Chapter 2
Nicole
I read the message that Rick sent me, smiling as my sister looked over at me from the table in our tiny apartment.
“What is he saying?” she asked as she ate the scrambled eggs she’d made us for dinner.
“He wants to have dinner at the pub on the corner.”
I’d been talking to Rick for a couple of weeks now, and he was gorgeous with dark hair and bright green eyes. He was just a year older and a trust fund baby that could get me started. Noelle was working at a tiny club and not making much, and my freelance writing was not going to get me places anytime soon.
“What do you think?” I asked.
“It’s worth a shot,” she replied as she yawned and sipped her instant coffee. “You know the drill. Be safe.”
We had a set routine for situations like this, and I glanced at her with a smile.
“I’ve been talking to him a lot. He is so sweet and funny. I have a good feeling about this,” I assured her as she raised an eyebrow at me.
Noelle bleached her hair platinum blonde, and her eyes were always green as opposed to mine that were a mix between hazel and green. Her hair was cut into an A-line bob and mine was past my shoulders in loose chocolate brown curls with a few golden highlights that Noelle talked me into when she got her own hair done. She had a friend that did favors like that for us, but I was nowhere near as brave as she was.
“You said he’s got a trust fund?” she asked as I nodded, prompting her to give me a thumbs up. “I am not going back to Scottsdale anytime soon so let’s hope this works.”
I texted Rick, saying that sounded fun, and we made plans to meet in a couple of hours for drinks. I leaned back on the couch.
“I have a date. What should I wear?” I asked Noelle as I looked over at her. We shared clothes since we were the same size. She had better fashion sense, though. I knew she’d want to help me.
“Take a shower, and we’ll doll you up,” she said with a giggle.
I shut off my refurbished laptop and turned to smile at her. Noelle was my little sister but also my best friend. We were all the family we had so I wouldn’t let her come to Las Vegas alone. We moved here from Arizona recently so Noelle could try to make it as a choreographer. It had been time for a new start. Our parents were divorced, and we weren’t close to either of them. So it was my job to watch out and take care of her.
I headed through the tiny living room to the bathroom for a quick shower, then dried my hair. I left everything up to Noelle, and she brought me a cheap glass of wine, then told me to sit on the bed we shared. It was tight sharing this little apartment but so worth it to be with her.
We laughed as she put some product in my hair to control the curls, separating them with her fingers. While she styled, I told her about Rick. How he worked at a bank just to kill time even though he was loaded. He was just part time there and volunteered with the local YMCA to help out the poor kids whose families were struggling.
“Why the hell does he live here? A guy like that is useless in Vegas,” Noelle said.
“His family is still here, and it is fun here, right?” I asked as I turned my head to look at her. Noelle was working hard to establish herself as a choreographer, hoping to land an important job working for one of the biggest local shows. She choreographed shows all through high school and even college before we came here, so she has the experience.
“It is fun, but it will be better once we hit it big. You will get your big break writing, and I’ll get my dream gig. That’s when we’ll be going out to eat, and for nights on the town, and using qualityshampoo.” She laughed.
She did my makeup, and we chose a clingy pink dress for me that wasn’t too much for a first date. It was clingy in all the right places but not too low cut. I paired it with black heels before lining my lips with a deep pink lipstick that we got at the dollar store. Noelle made a note on her phone of the pub where I’d be. It was for our safety and something we’d always done, given that we’d only had each other for most of our lives. I told her I’d be back in a few hours as I headed out the door.
I took a cab to the pub, checking myself in the mirror during the ride. I was nervous about meeting this guy but feeling positive about the date, hoping for something to pan out. The cab dropped me off. I handed the driver a bill as I got out and told him to keep the change, feeling guilty because it wasn’t a very good tip. Something had to give.
I walked to the pub entrance. Standing in front of the heavy wooden doors, I crossed my arms and glanced around, biting my lip. Where were you mister dark hair and green eyes? Rick had coaxed a lot of information out of me over the course of our chats, and now it made me nervous.
A man approached from my left. I glanced over to see a short, older man with thin, wiry hair walking in my direction. That was not Rick, thank goodness. He looked sketchy, in a creepy way. I looked around again.
“Nicole?” the man asked as I looked at him warily, suddenly feeling scared. “Rick is over at my club having a drink. He asked me to get you and bring you over.”
“What?” I asked, looking from the pub to what appeared to be a night club next door. “But it’s not open.”
“Oh, we open earlier than most. It’s dead, but he’s a friend,” the man appraised me with his eyes as I shivered. “Come on. He’s waiting for you.”
I hesitated but then nodded, reaching into my purse for my phone to text Noelle the change of plans. Someone grabbed my arm before I could send the text. I was escorted roughly to the night club and through the doors, then shoved into a chair. Strong hands held my arms as I looked around a dark room with a bright light shining down on me. The man from outside looked me up and down with a cockeyed smile on his face.
“Where is Rick?” I asked in a trembling voice as he rubbed a hand down his stained white shirt over his protruding stomach.
“I’m Rick, babe. I go by Ricky, but I thought I’d try something new for our chats. Surprised?” He chuckled as I struggled against the men holding me, wondering what was going to happen to me here. “Here’s the deal. I run this night club, but there’s a little twist to it. It’s not for dancing.”
“What do you mean?” I asked as he pulled up a chair to sit across from me.
“I have a proposition for you, Nicole. I know that you’re new in town and need a little something to get started while you get on your feet. I already thought that you were pretty, but once I found out that you were a virgin, I knew you would be perfect for my business.”
I tried to break free again and groaned as they held me tighter. “Your business?”
“I want to sell your virginity to the highest bidder. I make this show of it where I put you in a real chastity belt and everything and the guys go crazy. They’ll bid high for you, and I’ll give you a cut of the profits.” He eyed me slowly as I shuddered. “I’ll be you earn five grand tonight. Are you interested?”
I’d been so naïve. I had shared everything with him during our chats, thinking that he was a young, good-natured trust fund stud, my ticket to a better life. This creep knew about my money troubles and how much I needed to get ahead. He’d gone as far as to suggest jobs for me to look into.. He knew everything, and the look in his eyes told me he was using it to his advantage.
I was twenty-eight, and we needed the money. Did it matter how it happened? Maybe the man that won would be kind and gentle, and I’d be okay. It was a lot of money and could get us by for a while.
Noelle would kill me.
“So, you would sell me to someone? Not touch me yourself?” I saw the way that he looked at me and pressed my lips together waiting for his reply.
“I do the selling. Nicole. That’s it. You’re hot, but I’m in it for the money.” He winked at me, and I stared at the floor as I considered what to do. Ricky seemed to be giving me an option, and I could walk right out of here and back to the near poverty that I was living in. Well, maybe he would let me and maybe not. It probably didn’t matter either way. My sister and I had nothing to go back to Arizona for, and nobody to help us. So this was it. I slumped back in my chair and swallowed the lump in my throat as I let out a sigh.
“I’m interested. Five thousand?” I confirmed as I looked at him, trying to keep all expression off my face.
“Easily. You’re going to be a crowd favorite, Nicole. I guarantee it.” Ricky nodded as he rubbed his hands together, smiling. “Think of how much it will help you and your sister.”
“How does this work?” I asked, trying to hold back the tears welling in my eyes.
“I’m gonna put you in a chastity belt and a lacy push-up bra and send you out on stage. You know how auctions work, right?”
I nodded slowly. Too choked up to say anything.
“The guys bid on you, and when we get to the highest bidder, you are sold. It’s that easy.” He clapped his hands for emphasis.
Nothing was easy about this, but I felt weak thinking about the situation I was in. I had saved myself for absurd reasons, romantic notions that were never going to come true. A knight in shining armor was never going to show up and take me to his castle. I just needed to forget about a fantasy life that would never be. It was time to get the inevitable over with. I’d make money and Noelle and I could survive for a while as we figured out what to do next.
“Okay. When does this happen?” I said gritting my teeth.
“Tomorrow night. We open the doors at nine and the auction starts at eleven when everyone is all good and liquored up. They spend more that way.” Ricky rubbed his hands together contemplating the money rolling in.
The idea of a rich, drunk man groping me was sickening. I frowned and took a deep breath.
Ricky continued. “After that, you work out the details with the winner.”
I kept repeating in my mind that this would be worth it. I’d get it over with and get home with the money and cry in Noelle’s arms. She could make it better after it was over.
I lifted my head and met his dark, beady eyes. “Okay. I’ll do it.” I stared at him, imploring him not to screw me over, feeling the weight heavy on my shoulders.
“Let me get a contract written up just so we’re straight. I’ll be making a lot of money on you.” Ricky stood up and headed to the back of the club as I struggled to breathe, telling myself that this would work out.
It had to.
I knew that prostitution was everywhere in Vegas as well as other cities. I never thought that it would be an option for me, but we didn’t have a family to help us. I closed my eyes and told myself that this was worth it. It would be worth it.
It had to be worth it.
I waited for Ricky to return with the papers, accepting my fate.