Ivery gets bid in the auction. Again?

**Ivery Clark POV**

*What..?*

I finally turned to look at her, my brow furrowing. “What jobs?”

“Nothing crazy. Just something you might be good at. People in this bar spend fortunes on what they want. If you’re smart, you can grab a piece of that.”

A sick feeling churned in my stomach. “I’m not interested,” I said quickly, turning back to the sink.

“You don’t even know what it is yet.”

“And I don’t care,” I shot back, scrubbing harder than necessary.

“Suit yourself.” Her voice held a note of amusement, “But I’ll leave you with this—you’ll be here forever unless you learn to play the game. Think about it.”

Forever.

The word echoed in my mind like a curse, a bleak reminder that the cage Alrigo had built for me wasn’t just metaphorical. A debt that was impossible to escape while I stayed here.

I couldn’t live like this. Not for me. Not for my brother.

“So,” I said hesitantly, tying my apron to the side, “what kind of…opportunities does this bar offer?” My throat tightened as soon as the words left my mouth, unsure if I truly wanted the answer.

Her crimson lips curved into a smile, “Do you want to enter the VIP room? I'll arrange for you.” 

“VIP room?” I froze, my hand still on the counter. “But Alrigo said to the staff not to send me anywhere near that room.”

“Oh come on. Alrigo’s a tycoon, he’s got more businesses than you can imagine to attend to. How often do you see him here, hm? Every day? No. He's not even here most of the time.”

“Also, I have my own connections here who will let you in. No one will question it.”

I frowned, unsure if I liked the sound of that. “But would I even be doing in there?”

“Relax. It’s not what you think. I’m just saying… some of the girls serve drinks in there. You know, the influential clients prefer pretty girls waiting on them. It’s nothing dangerous. All the big shots come here. Influential men.” She paused, letting the words hang like bait. “Even the ones connected to Alrigo.”

The mention of his name sent ice through my veins.

“But—”

“Look, the VIP lounge isn’t for just anyone. Those doors? They don’t open for the staff scrubbing floors or slinging drinks out here. Only the top-tier girls make it in.”

“Just serving drinks. Walking around, smiling. You know, looking pretty while rich men talk about boring business deals or whatever it is they do in there.” Her tone dipped into something sweeter, coaxing. 

“The thing is, these men? They tip ridiculously well. You wouldn’t believe how generous they are. A couple of hours in there, and you could walk out with more money than you’d make here in weeks. So easy.”

I crossed my arms, “If it’s so easy, why hasn’t anyone mentioned it before?”

“Because tonight’s special. There’s an event, and they’ll want extra staff to make sure everything goes smoothly. A lot of new faces, new opportunities.” She tilted her head, her gaze trailing over me appraisingly. “And honestly? You’ve got the kind of look that turns heads. You’d clean up in there.”

Something twisted in my gut. Her words sounded too good, too easy. “You’re sure it’s just drinks? Nothing… more?”

“Come on, Ivery. If you don’t want to do anything extra, you won’t have to. Half those guys just want someone to listen to them complain about their wives or their stocks. You’re in control.” She leaned in, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Besides, not all girls are even allowed in. This is exclusive, sweetheart. You’re lucky I’m even offering.”

I stared at her, trying to piece together the jagged edges of her motives. 

“How much are we talking?” I asked finally.

Her smirk turned triumphant. “Depends. Some girls make a couple hundred. The really lucky ones? Five grand. Maybe more.”

Five grand. The number rattled in my head like a dangerous lure, shimmering with possibility. Five thousand dollars. That would be a great help. It could get us out of this city. Out of this life.

I glanced at her warily, wiping my hands on a towel. “But one thing I don't understand, why are you so interested in helping me?”

Veronica fell silent for a moment, her expression shifting into something fragile, almost haunted. “Because you remind me of someone.” 

“Who..?” 

She hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. “My dead sister. She was young, like you. Clueless, like you. I'm just showing you some sympathy.” 

Something inside me shifted, her pain clawing at my defenses. “I’m sorry,” I murmured, though the words felt woefully inadequate.

She smiled, but it was a sad, bittersweet thing. “You don’t have to struggle like this, Ivery. You don’t have to fight for scraps when there’s real money to be made. I’m giving you a chance to take control of your life. I don't know what your story is, but make money and get out here as soon as possible. This place is dangerous the more you stay.” 

I stared at her, torn between disbelief and the gnawing pull of desperation. The idea of stepping into that room felt like a betrayal—not just of Alrigo’s words, but of something deeper, something I couldn’t name. 

But then there was the reality: my brother, my empty bank account, and the crushing weight of survival.

“So when does it start?” 

Veronica smirked, “In minutes.” 

.

.

The room pulsed with soft, seductive jazz, and the low hum of laughter and conversation filled the air. I’d never seen the VIP lounge up close before, and it was a world apart from the bar floor. 

Everything glistened—gold accents on the furniture, crystal glasses catching the dim light, even the people dressed to the nines as though this was their playground.

I couldn’t believe I was here.

Alrigo was out tonight—his absence was my permission slip. There was no shadow of his presence, no predatory eyes watching me from the corners. For once, I could breathe without wondering when his rules would crash down on me.

I adjusted the neckline of the sleek black dress Veronica had given me, slicked on a final coat of lipstick, and pushed through the entrance, feeling the weighted gazes of the room fall on me. With a tray in hand, I moved from table to table, forcing a polite smile and handing out drinks like I knew exactly what I was doing.

But then a stocky man in a dark suit approached, his eyes narrowing slightly as they landed on me. 

“Are you the girl sent by Veronica?”

The words snapped my head up. “Uh…” My hesitation was enough for him. He stepped closer, frowning.

“Are you?” 

“…Yes?”

“Then what are you doing here? You're already late.! Let's go.” before I could react, he grabbed my arm firmly but not painfully, pulling me towards the back of the room.

“Wait! What am I late for?” I yelped, trying to dig my heels into the plush carpet as he dragged me along. “Where are you taking me?”

“Didn't Veronica tell you? To the bid.” 

My face went pale, “The *what?*”

“The event Veronica set you up for. You go up, the guests bid, and whoever wins gets your company for the night. You act as an escort.”

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief. “You’ve got it wrong. That’s not why I’m here.”

He stopped abruptly, turning to face me with an exasperated sigh.  “Are you saying you came here by force? But you signed the agreement yourself. And Veronica told you were willing.” 

The air turned colder, thicker, like it was suffocating me. That bitch tricked me!

“This… this can’t be happening,” I murmured, mostly to myself.

The man glared at me, “It doesn’t matter what you thought you signed up for. You’re here, and walking out won’t change the fact that they’re expecting you. We are short of one girl and you would do.”

“Stop whining and think about the money, Many make 3 grand? 5, if you’re lucky? For one night of their attention? Girls like you don’t get these chances often.”

My heart squeezed and the cold hands of panic clawed at my chest, squeezing tighter with each breath. “No…no you don't understand.” 

"Enough. Now, it's your turn.”

Before even I could even react, my ody jerked from the force as he shoved me roughly onto the raised stage, make me almost stumble. 

“Ladies and gentlemen,” a smooth, cold voice announced from the shadows, “the next feature of tonight’s event: a rare beauty. New, fresh, and unforgettable.” 

I felt numb, my vision going hazy. The black market. The auction. The hands that pulled, the greedy gazes, the roaring bids. The humiliation. The helplessness. It was all crashing down on me in my mind.

The host’s voice sliced through the crowd’s buzz. “Shall we start the bidding at three thousand?”

Each call that followed became a nail in my coffin.

“Four.”

“Five.”

“Seven thousand.”

"No!" I screamed, tears spilling down my face. I tried again, my knees threatening to buckle as desperation seeped into my every word. "Please! Stop! I’m not here for this!"

Another voice joined in.

“Ten thousand.”

“No!" My voice wavered, high and broken. “Please! Someone let me go! Please, I’ll do anything—just don’t do this!”

“Fifteen thousand.” 

The voice was deep, smooth, and full of a commanding authority that silenced the room. Gasps rippled through the crowd like the aftermath of an earthquake.

I glanced up through tear-streaked lashes, my body trembling. My breath hitched as a tall, imposing figure stepped forward, his movements slow and calculated.

He wasn’t Alrigo.

His presence was different—dangerous, magnetic, and cruel all at once.