AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When I reemerged, the nurse was sitting in my desk chair. Before I got dressed, I stood there naked. I was so mad at Bri for not dismissing the nurse. I didn’t need PT.
“Your limp has gotten worse.” Nurse Damar pointed at my leg.
“You’re not gonna leave, are you?” I asked.
He shook his head and started pulling equipment from his bag. I sat on the bed, and he began with the massage. After that, it would be stretches and then exercise. He was predictable.
Right after the fire, Bri hired all female nurses in hopes I would fall in love. I sent them all away, refusing to let them see my face. Then he found Nurse Damar. A tiny little man that gave killer massages.
Halfway through, Brian barged into the room, he never knocked. The noise bothered him. He was wheezing and panting, and sweat poured down his forehead.
“Boss, I fucked up.” He flapped his hands. He only called me ‘boss’ when he was distraught.
“Calm down. What did you do? There is nothing we can’t fix.” I had enough money to buy my way out of anything. It was the only perk of being an elite.
“Not this. Oh, you are gonna kill me.” He started pulling at his hair. “Unless they kill you first.”
Damar and I grabbed his hands to stop him from ripping out his hair. Tears dripped down his face. He was on the verge of a meltdown. Fuck.
“It’s okay. Whatever it is. I would never be mad at you.” I pulled his head into my chest.
“I… uh…” Sobs made it impossible to understand. “Auction… didn’t think…”
“What could have possibly happened in an hour?” Damar asked. It was a good question. When he had come into the room earlier, he was fine.
“The Marriage Auction,” Bri whispered.
My heartbeat raced. Realization hit me harder than my parents used to. ‘Unless they kill you first.’ Those were his words.
The Marriage Auction Association had rules. Break one, and you paid the penalty, up to and including termination. Which meant they would kill you. I should know. My grandparents founded the damn auction. And yes, they would terminate you. It was their way of making sure no one broke the rules.
“You entered me in the auction? That’s five years. Bri, who bought me?” If I knew who it was, maybe I could get out of this.
“No, Boss. I bought someone for you.” Brian’s words were barely above a pin drop.
That did make more sense. How would he have put me on display like a farm animal? The whole thing was atrocious. Because of Brian, I was now a part of it.
“You bought me someone?” I released him and stepped back. Anger vibrated through my veins. I wanted to scream and yell at him, but that was a terrible idea. Loud noises bothered Bri.
“I got you a wife.” Bri looked at me and smiled. He may have been scared of my reaction, but he was proud of himself.
Damar burst out laughing. Bri flinched. I dug my nails into the palms of my hands.
“Aren’t the rules you have one week to consummate the marriage?” Damar asked through fits of laughter.
“Boss should have no problem with that. She is hot.” Bri pulled a paper from his pocket and handed it to me.
It was a screenshot from the auction. A woman stood in the middle of the stage. Long brunette hair flowed down her back. She wore a pink outfit and no smile. She actually looked shocked to be up there. And yes, Bri was right, she was hot. A woman like that came along once in a lifetime. Not that I cared, I had no time or want for a woman.
“See hot. And so she doesn’t think you are some weird recluse, I gave her a letter from you.” Bri wiped away the last of his tears.
“Huh?” I asked.
“The letter you wrote to that woman who died in the fire. It was so beautiful. The woman I bought you, Ava Palmer, is gonna love you.” Brian beamed at me. All signs of his near meltdown, gone.
Fuck.I would have to have a meeting with my grandparents and find a way to get out of this.
CHAPTER8
