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"That's good.” She nodded, visibly softening and turned towards me. "You're perfect for this, I can already tell."
Unsure what that meant, I forced a smile. "Um, thanks?"
She only shook her head, and we drove the rest of the way in silence.
Mrs. Olivia Dubois didn’t speak to the valet who took her keys, nor to me as she pressed the fifth floor button of the gold carpeted elevator. There was an uncomfortable silence.
“We should go over some things,” Mrs. Olivia Dubois finally spoke. “If Dr. Tyler finds you worthy, the Magnolia will begin the application process.”
Worthy?
“Okay,” I tucked a stray hair back into my bun. “What will I need to do? Submit my grades? Or…”
“No, that won’t be necessary.” Her thin lips were pinched. “Dr. Tyler will take care of everything on your end.” I wanted to interrupt her to ask more questions, but, remembering Saul’s rebuke from yesterday, kept quiet. She continued, “Once Dr. Tyler has given us the all clear, any custodians who are interested in sponsoring you will fill out an application.”
“They will fill out an application? For what?”
She met my eyes. “For you.”
My own eyes widened. “For me?” Was my voice too high?
“Yes. For you.”
“I’m sorry,” I was trying my best to be demure and modest, but, I was really struggling here. “What does that even mean?”
“It means that they will offer a sum, and you will decide which one of the custodians you’d like to accept.”
There was a sudden knot in my throat, and Lux’s words, that the interest rates in this place aren’t the kind of rates you’d want to pay, once again echoed in my mind. The way Saul had put his arm around me. The greedy eyes of all the men in that room. And—odder still—how the men were the only ones eating. There were several women in the room, but not a single one of them had even spoken.
Unease trickled through my stomach. “But why am I the one picking? I thought I was the applicant.”
“Because, in return for the sum of money, you will have to do whatever they request.”
* * *
The only sound was the elevator moving, and the pounding of my heart. “Whatever they want?”
“Yes.” She said, her tone bland. “Whatever they ask. You will also be expected to fulfill any duties the Magnolia requires.”
“And, do I have a choice in this?” My voice was still a squeak.
“Of course. They will submit their applications. Once all applicants are in, you will be given your selection of men, and the Magnolia will tell you upfront what we expect from you. Then you will have a choice to accept or reject.”
“It’s as simple as that?”
“Yes.”
“How much do you think they’ll offer?” Would my dignity be worth all this, I wanted to ask.
“I have a feeling that the offers will come in high. Six men have already expressed their interest.”
“Six?” My eyes bugged out of my head. “You’re joking.”
“I never joke,” she clicked her tongue. “Not when it comes to the Magnolia.”
The elevator stopped, dinging, but I shifted to stand in front of her. “How much do you think they’ll offer?”
“At least six figures.”
