Private Auction

Saturday, 9:42 PM — auction waiting room, Hotel Camper House, Miami

Megan: Emma, I'm in the waiting room. I'm number 14. There are six other girls here and they all look like they know what they're doing. I think I'm going to throw up.

Emma: Megan, breathe in through your nose for five seconds, out through your mouth for ten. I said the same thing my first time. Second time around, I didn't need it anymore.

Emma: What's everyone wearing?

Megan: The official uniform is a black silk robe on top, black lingerie underneath, and a Venetian mask in hand. One girl has hers on, the rest of us are holding ours. Heels are mandatory.

Emma: Remember. The robe stays on until they call your number. When they call 14, you go out alone, stand in the white circle in the center, drop the robe to the floor, and look straight ahead. Don't look at the screens or the bidders.

10:18 PM — right before going out

Megan: Emma, Lot 13 just went out. An older woman than me, offering two hours of wax play. They're bidding on screen, red numbers, top bid at sixty-eight hundred. She's sold.

Emma: Your lot is sensory deprivation, right? Blindfolds, basic shibari rope, three hours. No penetration by default.

Megan: That's right. You negotiated that with the committee.

Emma: It's going to go for more than 13. Well-done sensory deprivation has a big market in this circle.

Megan: They're calling me.

11:08 PM — Megan back on her phone after the showcase

Megan: Emma. The bidding just closed. Fourteen thousand four hundred.

Emma: Holy shit.

Megan: The winner is a woman. Mid-forties. Black business suit, no makeup, big silver ring. She gave me a slight bow from the gallery when the bidding closed. Three drinks in her hand for two people.

Emma: Good. Now you go up to the Penthouse Suite with her and the notary. The notary is real. You both sign a physical three-hour contract with clauses she negotiates and you accept or reject on the spot. Have a pen ready to cross out anything you don't want.

11:54 PM — Megan writing from the suite bathroom

Megan: I'm in the suite bathroom. We just signed.

Emma: What did you cross out?

Megan: Nothing that was prohibited on the official list. But I added three clauses by hand. One, the blindfold comes off every twenty minutes to look her in the eyes for ten seconds and reconfirm. Two, if I come three times, we stop before the three hours are up. Three, the rope doesn't touch my neck at any point.

Emma: Three perfect clauses. Way better than mine the first time.

Megan: Her name is Carmen. Businesswoman, divorced, with an eighteen-year-old daughter. She told me all of that before signing because she asked for trust. I liked her.

Emma: Good. You start at twelve-thirty. I'll text you at four.

Sunday, 4:14 AM