When I came to myself, I was still leaning against Avery. There was a ringing in my ears. I realized the sound was men whistling. I straightened up. Vincenzo freed my ankles and then my wrists. "You okay?" he asked me.
"Yes," I said.
"Yes, sir," he responded gruffly.
"Yes, sir." His green eyes glittered at me.
"I'll take that key now." Vincenzo and I both turned to Avery. Vincenzo handed him a room key. "Don't look so worried, Vin," Avery said. "I'll protect your investment."
That was what I was -- an investment. The men in the audience paid to see me. I had just given them a show, but not one I had any control over. Now, though, I wasn't tied up.
Avery started to walk towards the edge of the stage. Deliberately I didn't follow him. He turned and came back to me. He looked annoyed and impatient. I said loudly enough that at least the men in front would be able to hear, "I'm glad it's you, for my first time." I touched his arm and tried to exude innocence. Vincenzo grinned at me from behind Avery. He seemed to understand what I was trying to do. But Avery had been right; Vincenzo did look worried.
Again the noise from the audience threatened to overwhelm me. One man yelled, "Your second time, it will be me!"
Avery took hold of my upper arm. He wasn't quite dragging me but his grip was firm. He led me off the stage, ignoring the men we passed on our way out of the ballroom into the foyer where the front desk was. He let go of me when we reached the elevators. While we waited he took a Blackberry out of his pocket and started scrolling through it. When the elevator came he barely looked up to press the button for the fifth floor.
Still fiddling with his Blackberry, he brought me to what could have been a hotel room. Large bed, a couple of armchairs, a cabinet, a little fridge, a bathroom. Avery waved me to one of the chairs. I sank into it, grateful to be off my feet. Avery went to the bed and stripped the pillowcases off the pillows. He walked to the far corner of the room and threw one of the cases over something protruding from the ceiling. A camera. He did the same thing to two other cameras in the room. "I like privacy," he said to me.
He brought me a glass of water. "Relax for a few minutes," he said. "I have some business to take care of." He walked to the far side of the bed and made a call on his Blackberry -- something about stock share prices. I finished my water and put the glass on the floor. Avery was droning on. I closed my eyes.
Someone's hand was on my shoulder and I jumped. I thought Vincenzo had come to get me. But of course it was Avery. "Whaβ¦" I said stupidly.
"You've been asleep for about an hour," Avery said. "But we've got all night. Go freshen up."
I tried to be quick in the bathroom. There were some toiletries next to the sink. I brushed my teeth, but my makeup had held so I left it alone.
Avery was back on his Blackberry when I came out. I didn't mean to sigh. He put down the device and turned to me. "What's the matter?" he asked.
I wasn't sure how to answer. I was annoyed that he was taking too long to rape me? I wanted him to care more about me than about his Blackberry? Both were absurd.
"I want to make this a good night for you, Belinda," he said. "But it will be easier for both of us if you communicate with me."
I took a breath. "It's just that I don't know what I'm supposed to do," I said.
Avery tilted his head and seemed to give me his full attention for the first time since we had left the ballroom. He walked over to me, crowding me. "Just like before. You're supposed to let me be in charge."
I nodded. "Yes, sir."