Kimani decided she preferred the company of the non-English speaking driver, but the man was headed back to the limo. She and Claire followed Stern-Face into the cabin and downstairs to what was a third but lower level of the cabin. He opened the door to a large single room.
“This is where you’ll sleep.”
Claire walked in, ready to be impressed. Instead, her face fell. There was no beautiful four-post bed draped in romantic linen, no plush carpeting or shiny hardwood floors, no door to an amazing bathroom with granite counters and a Jacuzzi bathtub. There were no windows, and the only light came from a lightbulb at the top of the ceiling. The only furnishing comprised two queen-size mattresses resting directly on the floor without box springs.
“You’re to stay in the room until he gets here,” Stern-Face said before shutting the door behind him.
“Wait!” Kimani cried. She ran to the door but found it locked. Shit. She went to the only other door, but it only led to a toilet.
“This is not what I expected at all,” Claire said. “It must be like some kind of joke. Maybe we’ll be shown our real rooms after we go shopping.”
“I don’t think there’s much in the way of luxury shopping in this county,” Kimani murmured as she went to try the door again. No luck. “I can’t believe we’re locked in here!”
“Master doesn’t want us escaping,” Claire giggled.
Kimani stayed the desire to smack some sense into the girl.
“I wish we had something to eat, though. I’m starving.”
Kimani dug into the purse she still held and fished out a packet of trail mix, which she offered to Claire. She didn’t have much of an appetite.
Claire hopped off the bed. “Oh, thanks! I’ll just have a little since we’re probably going to have a sinfully decadent breakfast.”
“You sure about that?”
“Billionaires like to wine and dine in style. I mean, what’s the point of being a billionaire if you don’t indulge in everything that you can?”
“I don’t know about that. Gold toilets would be excessive to me.”
Claire shrugged. “If you’ve got money to burn, why not?”
Kimani didn’t answer. Her mind was on more pressing considerations, like how to escape if the situation warranted it. Maybe this was part of the fantasy—it obviously was for Claire—and when the week was over, they’d laugh and talk about how fun it was.
But this guy expected sex, and when Kimani refused, what would happen? Would he be understanding and have his limo take her back to the city? Or would he be a jerk and dump her at the nearest town to fend for herself?
Or what if he didn’t take “no” for an answer?
Since he hadn’t received an update in a while, Sam would probably be worried by now. His cell was connected to hers through a locater app. He could trace where her phone was—unless whoever had it turned the device off or it ran out of battery.
Remember the story. It’s going to be killer. It’s going to be worth it.
Feeling better, Kimani took a reassuring breath. She sat down on the bed. Wow. The sheets were amazing. She had never felt anything so soft.
The sound of footsteps made her jump to her feet. Was it Stern-Face? Could she get him to let her use a phone?
The door opened, and in walked their bidder. Their Master.
CHAPTER FIVE
The guy had boyish good looks with wavy golden-brown hair and twinkling blue eyes. He reminded Kimani of a young Bradley Cooper. So with looks like his, why did he need to buy women at the Scarlet Auction, she wondered?
He put his hands on his hips. In his Kiton jeans and perfectly pressed shirt by Tom Ford, he looked impeccable—the opposite of how Kimani felt.
Claire waved. “Hi, I’m Claire.”
He frowned. “I didn’t say you could talk.”
“Oh! Sorry! I mean...” Claire looked down.