However, rage was good. It kept the shame and anguish away, at least for the time being. I needed Dylan focused. “We need to get out of here first. Then, we can talk about revenge.”
I wanted to get as far away from this place as possible. I didn’t know how to put my life back together but I’d focus on that problem after I was safe.
I needed to get back to my room. I turned to Dylan. “I’m going back to my room. We have one more night before our five days is up. I need to try and find Tana. Tomorrow night, be ready. One way or another, we’re leaving this fucked up place.”
Dylan nodded. “I’ll be ready.”
I knew she would be. I quietly let myself out, relocked Dylan’s door and found my own. I let myself in and locked the door. I hid my bobby pins and climbed back in bed but sleep didn’t find me right away. I was too bound up with worry for Tana. My gut told me something bad had happened but I didn’t want to believe it. I wanted to cling to the hope that Tana was just on a different level of the house, even though common sense told me that was inefficient.
We were nothing but rats in a cage to them.
Like Dylan, I thirsted for someone’s head on a plate but realistically, how could I pull that off? I would have to settle for simply getting out.
It didn’t feel as satisfying but hell, at least I’d be alive to bitch about it.
Tana…please be all right.
17
Olivia didn’t show up until lunch but when she did, she came with a tray loaded with entrees that made my mouth water after the disgusting oatmeal punishment. I tried to hide my reaction but my gaze kept straying to the platter, the smell of a perfectly grilled hamburger with fries teasing my nose and causing my stomach to yowl like a cat in heat.
“You must be very hungry,” Olivia said, placing the tray near me with a welcoming gesture and a sickly sweet smile that reminded me of a wolf eyeing the rabbit. “I can only imagine. I hate oatmeal. How about you?”
So, we were completely ignoring the fact that she’d served up that gross shit as a punishment? Okay, fine. Whatever.
I ignored her question and took a savage bite from the thick hamburger, adding a few fries into my gob as well. My rage percolated beneath the surface but if I was telling Dylan to control herself, I had to as well. But fuck, it was hard. Each time I looked at her face, I wanted to put my fist into it.
“Have you given any more thought to Madame Moirai’s generous offer?”
It was a good thing thought bubbles didn’t erupt over my head. Madame Moirai could shove her offer up her pie-hole but I kept my hot words tempered. I shrugged, as if I were contemplating the idea. “I have questions,” I admitted, scooping a spoonful of macaroni salad into my mouth, taking a moment to spit out the sweet pickles. Further proof that these people were monsters — dill pickles were the only acceptable choices for a macaroni salad.
“Excellent, that’s what I’m here for — to answer any questions you may have,” Olivia said, folding her hands neatly in her lap with an expectant expression. “Please, whenever you’re ready.”
“Well, I’m kinda starved, so sorry if I talk with my mouth full,” I said with a tiny slip of acid in my tone. Olivia smiled in understanding. Of course, she was, oh so patient when I was being cooperative. Did she get an extra cut for the girls who agreed to accept their elevation offer? This machine was greased by money and everyone involved was guilty as fuck. I wiped my mouth with the linen napkin and tried to ignore the wave of guilt knowing that Dylan and Jilly were choking down slops while I was being treated like a captive queen. “Look, I’ve had a little time to think about the offer and maybe I was careless in saying that Henri…well, you know, but it’s all been really jarring. It’s not like this was a trip to the mall. Sometimes it’s hard to wrap your brain around it all.”
Olivia bent her head in understanding. “It’s a lot to absorb.”
That’s an understatement. “Yeah, exactly. So, let’s just say that I was interested in taking the deal. What’s my cut?”
Oliva chuckled as if impressed. “Look at you, straight to business,” she said, flattering me. “You constantly surprise us. I’m sure that’s why Mr. Benoit is taken with you. Your personality is so unique.”
I forced down the bile rising in my throat, pushing my food up my trachea. I took a moment to slug down some water before saying, “Well, that’s me, unique to a T. But back to the money — by my calculations, I’m due sixty grand but I haven’t actually seen the money yet. You gotta understand why I’m a little apprehensive to take a new deal from Madame Moirai when she hasn’t paid up on the first. That just seems like bad business, you know?”
Olivia’s smile chilled as she said, “Of course, perfectly normal to have concerns. However, if you recall, your contract states that the money is deposited one week after you’ve left Madame Moirai’s employ. It takes time to process the paperwork.”
“Right, clandestine sex work must be murder on the accountants,” I murmured with fake commiseration. “I can only imagine.”
“Yes, well, strict protocols keep everyone moving in the same direction,” she said, pressing on. “As to your compensation, the same deal applies. Whatever the buyer offers, Madame Moirai takes her forty percent and you collect the rest. It’s all very similar to what you signed before. Very straight-forward.”
Not even. “I hate to be a stickler for details but nowhere in the contract that I signed did it say anything about being locked up. I feel like I’m in a prison,” I said.
“I’m sorry for the seemingly overly-cautious protocols,” Olivia said, affecting an apologetic expression, adding, “but it’s all coming to an end soon.”
“Yes, today is the fifth day.”
“Indeed it is.”
“So, if I don’t take the deal — as generous it is — my assumption is that you’ll return my original clothes and all my belongings and I can go home?”
“Of course,” Oliva answered but her tone had flattened, which told me she was lying through her goddamn perfect teeth. “But I urge you to consider Madame Moirai’s offer. I can tell you with complete honesty, that it’s not often auction girls such as yourself get elevated.”
“Yeah but I really don’t have many details and it’s hard to make a decision with such murky information.”
“What else is there to know?” Olivia asked, mildly perturbed.
“Oh, well, lots. For example, in the original contract, there was a specific time frame. How long does Mr. Benoit think he will want my company? A week, a month? I mean, let’s get real, I haven’t even graduated high school yet. My mom might not notice if I don’t come back but the school certainly will. Kids can’t just stop going to school. It’s the law.”
“You’d be surprised.”
Well, that was scary as fuck. “What do you mean?”
She waved away my question as if I shouldn’t worry about those types of details. “Arrangements can be made to take care of any questions that may arise from your absence.”
“Like home-schooling or something?”
Olivia’s irritation returned. “Yes, something like that.”
She was a terrible liar. They didn’t fucking care if I never went back to school. I was just a vagina with legs. They made me want to vomit. How did someone get to the point where they no longer felt anything for another human being?