This is basically an erotic love story and of course all characters are over 21. It will definitely not start out as a love story, but it will get there. Please vote often (fives are most welcome) and of course please leave constructive comments.
I want to thank Notawhit for the idea behind this story and Tigerssman for helping with the editing.
PS -- If you have fantasies, ideas, etc for new stories please let me know, that includes twists on existing stories and I will see what I can do. Many of my stories have started out that way.
The Prize
Mary Ann peeked around the curtain to look at Gotham's elite audience that awaited her performance. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she pictured herself naked in front of the crowd. The nightclub was sparsely lit, leaving the patrons in soft shadows that hid most of their faces. The shadows did not hide the fact that they were well-dressed in expensive tuxedos or flashy, revealing gowns.
She began to close the curtain when she noticed several totally nude men and women, obviously submissive, kneeling next to their masters. Several of the submissives were servicing their dominant and a sexual charge entered her as she realized someday soon, she may be doing that.
A shiver ran through her as she remembered that she would be subjected to bondage, submission and totally exposed to the audience before the night was over. She glanced in the mirror, quivering as she stared at her now trim seductive form. She had worked hard during the last year to hone her figure into a gorgeously desirable woman. Tonight, was the night she had been in training for during the last year.
As she stared at her reflection wrapped in gauzy veils, she thought back to why she was there.
For the last several years, she had been an over educated barista, a salesclerk with other menial jobs. She had a master's degree in English Literature and a double major in History and French. As a result, she had accumulated a massive student loan debt and hadn't come close to making a dent in her loans.
A year ago, she had attended her fifteenth high school class reunion. The event was an eye-opener as many of the low-life's and underachievers ... like herself had succeeded in the business world. After a slight bout of depression, she began to reevaluate her life. The limited options she had made the financial mountain she had to climb seem insurmountable.
About a week after the reunion, a courier delivered a package that contained an interesting proposal. A group called the Gotham Billionaires Club proposed that in one year's time she attend their annual ball and she would be auctioned as the grand prize. Normally she would have thrown it away except for the remuneration.
The proposal stated that for the next year all her expenses would be covered. They included a posh apartment, gym, personal trainer and private chef, full health care coverage, as well as a half a million in clothing allowance. With her mouth agape she read on. She would attend the annual conference, be auctioned during the fundraiser and expected to be the winner's companion for a weekend. After the weekend was over, she would receive one million dollars per year for ten years and her student debt paid in full.
In one fell swoop she would go from rags-to-riches and if she invested well, she would never have to work again. She talked to her closest friends and they all thought she would be crazy not to take it. She took it to a lawyer friend, Candice, who revealed several potential pitfalls. For example: what would happen during the show or during the weekend in which she was the prize. However, if they expected her to be a sex slave, she had multimillion-dollar lawsuits on her hands.
For the next three days she stayed in her tiny apartment rereading the proposal over and over again. Finally, she wrote down her questions and made an appointment to meet with someone from this club and discuss her options. Her stomach flipped flopped as she approached the office the next day and she almost chickened out ... twice.
She girds her loins and entered the office. The opulent offices stunned her. It looked like each stick of furniture cost more than the furnishings in her whole apartment. Mary Ann was met by a stunningly gorgeous blonde dressed in an elegant yet revealing dress that hugged every curve. Though Mary Ann felt at home in the luxurious office, she felt self-conscious in her street clothes.
She almost turned to leave, but a soft lilting Southern accent that reminded her of her home in Nashville spoke up, "Don't leave, Mary Ann! I'm Cindy and I know this office can be intimidating."
Mary Ann looked at Cindy. "I'm not sure this is a good idea."
Cindy laughed melodiously responding, "I promise you're safe here. We've been expecting you. Would you like some coffee, tea, water or juice?" She took another look at drained Mary Ann and added, "Maybe a Mimosa would be better?"
"A green tea would be great. Thank you."
A tall distinguished, well-dressed, gentleman entered the room as Cindy turned to fetch Mary Ann a large Mimosa. The gentleman spoke in a deep baritone that sent chills through her trembling belly
"Mary Ann, I presume?"
She nodded as Cindy handed her very large Mimosa in a gold rimmed cup.
The baritone continued, "I am Reginald Conway, the president and lead counsel for this very exclusive club. Please, this way"
He gestured that she should follow as he led her into a conference room. The room, decorated in fine English leather and rich burled woods, was filled with thousands of leather-bound books. Mary Ann followed as if in a trance. Mr. Conway took a seat at the head of the table and motioned for her to take the seat on his right.
She settled in her chair, took a sip of champagne and stared at Mr. Conway. He seemed to recognize her dilemma and began, "I know that you have tons of questions, beginning with. Why me?"
The question had been bugging her. She was glad he brought it up first, so she nodded her head and smiled in anticipation.
He smiled answering the unasked question, "I can only tell you that one of our members has taken an interest in you and thought you could use a break."
Her face wrinkled with puzzlement wondering who could take an interest in her. She didn't know any millionaires, much less billionaires. As she looked at Mr. Conway, she knew she had received the only answer she was going to get.
He continued with what he knew from experience would be her other questions. "The money at the end of the conference weekend will be put in an annuity and it is all yours. All expenses will come through this office during the year leading up to the conference. Cindy will be your shepherd during the year. By the way, she went through this process eight years ago."
Mary Ann's head whipped around looking at the closed door and now she really wondered why she was chosen. If her competition involved women like Cindy, she shouldn't be here at all. She was dumpy, overweight and had no idea how to dress like Cindy.
Her mind spun as Mr. Conway continued, "I'm sure you are wondering what would be expected of you during the conference and during the weekend with the auction winner? Well, most of that is up to you. You will not be required to do anything against your moral code, but there are stipulations. During the conference you will be required to sell yourself to the members and entice the auction bidding process. You see the auction must reach a minimum of thirty million dollars before you are eligible for the monetary prize."
He looked at her making sure she understood. She looked confused, so he continued, "Sex sells. You have a year to hone your beauty, remake yourself however you want and have all the resources to make it happen. Then you can just taunt all the rich guys bidding for you."
"There are all sorts of options: strip tease, a BDSM display, a fashion show, you name it, and it has been done here. Whatever you want to do is totally up to you. However, if you don't reach the thirty million mark, the deal for the prize at the end is void."
