Chuckles go through the room, followed by curious stares thrown my way.
“This money,” he points at the screen, “will go directlytoward providing people with things they need and that they can’t get themselves. Now, let’s get this ball rolling and sell this dress my wife created. I’m going to say something, but don’t send your lawyers my way,” he adds with a lopsided smile, making everyone laugh. He’s a new Ezra, a charming one. Someone who rarely makes an appearance. “Ladies, it will make your men do unthinkable things.”
Ladies, excited at the prospect of unthinkable things, keep raising their bidding paddles, bringing the value of the dress to unthinkable numbers. I sit still with my hand on my mouth because if I remove my hand, my jaw will probably hit the floor, and that’s not a good look for someone who’s supposed to be sophisticated and sexy after all those unthinkable things.
After the bidding war is over, the number on the screen almost doubles, which nearly sends me into shock. I can’t believe someone would pay this ridiculous amount for a dress I wore. I could understand if it was Marilyn Monroe or Lady Gaga. But me?
When the dress is being rolled away and everyone congratulates the winner who’s biting her lip, looking suggestively at her partner, I can’t take it anymore and rush outside.
“Maeve, do you want me to come with you?” Bea calls to my back.
“No, I’ll be back.”
Halfway through the room, someone grabs my hand. It’s one of the women who was among those who looked at me disapprovingly at first. I want to shake her hold off, but she drops her hand first.
“Hey, sorry. Hi, Maeve!” Her friendly voice sounds fake.
I look at her quizzically.
“Ezra mentioned to my husband during the board meeting that you’re working on your first collection.”
“First collection?”
“Yes.” She nods. “The spring collection?” She waits for me to confirm or nod or something, but I’m lost. “Anyway, I wanted to see if I can get an invitation for the show. My sister is having her wedding in April, and I want to impress guests with someone new and extraordinary, you know? She can be a lot, and I want to be more.”
I don’t, becauseit’s your sister’s freaking wedding! But I just nod and excuse myself past her, out the room and toward the bathroom. When I’m inside, I carefully check all four stalls to make sure I’m alone. When I feel safe to let myself fall apart, I let out a loud exhale.
“Holy cow. I’m stuck in some weird dream.”
The bathroom door clicks, and I rush to plaster a smile on my face in case one of the vultures followed me here.
But it’s not one of them. It’s Ezra, my very own sort of torturer. His eyes run from my toes to my head before he turns the lock on the doorhandle. My gaze darts between his fingers and his face.
“What are you doing?” My voice sounds coarse.
“Came to save you.” He takes a small step toward me.
“From what?”
“From people throwing themselves at you to get in line for your new collection.” Another step.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You said you wanted to be a designer, and I promised you your dreams.” He spreads his arms wide. “I’m delivering.”
“I didn’t ask for that,” I say grouchily, sounding like an ungrateful teenager even to my own ears. “And I don’t need your money.”
“You don’t. But some people do. Imagine how much good you can do.” His face brightens with a one-sided boyish smile.
Narrowing my eyes at him, I ask, “I can spend your money on anything I want?”
“Anything you want.” Two steps this time.
“In exchange for what?” I raise my chin.
“Not much.” His laugh is breathy. “Just staying with me as my wife and letting me do unthinkable things to you.”
I snort. “It sounds like prostitution.”
