87 Chapter 39 (2/2)
Sighing, Satele's eyes turned red once more, which caused D to panic, and he added.
”H-hey! D-don't cry here! It will make me look bad.” Though he already appeared bad enough even without doing anything.
Satele wiped away her tears. Her eyes remained red and swollen.
”I'm willing to be a slave if it could give my mother another year to live.”
”. . .”
”. . .”
Leaning on his chair, D blow air from his mouth, ruffling his hair. He peeked at Satele first before he hesitantly asked.
”Are you a virgin?”
Satele's swollen eyes stretched out, peering at D beneath her blurry vision.
D wanted to roll his eyes the moment he saw how Satele was looking at him.
”If you're a virgin, then, getting two million is easy.”
Hearing this, Satele's brows furrowed, and the judgment in her eyes deepened while she said, a bit hesitant, ”Y-yes. I'm a . . . virgin. I-If you have the money . . . I-I'll . . .”
Shades of red unusually covered D's face as he barked out, ”I-Idiot! That's not what I meant! I don't even have a million in my account.” I'm just a confidante and personal guard.
He fished something inside his wallet and casually flung it towards her.
Grabbing the card, Satele read the only words written on it.
[Underground Auction, Centipede]
Confused, she stared at him.
Gulping down his beer, D casually wiped the spilled from his lips with the pad of his thumb before he answered.
”It's the only safe place where illegal dealings happened. All customers are famous tyc.o.o.ns, moguls, politicians even n.o.bilities that even the government and authorities turned a blind eye at this place. All customers' ident.i.ties are kept hidden, adhering to the strictest confidentiality. If you want quick money, this place might help you. But of course, it depends . . . on what you're giving in return.”
Satele's throat tightened while her gripped on the card stiffened.
”You're saying . . . I should auction . . . my virginity?”
D grinned while something sparkled in his eyes. It was so fast that Satele didn't catch what it was.
”Yes. Two million is quite a huge sum of money. But for those men and women hiding in the comfort of their masks, it's just a spare in their pockets. However, Centipede takes fifty percent of your auctioned price. But with you selling something precious, two million will be a piece of cake.”
”. . .”
Satele didn't respond. She was already willing to sell her soul to the devil to save her mother. What's more her useless virginity, which she didn't see any more meaning in reserving for her wedding night for she could no longer be together with the man she loves.
Closing her eyes, she deeply breathed before she stared at those crimson ones.
”When?”
D grinned.
----
Inside a grand casino in Blue River, people in red carpet dresses, custom made tailored suits, wearing extravagant designers' masks, where gambling, drinking, chatting with everyone while some who were clutching special platinum cards were given special entry down to the lowest floor. A floor where only the elite of the elites could set foot.
Centipede
In this underground area, more than twenty meters deep from road level, people were dawning on expensive drinks while their perfectly manicured fingers were holding a number.
Asher was sitting on his couch in silence, head prompting against his hand, boredom written all over his face as he watched the happenings in utter indifference.
”Remind me, what are we doing here again?” he asked, particularly at no one.
A deep gruff voice answered right beside him, ”Boss, trust me. I think you'll love the last item they're going to action here.”
D grinned mysteriously while Asher's face remained impa.s.sive. How rare could it be that such an item would attract his attention, a man who had seen and had it all?
He clicked his tongue in annoyance at the sight of the excited crowds who were like clowns in his eyes when the next auctioned item was introduced. What's so interesting about a century-old vase? He mused to himself, lazily wiping his eyeb.a.l.l.s clean, rolling it against his sockets.
At the side, D wiped away the sweat on his forehead as he loosened the few b.u.t.tons of his suit. He was, after all, taking a gamble if his boss would take a fancy to that girl. At least, Asher was good looking, and he was confident she wouldn't be used like a plaything if Asher won her. Though he admitted Asher was a brute, especially that mouth of his, he knew he wouldn't hurt a woman without reason.
D sighed. This is all the help I can give you, little girl. The rest is up to you.
”Ladies and gentlemen! We have a surprise item for all of you tonight! Our finale for the day! I'm sure you're all excited to know what the mystery item we have prepared for you! So without further ado. Everyone, feast your eyes on our highlight for the night!”
The curtain rose, and everyone's breathe hitched before they murmured in antic.i.p.ation. Their eyes were glinting in l.u.s.t and excitement. The last item turned out to be a woman and a young girl at that inside a golden cage with a black collar around her neck, complete with shackled wrist. She was glowing, draped in a creamy, silky dress that hung around her curves while teasingly peaking some skin enough to make one salivate.
The dress and the lighting made her skin pale, almost milky, and blushing while her long silky hair cascaded to her waist, black as night and perfectly straight. Her small pouty red lips were juicy while her eyes were droopy and glazy.
The onlookers couldn't take their gazes away from her! Some were already counting how much money they would spend, didn't care if they overspent just to get her. And adding liquor to their burning desires, the auctioneer's next words sent everyone in a frenzy of contained murmurs. Thick familiar air circled the room almost palpable –– l.u.s.t!
”This young girl is at the tender age of eighteen! Pure, healthy, and untamed and definitely a virgin! The bid starts at one million!”
”Two million!”
”Two point five!”
”Three!”
The bid continued to rise and rise, but D only felt his nerves were twisting by the seconds. His hands on his knees were bouncing up and down as he tapped his foot, glancing every two to three seconds at Asher beside him. However, he couldn't discern what kind of emotions he was making beneath that mask, which hid his features.
Thus far, Asher hadn't the slightest bit move his number. He was still immobile on his seat like he became a statue.
D tightly closed his eyes when he heard that going once, going twice from the auctioneer's lips. It was like a hammer pounding against his heart.
Ah . . . Little girl . . . You have s.h.i.tty luck . . .
The auctioneer brought down his hammer, deciding the final winner.
”Twenty million!”
The hammer stopped midway at the sudden voice, which reverberated in everyone's ears.
D slowly opened one eye and noticed everyone was looking at his direction. For a moment, he didn't know what was going on. He then peered at Asher beside him, who was raising his number, still the epitome of boredom on his chair.
The auctioneer wiped away the bead of sweat on his forehead as he recovered and announced.
”Twenty million going once, going twice––!”
BAM!
”Sold to number forty-seven!”