at this point, I can feel the itchiness of my skin. He said this is going to be perfect for the eyes of our clients and that’s the cue that I don’t have the right to say no of their plans and ideas.

I had the full spotlight of the dazzling light and I was almost blind but I didn't mind it because the order was to smile when we were on stage, smile even though I tried to show that this job was okay with me. I almost forgot that I even had the dignity to go to this place. Who cares about dignity or self-respect if you need to find a way to survive and help your family.

I have to do this for my sister even though I know everyone here is thinking of nothing but having fun with their money.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Please welcome our Auction Star, Janiyah!”

Along with the shout of the announcer is the applause of the crowd. Big business people are here. I won't even wonder why some men's wives are with them tonight because today is the biggest event of the Auction Club where some businessmen or rich people bid for women they want to use.

Even though I didn't want to do it, I smiled in front of them all. I couldn't do anything because I needed the money badly. When I am watching the people in this hall, I can stop myself wondering how could they waste their money for a million dollars for a such thing like this, an auction for women that they wanted to use or display in their lives while my sister is fighting for her life and we, her family has nothing to do but to put ourselves in a different way of providing a money for her operation. I wanted to cry and beg these people to help me but that’s not the way it is. I need to do my best to catch the attention of anyone here just to bid a lot of millions for me.

But inside my heart, I really want to escape from there, because I know what kind of people are here.

"Janiyah, please step forward and show how beautiful you are, especially in the clothes you are wearing tonight. Agree?!” said the announcer.

I did as he said, I went to the front where I could be seen better because of the spotlight that was focusing on me. The applause I heard was loud, but all I could think about was what time it would end so I could leave. I don't know why our Manager chose me to be the Auction Star.

"The bid is now open! First offer, one million for one night!" the announcer said.

One million? Wait, I just heard a while ago before the auction that someone just bid one million for a vase. Does this mean that a vase is the same price as mine? And someone just also said that it’s nothing if they spent 1 million dollars for a lady. One million is also the exact amount that I need for my sister’s operation! How could these people think that a vase is more important than a person's life?

"Two million!" A guy wearing a tuxedo shouted with a paddle number in his hand.

"Three million from Mr. Anyone can beat his offer?"

The offers mentioned by some guys are not enough for me because I will not be able to get the full amount of money that will be paid by the person who will bid me. That’s not enough for my family, it can only pay maybe a half of our hospital bills. As I thought about how to get a higher amount from someone, I moved my body slowly to do a sexy dance, touching from my hips to my neck like I was in front of someone who wants to get me. I walked like I owned the whole stage,

a supermodel like what our Manager told us to do if we really want to market ourselves. And I can hear claps from the audience, it’s working.

But while doing this auction, the nervousness in my chest still didn't disappear. I know how hard it will be after tonight.

“Six million!” another guy offered.

"Wow, six million! That's a lot. And it seems that no one can defeat six million. We are going to close the deal—"

“Fifty million dollars.”

The auction place was filled with silent shocks of what we've heard. I looked at the man in the back who looked seriously in the front—looking into my eyes. I got even more nervous because of him looking at me right now. The man was just wearing a simple white plain shirt revealing his tattoos, dark blue jeans and a pair of black shoes. You cannot tell directly that he can afford to bid 50 million dollars for this. The spotlight came to him and his expression darkened. He walked like a lion, with finesse, and ease.

No one wanted to speak, we just stared at the man until he stood up. I couldn't believe what I heard. This is the first time that someone will offer that much money.

We were all surprised by what the man said, my world seemed to stop when he slowly walked closer to the stage, or should I say, closer to me still not taking his eyes off me. What is he doing?

"S-sir? A-are you sure?” Even the announcer stuttered to say that question completely when the man who offered a lot of money for me was nearby.

Who is this man?

"Do I look like I'm kidding?" asked the man.

Even his voice is so unique that you will also get nervous if you hear it. Someone came up to his side, a man handed over a piece of paper. I also looked at the announcer and my Manager who was surprised to see the paper he was holding.

"50 million dollars for this lady. Is that enough?” the man asked and showed the paper he had written on, I knew it was a check.

My Manager couldn't answer right away, he was just stunned by the man and the check he was holding. I'm sure my Manager will accept the money because it's the first time someone has offered such a huge amount just for a girl.

"Announce it," I heard the Manager whisper to the announcer so the announcer quickly took the microphone.

"Anyone can beat the 50 million dollars from this man?" he asked. No one answered, the people were silent, perhaps also surprised by what happened.

"The deal is now closed. 50 Million Dollars for Janiyah!” He screamed so loudly.

I still can't speak, as if the words I want to say won't come out. The man looked at me seriously and we were all even more surprised when he turned and walked out of the Auditorium Hall.

"Janiyah, let's go. Your colleagues will be next.” The Manager said happily. I followed him and so did the man who was with the man earlier.

"My boss needs you now."

Because of what the man said, my Manager and I stopped. "Yes, I will dress Janiyah first. I'll take her to where your car is." My Manager said with a smile but the man shook his head.

"My boss ordered that I wait for the woman and I will take her myself." The man still answered seriously.

My Manager and I looked at each other, he sighed and nodded to the man. "Alright, please wait for her outside because there are also women getting dressed inside." The man didn't answer what the Manager said so he just pulled me into the dressing room.

"Wow, you see that? That man is big time and you are lucky because he chose you.” He happily told me.

Am I really lucky or him? I will not be able to get the money the man gave in full because we will only get twenty-percent of all the money received. He will take the excess. But because I need to have the money to provide the needs of my family such as to expand our house to buy some foods for us,, I just accepted that's the way it was. Twenty-percent of the fifty million that the man gave is also a lot.

"Get dressed, that customer of ours looks impatient. Faster.” He rushes to me.

I followed what he said because I wanted to leave too. When I entered the dressing room where my colleagues were, I heard their whispers about me. The news reached here immediately that some rich man bought me.

Someone is happy, someone is surprised and someone is envious of what happened. I don't care because like them, I'm just working.

"I will send the money to your bank tomorrow, Janiyah." I turned to my Manager when he spoke.

Now I'm out of the dressing room and going to the parking lot with the male staff.

"Okay, sir. I will wait.” I smiled sparingly. I need the money today but I can't do anything because it's in the rules that the Manager should send the money.

"Let's go," I said to the man.

I just followed him to the parking lot, letting him open the SUV, a Cadillac Escalade in front of me.

“Get in.” I heard a baritone voice from inside the car. I wasn't looking at the man, I just went in to end this madness.

"Who are you?" That's my starting question to the man.

He is wearing shades, it's night and he's just inside his car. Why does he still wear glasses?

"That is not our agenda today. I bid fifty million dollars for you so all you have to do is obey everything I command you."

Who is this person and if he can talk it's like he really bought me for more than fifty million.

"I guess you're new to the world of women's auctions? I won't be able to get all the money you gave me." I said directly.

It's a secret but I don't care. We shouldn't be telling customers that.

"What? What do you mean?" the man asked me.

I took a deep breath and faced him directly. "Twenty percent is mine and the rest is theirs so don't act like you paid me more than what I got half." I said long.

I was surprised when he turned to his side and took the same paper as before.

"Maybe this is too much for you to follow me," he said while writing in the paper he was holding. “Another fifty million dollars. All yours.” I couldn't react when he took my hand and placed the check.

"What do you want and you seem so desperate to buy me?" I asked, annoyed.

He just looked straight into my eyes which made my chest beat faster.

"What?" I asked.

He slowly approached me. I wanted to get out of the car but I don't know why I couldn't open the door.

"I'll pay you monthly, do what I say." What did he want me to do, why didn't he want to straighten me out when it was over?

"Tell me," I said.

If this job is the only way to make our living get better, that's fine. Even though I'm sure the man next to me right now can't be trusted.

He licked his lips so I was even more nervous, what the hell is he doing.

"Be my wife for at least one year."