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Dead on 5pm, the front doors burst open and the group of teenager’s spill into the hallway to work for the weekend. I lean forward on the bannister, watching curiously as they all spilt off to find the rooms they’ve claimed. Their laughter and excitement make this place feel more like a frat house, a pair of guys pushing and bumping each other to race up the stairs. Top Knot is the last to enter, closing the doors and inhaling deeply, the smile on his face Joker-worthy. Spotting me, he jogs up the stairs and crosses the hallway to clasp me on the shoulder like old friends.
“Hey Huxley! Thank fuck it’s Friday, am I right?” He winks, strolling past to enter the bedroom beside mine. Halting in the doorway, he looks back to me with his wicked smile still in place. “You know, you should join us tonight. It’s a hell of a thrill.”
“Join you doing what?” I ask, my interest piqued.
“In the auction, duh. Friday night is auction night, hordes of thirsty middle-aged women with more money than sense. Some bid for a few of us at once and they pay double if you need to sign an NDA to stop you blabbing to their husbands.” His body is practically shaking with enthusiasm as he bobs his eyebrows at me.
“Even if I did need the money, there’s no way in hell I’d pimp myself out to a pack of desperate cougars.”
“Maybe so, but it’s about more than just the money. You can live out your darkest fantasies, nothing’s off limits and these ladies are always gagging for more and more. Think about it, we head to the ballroom in an hour. Dress smart.” He throws me another wink before disappearing, his cocky demeanour irritating me. Confused and more than a little disturbed, I slowly edge towards Axel’s door, dodging streams of excited ladies running in and out of each other’s rooms in their underwear. Many stops in their tracks, freely exploring my body with their eyes and running off giggling, leaving me feeling oddly exposed in my gym vest and shorts.
Knocking lightly on the door at the end, Garrett whips his head around the door with a scowl like I was expecting. The pair are known for their afternoon naps, like a pair of cats that only wake for mealtimes. His pissed expression at me shifts when he sees the chaos happening over my shoulder and asks what’s going on.
“I think Sharon is up to something. Keep Axel in his room tonight, I’m gonna find out what’s going on around here.” Garrett nods in agreement, muttering something that sounds a lot like a ‘thank you’ before slamming the door in my face. Deciding I must have misheard, I head back into my room to prepare myself for tonight.
Avery is curled up on the bed with a cat nestled against her, soft purrs vibrating through the air with each stroke she smooths down its stripy spine. Her bright blue eyes are shining with unshed tears and staring at a spot on the far wall. I close the door as quietly as possible and join her on the mustard-coloured duvet, our foreheads touching. The cat, who’s black collar has ‘COMET’ printed across it in silver, stretches between us and paws at my stomach for attention. I scratch the soft patch between his ears, but my focus is on the beautiful girl with haunted eyes beside me.
“Hey Aves?” I whisper, waiting for her hum in answer. “I just found out Sharon is still running the auctions like she used to, except with consenting young adults this time. Like the madame at a brothel. I’m going to head down soon to play along, and then fuck some shit up. If you need a distraction, you’re welcome to join me. We could have some fun,” a slanted grin takes root on my face. After a beat, a similar expression shifts into her features along with a cruel edge.
“Let’s do it.” Comet gets the fright of his life as we both fly from the bed, jumping up with an arched back and hissing loudly. Leaping from the bed with a flick of his tail, I open the door so he can exit while Avery digs through the boxes filling half the room in search something for us to wear. On the third box she flicks open, she shouts ‘Aha!’ and pulls out a long, suit bag with multiple hangers poking out the top.
Laying it across the bed, she unzips the bag and shifts through the stack of men’s clothes, picking out a sharp navy suit for me. After I take the hanger from her, Avery moves over to my bag and rifles through until she finds one of my generic black tops. I watch her curiously as she wiggles out of her pyjamas, standing before me gloriously naked and slips my top over her head and arms until it rests beneath her armpits and on her thighs. She then pulls each sleeve across her bust to make a criss-cross and tucks into the hem around her back. Donning the silver heels and jewellery from Sharon’s dinner party/blind date from hell, Avery instantly looks a million dollars and I’ll never look at that top the same way again.
I quickly change into the suit, leaving the top buttons of the white shirt open beneath the waistcoat and run my fingers through my wavy hair. Not having any other option, I shove my feet into my white high-tops and shrug
