Lucky number

Rebecca nervously looked around the posh town hall where the auction was happening. It was an old building with a high ceiling and a daunting fresco looming over her. She desperately tried to make out a regular looking woman, which was not tall and blonde with big breasts and in high heels. None of them looked even remotely like her. She looked down at her sneakers, comparing herself to the others. She was fit but not as skinny as them. She anxiously kept picking the skin on her fingers, a habit she has had since childhood.

She was number 7 in line. This has been a new kind of dating for a few years now. Neither was she really interested in it, nor did it feel natural to her but her mother had dragged her to the auction. She hated the idea of selling herself for money and a relationship she would not even believe in.

She was determined to not pay much attention to the event and put her focus back to her little black book she had been writing in.

Number one was called. A tall blonde woman in some kind of school girl outfit sashayed onto the stage. “Why was that outfit even necessary?”, Rebecca thought to herself and rolled her eyes.

Whistles and wohoos came from the hungry audience.

“$5 000”, a man yells. He was tall and very attractive and he was waving a bundle of cash above his head. The suit he was wearing reflected the money he must earn. “$6 000”, another one shouts. Finally, Tiffany was sold for $8 000 to the first man who had decided to raise his bid. He waltzes onto the stage and takes her by the hand. He did not forget to slap her ass while both were walking out of the hall.

“Jesus and that for one date” Rebecca thought, shaking her head. She utterly disliked the sight of how the men were treating the women. Maybe she could just sneak out, but her mother was so angry at her for not attending the last one. She was 30 and still not married. She had been in many relationships but they never felt right. She liked a man who knew what he wanted and didn’t skip between women and relationships. She was sure she would not find that tonight. There were still 3 people ahead of her before it was her turn. She went to the bar and ordered a glass of red wine. At least it was an open bar. While sipping on the red juice, she noticed a man standing in the corner. He kind of looked normal. He was wearing Jeans and a red t shirt with a small picture of a marigold flower sewed on his shoulder.

He had not noticed her. Yet. “Good” she thought. She really was not up for drama tonight. She just wanted to get it over with, go home and read a book.

The red shirted man now looked over and she noticed he had deep brown eyes, matching his hair colour. Neither did he smile, nor did he do anything. He just looked at her with his eyes firmly piercing into hers. He looked shy and yet so settled and strong willed. She noticed the slight hint of muscles underneath his shirt and on his arms. She suddenly felt uneasy on her feet. She got lost in his eyes and wondered what it would be like to kiss him. She shook her head heavily as if she tried to wake herself up, escaping an ongoing dream. No. She wouldn’t fall for any of these people.

Number six was called and Rebecca quickly downed her second glass of wine. She reluctantly walked over to the stage ready to face embarrassment.

Her number was called and she slowly walked up the stairs. Some of the women in the first row were giggling and pointing fingers at her. While she was listening to a few boos and was looking at a few thumbs down, her face became hot. “Please don’t blush, please don’t blush”, she kept whispering to herself, praying not to look as embarrassed as she felt. Obviously, no one was going to bid for her. The crowd was only staring at her blankly. She was worth nothing….

“$20 000!!” a strong voice shouted out of the audience. Rebecca shielded her eyes against the stage lights, trying to make out the person who bid on her. “I’ll take her for $20 000, I have got the cash right here.”

Suddenly she saw the man who had been standing in the corner slowly making his way through the masses. Their eyes met and he maintained her gaze the entire way up the stage. He moved with such determination that Rebecca started to think he had been waiting only for her.

He took her hand and at the same time placed the bundle of cash into her front pocket of her jeans. His hand lingered there for a moment and Rebecca’s knees weakened. She felt the heat rising in her body as she began to blush.

Before she could even continue getting a proper thought together, he whispered in her ear “These idiots don’t know what they are missing. You are beautiful”. He pulled her close to kiss her.