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“Eve is a beautiful name,” she says hoarsely.
“How long have they kept you here, Aurelia?”
“You should finish your breakfast so we can get you ready. The game starts soon.”
“Please answer,” I plead softly, and I start to realize the reasoning behind Laurence requesting Aurelia and sending her to me. To answer questions. To help.
Aurelia looks around nervously. When she appears to have deemed the room empty of anyone other than me, she says, “Three years. I have a son back home. He’s ten years old now. I left him with my mother, but I’m…” She chokes, and I start to see more of that panic from last night. “His birthday was just yesterday. I’m missing my son’s life.”
Setting my plate aside, I rise from my seat to pull Aurelia into a hug. She cries into my shoulder as I rub comforting circles against her back, though that comfort quickly translates into anger. I hold her tightly. “I amsosorry, Aurelia.” My quiet resolve from last night turns into a roar as I’m faced with someone who has been directly affected by this bullshit contract.
Laurence has provided me with a means to do what I have sought to do, and despite the pain of his departure last night, and the way his absence riddled me with fear, I’m grateful as I pull Aurelia away to look into her eyes.
She’s still crying, struggling to compose herself, and I don’t blame her. Placing my hands on either side of her face, I say, “There’s no reason you should have had to be this strong for thislong, but youareresilient. I have something to ask of you, from one Player to another.”
“What?” she whispers through the tears that streak her face.
“Tell me everything you know and have witnessed of the Echelon Society. I’m going to destroy them.”
Chapter Fourteen: Laurence
The Kiss
The next game takes place in our usual rooms. The lights have been dimmed to near darkness, and I sit alone along the velvet cushioned seat. Tracing the divot with my fingers, running them around in circles, reminds me of spinning the ring on my finger—the one I no longer wear. It was nearly gone forever, dropped into the toilet by my eager hands, so ready to shed my past reason for being here, as if a betrayal had been made.
The ring now sits inside the bedside table drawer.
As it turns out,I’mthe only one who has betrayed myself; betrayed myself by being here, by getting myself involved in the games of billionaires, and now, if I try to win and walk away from all these women who need me, it will be the greatest self-betrayal of all. I could never forgive myself for abandoning them. Winning was no longer an option.
“You’re looking rather sultry today, Blue,” a low voice says over the speaker. My fingers pause their circular motion on the bed. I recognize Carrick’s voice immediately. He must be early to the audience seats, ready to watch my games like the hungry animal he is. But I don’t care to hear his voice, or anyone for that matter. All I want is Laurence.
I have yet to hear from him, or see him, and I fear he’s not going to show up for the game, despite Aurelia saying he sent my breakfast this morning and urged me to get dressed in the lingerie I wear now, royal blue silk with a lacey black teddy. It’s more cover than I’ve ever had in these games, but the panties that came with it were notable—crotchless. Without Laurence’s hints, I have no idea what today’s game is.
Aurelia applied a smoky eye to my face, giving me the appearance of a succubus splayed out along her bed, luring men to their deaths. I catch my own gaze in the two-way mirror, knowing Carrick will take that as me acknowledging him.
“I’ve been so proud of the way you’ve performed in the games so far, and I’m eager to finally be a part of them today.”
Huh?I perch myself up on one arm, my other resting along the curve of my hip.
“It’s been a while since we’ve done anything together, Carrick.” I choose my words carefully, hoping he’ll elaborate on what he means by being a part of the games today.
Is Laurence really not showing up? Has Carrick finally outbid everyone and won me? There are rules in place, guidelines… he can’t just do that,I think to myself as I play the game of the coy Player, running a flirty hand along my hip. Then again, I imagine any of these men could get away with just about anything.
The door opens, and I sit up straighter, expecting Laurence. Instead, the same rope artist from the other day comes in. This time he’s not wielding rope, but a black silk blindfold.
I usually love being blindfolded…
I swing my legs over the edge and sit up for the rope artist to adorn me with the blindfold. With Carrick eagerly watching though, that pleasure is debatable.
When the rope artist approaches me, I lean forward for him to have easier access. I’ve learned not to ask questions, but simply be obedient. Though I have to admit the nerves are racking up more than usual not having seen Laurence yet, and with Carrick’s mysterious comment, I worry I’ve actually been sold to another Advocate…
The thought makes my stomach turn.
“What’s the game today?” I dare ask the rope artist as he fastens the blindfold behind my head, cutting out the already dim light of the room. It’s snug against my face.
“You’ll find out soon,” is all he says as he adjusts my hair back over my shoulders before leaving on a cool rush of air conditioning from the main room, the door closing softly behind him.
“I hope you know your advocate well, Ten,” Carrick’s voice says over the intercom again, but he’s abruptly cut off by the sound of a door opening as more of the audience enters.
