Buying Her Flower

I will say that I’m there to go over the plans and see if it’s the right place for the auction. I think I have a better chance at convincing her to participate in person rather than over the phone. Plus, I will be able to see her reactions and view how she really feels about me.

Throughout my whole drive to the office, Sheila is all I can think about. It’s difficult to concentrate on work thanks to her, and that’s usually the one thing I pride myself on.

I know she is only a few blocks away from me and that thought is driving me insane. I want to walk over and see her, but it’s too soon. I just spoke to her a couple of hours ago. So I do my best to concentrate on work.

That’s no use, though. Normally, I’m extremely productive and efficient, making sure I prepare and follow a system for everything. Today, though, all I can think of is Sheila.

I come up with a list of questions that I want to ask Brian about the auction. He’s busy right now, so I schedule a call with him for later. I still haven’t been introduced to the auctioneer yet or anything. That should be the first thing on my list.

Next, I decide, rolling my eyes at myself, that I should be trying to focus on something – anything – other than Sheila, and set my mind to doing that.

Chapter 7

Sheila

I’m at the shop all by myself today, since Marsha left a few days ago with her husband. We came up with an arrangement where I could stay in the shop and sell all the flowers that she left behind.

I even get to keep the money that I make from the sales, and in exchange, she didn’t have to worry about disposing of them before leaving for her trip. The deal is pretty mutually beneficial, and now I just have to concentrate on building up more money with which to pay her to take over the flower shop – hence my agreeing to have the auction here.

I was glad when Andrew said there was such a big hosting fee, because now I don’t have to participate. Even though the idea of letting him take my virginity for even more money is very tempting indeed.

It’s been a busy morning. I’m so proud that I’ve sold about half of the remaining flowers.

This is giving me a lot of practice for when I’m finally able to buy the store and start running it on my own. It’s around noon and I’m just finishing up with a customer when I see Brian and Andrew walk in. Alongside them is a woman I don’t know.

I’m surprised to see them. I thought Andrew was going to call, not just show up. I’m a little nervous about this woman who’s with them – I thought I’d made myself clear that this whole arrangement had to be kept a secret.

As soon as the customer I was helping walks out the door, I go over to Brian and Andrew.

“Hello,” I say, in my most business-like tone.

Brian smiles at me.

“Hey there!” he replies, being overly friendly.

Andrew gives me a polite smile. He introduces me to the woman who is with them.

“This is Julia, the auctioneer. We dropped by to go over the information about you hosting the auction here in your flower shop,” he explains.

I nod at him and then he says, “Is it your flower shop?”

I know I should say no. But I prefer to just let him think it is without having to get into the explanations.

What if he needs Marsha’s permission? I wonder.

She could hardly sign a document from the Bahamas, or wherever it is that she might be right about now. I don’t want anything holding up my hosting fee.

So, instead of answering Andrew, I look at Julia.

“Oh, okay. I’m Sheila,” I introduce myself, trying not to be nervous.

She nods at me, then looks around the flower shop. She clearly means business.

“This place will do. We are having women flown in from neighboring cities and states, the larger ones. But it is important that we reach out to the local women as well – stealthily, and using great discretion, of course – and encourage them to attend. We need as many as possible for this event to work.”

She says all of this matter-of-factly, while walking around, as if she’s discussing planning a wedding or a birthday party instead of a virginity auction. She addresses the last part to Brian and Andrew, I’m assuming. It doesn’t matter to me whether they have one woman or twenty-seven.

Julia, Andrew and Brian discuss the different ways to approach prospective women about the event and how to keep it tactful and secretive yet make it sound intriguing. I want to tell them that money talks and all they need to do is mention the huge sums attached to this opportunity, but I don’t want to sound too greedy myself, so I remain quiet. A few minutes later, Julia looks at me.