Page 20 (1/1)

Prologue

Eden

“Order up” The tords I despise the most but use most frequently As the waitress at Roxy’s Hole in the Wall, I say this from sunup to sundown It’s my job It’s how I e and that she has a babysitter to get her to and from school Without this place, I don’t knohere ould be

“Eden, did you grab the plate for the lady at the counter?” Rod, the cook, asks me Roxy is his wife She is this wonderful wos She hiredon e my little sister on the weekends, and she never complains For two years, she has been that aunt to me, and I love her

“Got it, Rod” I holler back as I grab the breakfast special and walk out into the dining area I look and see the only person sitting at the counter is Lilith, with no last name She comes in here once a week, hair and makeup done like a movie star She never sits in a booth and always co at her she has money and doesn’t have to eat here, but she comes When she does, she often asks me questions about school, my home life, moneyetc

The first tiht she was a social worker and panicked I have been working so hard to lects his daughters and gaht is of Katya,to keep her with me

“Well, if it isn’t little Eden How are you, my dear?”

“Hi, Lilith I as you in here on a Sunday?” She usually comes in Tuesdays after her nail appointment

“I rehteenth birthday and wanted to bring you this” she pulls this little blue box out of her pocket, andside of the tracks, but every girl knohat that blue box is “Well, aren’t you going to open it?” she asks, s at me My hands shake as I reach for it and open it

“L-LilithI can’t…” I sta to find words Any words

“You can, and you will I saw it in thethe other day and thought, this looks like Eden”

“I don’t knohy?” I say, scared to touch the classic Tiffany bracelet “Nothing about me says, Tiffany”

“YouYou just need the rightsecret “Hoould you like to get out of your dad’s house, make a ton ofeven though I knohatever she is going to say will not be good “I have been waiting for you to turn eighteen before having this conversation Do you knohat it is I do, Eden?” I shakebecause I honestly have no clue I assume she is some sort of professional businesswoman “I run an escort service Do you knohat that is?” I knowShocked is an understatement

“Yes I mean, I knohat it isbut I”

“Cal you to be an escort I ains Auction”

“A what?” I ask her I aht?

“It’s an auction I hold once or twice a year where powerful and wealthy ins You would be so surprised howwo you a chance to get away from this life The men bid, I take forty percent, and you walk aith sixty Soirls walk aith anywhere from fifty to two hundred thousand dollars” Holymy arm

“Wow I reat, but it is not foraI could do with that et Katya and me a house, and be able to have money put away so I can plan e our lives, it’s true But I can’t seemy body for it

“Listen, I can see yourThe auction is in teeks Think about it Here is my card” she pushes back fro on the table