I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next, nor how to respond. I had to keep reminding myself that I was supposed to be my sister, and that I should do what she would do—but in the moment, I wasn’t certain what that was. Maddy had always been calm and collected, and I could only imagine that she would be in this situation, as well.

But then again, Maddy would know what was going on here.

The man led me through a side door and into a narrow hall where we were met by a woman.

“You’re late!” she hissed into my ear as the man transferred me to her.

“I’m sorry. I was having dinner…with my sister,” I explained.

The woman gave me a look that made me feel as though I had just said the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard, then she turned and pushed me into what appeared to be a dressing room. I wasn’t sure what she wanted me to do, but I didn’t have to wait long. Within seconds, two more women had appeared and were stripping me of my cocktail dress.

My first instinct was to tell them to leave me alone and walk out, but I was curious to see what was going to happen. They took my red dress and presented me with one that was black and lacy.

There was little left to the imagination once I had the garment on, and I was pleased that I had taken care of myself and had a job where I was on my feet for ten hours a day. I might not have the exact same body as Maddy, but I was in good enough shape that I could pass for her—a commercial model.

One of the women zipped up the back of the dress while the other handed me a pair of stiletto boots. I quickly slipped them on, then looked at myself in the mirror. The dress was incredibly short, barely reaching to the very tops of my thighs. The black leather boots reached up over my knees, giving me an instantly edgy look I never could have imagined myself wearing.

I thought that was the end of it, but I was quickly ushered out of the dressing room and into a seat in front of a mirror where a man quickly went to work on my face. He swiped a baby wipe over my skin, removing all the makeup I had applied myself, before getting to work. I would never have chosen to go so dark with the eyeshadow myself, but by the time he was done, I had to admit: I looked good.

I wasn’t given any time to admire myself, however, as I was immediately steered toward the stage I had seen just moments before. I was doing my best to keep my footing in the high heels as I was hurried along next to one of the men, but I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder back at the dressing room. Another girl was already being rushed inside, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she knew what was going on, or if she was just as uncertain and surprised as myself.

A bright light caused me to put my hand up and over my face, but the man who was escorting me quickly pulled it down again. The woman who had announced that the “lots” had arrived was still standing on the stage, and she turned with a broad smile as soon as I stepped into view.

I hadn’t yet understood what was happening with the crowd, until the woman announced me as the first lot of the night.

My escort walked me directly to her side, then stood for a moment before turning on his heel and walking off the stage with the same deliberation he had brought me on with. I watched him go with a knot forming in the pit of my stomach.

Though this experience was all very new and unfamiliar to me, I knew that there was something going on—and I was the object everyone was looking at.

I knew before the woman even said so that I was about to be auctioned off, and I couldn’t help but think of my sister once more—what kind of people did she hang around? What kind of a party was this?

“I would like to point out that this is one of the fullest groups we’ve seen here at the Gathering, and I am pleased. I trust that all of you know how this works, and you’ll all play by the rules. May the highest bidder win! Let’s start the bidding at five thousand dollars,” the woman said, before adding, “I know it’s on the low side, but there are a lot of new faces here, and we don’t want to scare anyone off.”

A murmur of quiet laughter ran through the crowd, and I started to feel lightheaded. I reminded myself to stay cool—if this was the kind of thing Maddy did, then I could do it, too. She didn’t have to be the only cool Shadows sister; I could hold my own in the same field that she could. At least, that’s how I felt, until the bidding started.

It wasn’t the kind of auction I thought it would be. It didn’t take long for the bidding to reach into the tens of thousands of dollars, but the bidding process was slow and deliberate. I had expected only men to be bidding, thinking that I was going to be auctioned off to spend a lust-filled night with any one of them. I was surprised to see that there were women bidding on me, as well.

One woman in particular seemed to have taken a special liking to me, though I found it difficult to maintain eye contact with anyone due to the bright lights and my increasing anxiety. I may have only been on the stage for a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity.

The bidding began to slow, and I was convinced I would be spending the night with a distinguished-looking older gentleman standing close to the front of the crowd. I didn’t like to think of myself as potentially being “bought”—if that was really what this was about—but I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like spending the night with this man.

Then, another bid came in from the back of the room. The woman standing on the stage next to me appeared surprised by the sudden gesture, though she was quick to recover.

A murmur ran through the crowd, then, and I got the impression that $100,000 was a far higher bid than many had heard before. I didn’t know what it was about me that had prompted such a high bid, and I wondered if this kind of thing happened to Maddy often.

I kept my hands at my side, refusing to fidget with my dress though I didn’t know what to do with my hands, and the woman beside me suddenly spoke.

“Is there anyone that wishes to go higher?” she asked with a clear voice. Another slight murmur ran through the crowd, but no one offered to go any higher. With an elaborate gesture of her hand, the woman announced the bidding over.

“Miss Shadows is sold to Mr. Cunningham! Thank you!” She clapped her hands and the crowd responded, and I found myself being ushered from the stage.

I smiled nervously, keeping my footing as best I could on the narrow steps leading down the side of the stage. Another girl had already taken my place, and the woman had begun the bidding process again.

I glanced over my shoulder, amazed that the next girl looked completely at ease with the situation, almost as if she was enjoying being the center of such attention—as if she wanted to see just how much men were willing to spend to get a night with her. My attention was soon turned to my own situation, however, as I was presented to the man who had bought me for the night.

“Mr. Cunningham, Miss Shadows,” the bouncer said, rather flatly, before leaving us.

I looked at Mr. Cunningham, and once again, I felt as though all my breath had been stolen from me. He was tall and muscular—very clearly a man who spent a lot of time in the gym. His dark brown hair was cut and styled in a sophisticated, messy manner, his eyes so blue they seemed otherworldly.

His smile revealed the most perfectly straight and white teeth I had ever seen, and I thought I could detect the very bottom of a tattoo peeking out from beneath the golden watch on his wrist. I was instantly mesmerized by the aura this man exuded. There was an attitude about him that I found instantly captivating, and although I had just met him, I desperately wanted to know more about him.

He glanced back toward the stage as the woman made the announcement that the new round of bidding would begin, but he didn’t seem interested in anyone else in the room but me.

Mr. Cunningham put his hand on the small of my back and turned me toward the bar, moving with the kind of assurance I’d never seen before.

“Can I get you a drink?” he asked with a suave smile. I nodded, unable to speak.

My heart was pounding in my chest with a frenzy unlike anything I’d experienced before.