AUCTION
1421 Words
The dress room looked like a boutique. 10 gowns lined up. Red, gold, emerald, pink. All expensive. All picked by *Grayson*. Maya stood in the middle with her arms crossed. She poked at the champagne gold one with one finger.
“None of these are me.” Grayson leaned against the doorframe, watching her.
“Then go pick your own.” He pulled out a black metal card and held it out. “Spend as you want. It’s limitless.” Maya took it and smiled.
“I’m grown now. You’re still spoiling me.” He reached over and ruffled her hair.
“You’re a good girl.” He kissed her forehead.
“Be back before sunset. We have a war to start.” Maya nodded and left. Grayson walked her out to the driveway himself. The driver was already holding the back door open. She slid into the backseat. The car pulled out of the Weston mansion gates. Ten minutes later she sat up straight, her face went cold. “Pull over.” The driver glanced at her in the mirror. “Miss?”
“I said get out.” Her voice was flat. He stopped the car on the side of the road. Before he could unbuckle, Maya was already out. She opened his door, grabbed him by the collar, and dragged him out onto the pavement. She slid into the driver’s seat. Rolled the window down. The driver was staring, frozen.
“Don’t tell Mr. Grayson anything about this,” Maya said. Sighing like this was annoying. She patted the passenger seat.
“Get in.” He got in. Maya turned the music up loud. Bass hit the windows. She looked at him and smirked. “You can’t drive me in a boring way”.
Maya dialed. On the second ring Vivienne picked up and screamed.
“WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME YOU’RE BACK?!” Maya grinned, steering with one hand. “I wanted to surprise you. Anyway, I’m heading to your shop.”
“Good! I made those designs you asked for. Speed up, girl.” They both laughed. Maya hung up.
---
The car stopped in front of _Vivienne Atelier_. Maya tossed the keys to the driver and stepped out. Inside, the store smelled like perfume and silk. Dresses hung like art. Maya reached for a black gown with long straps. Simple, deadly. Before her fingers touched it — A hand shoved her aside.
“Oh dear. This is mine.” Maya straightened. In front of her stood *Chloe*. Designer bag. Nose in the air. Two girls behind her snickered.
“You’re mean,” Maya said flatly. One of Chloe’s friends scoffed.“Hey, miss. Do you know who you’re talking to?” Maya didn’t answer. She stepped on Chloe’s foot, grabbed her shoulder,
and shoved. Chloe hit the floor.
“Crazy b***h! Do you know who you’re messing with?!”
That was *Ivy*.
“Yeah! Apologize to Chloe. NOW!”
That was *Rena*. Maya stared at them and laughed. “She should apologize to me first.” The three of them burst out laughing. Ivy crossed her arms.
“You want an apology? Fine.” She pointed down.
“Then get on your knees. And lick her feet.” Chloe smiled from the floor.
“Do it!” Maya scoffed. In one move she grabbed Chloe’s hair, yanked her up, and slapped her. Hard.
“I’m sorry,” Maya said, deadpan.
_Slap._
“I’m sorry.”
_Slap._
“I’m sorry.”
She kept going until footsteps echoed. The manager ran in. Chloe and her friends scrambled up, crying.
“This woman ruined my face!” Chloe wailed, holding her cheek. Maya wiped her hand on her jeans and smirked.
“Then she should’ve kept her hands to herself.”
The manager’s face went dark when she saw Chloe’s cheek. Red, swollen. “Security!” she barked. Two men stepped in immediately.
“Make her kneel and apologize to Mrs. Peterson!”Before they could move —
“Don’t even think of touching her.” The voice cut through the room like ice.
*Vivienne.* The manager and the guards froze. The manager rushed to her, bowing. “Miss Vivienne, this woman hit Young Miss Peterson. She—”
_SLAP._
Vivienne’s hand cracked across the manager’s face. The whole shop went silent.
“Maya is my friend,” Vivienne said calmly. She looked the manager dead in the eyes.
“Do you know who she is? She’s *Mr. Grayson’s pearl*.”
The manager gasped. Her knees went weak. Chloe, still on the floor, tried to speak. “This lady needs to be punished, Miss Vivienne—”
“Security,” Vivienne said without looking at her.
“Throw these locusts and parasites out of my shop.” The guards nodded. They grabbed Chloe, Ivy, and Rena by the arms and dragged them out screaming.
“As of now, they are blacklisted from my company.”
Vivienne turned back to the manager and the two guards.
“And you. You’re all fired. No excuses.”The manager dropped to her knees.
“Please, Miss Vivienne, I have a family—”Vivienne ignored her and walked to Maya. She scanned her from head to toe.
“Are you hurt?”
Maya snorted.
“Can those lunatics hurt a fly?” They both laughed. “Come on,” Vivienne said, looping her arm through Maya’s. “Let’s go to the VIP room. Your dress is waiting.” As they walked away, Vivienne glanced back.
“Take this garbage out of my shop before she ruins the floor.” Two more guards came in and dragged the kneeling manager out, along with all her belongings.
Maya shook her head as they entered the VIP room.
“You’re really strict.” Vivienne winked. “Only to people who touch what’s mine.”
Vivienne’s VIP room looked like a dream. Mirrors on every wall. Lights soft and gold. On the table were 5 black dresses. All different, all deadly.
Next to them: matching heels. Matching necklaces. All picked just for Maya.
“Try them,” Vivienne said, already pulling one off the hanger. Maya slipped into the last one. Long, Full-length, sleek straps, a side slit that ran up her thigh. The silk hugged every curve and fell like water. She turned to the mirror, and stopped breathing. The dress didn’t scream, It whispered.
And it made her look dangerous. Vivienne gasped behind her. “IS THAT YOU, MAYA?!” She grabbed Maya’s shoulders and spun her around. “You have to be my model, my muse, my everything.” Maya laughed and rolled her eyes.
“You’re dramatic.”
“I’m serious!” Vivienne said. Then she softened. “You look like war in silk.” Maya smirked.
“Wrap the rest for me.”
“Sure.”
Vivienne moved fast, folding each dress, each shoe, each necklace into black shopping bags with gold ribbon.
“All done!”
She handed Maya the bags, heavy, expensive.
“Go burn the world down in that dress.”
Maya took them, kissed Vivienne’s cheek,
and headed for the door.
The Marrow Estate glowed at night. Cars lined the driveway like jewels. Chandeliers cameras, old money. Grayson’s car stopped first. His driver jumped out and opened the door. Grayson stepped out in a black tux. Cold, calm, king energy. He didn’t walk in. He waited. Another car pulled up beside his.
*Mark and Ava* stepped out. With them: *Chloe* in red, and *Max* in a suit too tight. All four of them walked into the estate together. Then a third car stopped behind Grayson’s. The door opened, and Maya stepped out. Grayson’s eyes widened. Her hair was up in a galaxy bun. Stars pinned in it. And the black dress, the one from Vivienne. It clung to her like it was made for revenge. Maya walked to him, slow. He watched her like he forgot how to breathe.
“You trying to tempt the old me?” Grayson asked, voice low.
Maya laughed.
“You never told me you were a good flirt.”
He held out his arm.
She slid her hand through it and held on tight.
Inside, music played. Soft. Expensive.
Guests in diamonds and secrets.
Grayson led her upstairs.
Second floor. Private balcony by the window.
The perfect view of the auction floor below.
They sat.
Maya crossed her legs. The slit showed.
Grayson didn’t look away.
His phone rang.
- Writer
