CHAPTER 1: THE AUCTION

Amelia stood nervously at the edge of the opulent ballroom, her heart pounding in her chest as she surveyed the scene before her. The room was alive with the buzz of whispered conversations and the tinkling of champagne glasses, but all she could focus on was the podium at the center of the room. There, under the harsh glare of spotlights, stood a row of women, each more stunning than the last, their faces a mask of forced smiles and hidden desperation.

As the bidding began, the air grew thick with anticipation, and the tension in the room was palpable. Men in tailored suits leaned forward eagerly, their eyes flickering with greed as they sized up the merchandise on display. But for Amelia, the whole spectacle felt like a nightmare from which she couldn't wake. She had never imagined herself in a place like this, surrounded by the wealthy elite, being auctioned off like a piece of property. But circumstances beyond her control had led her here, to this gaudy display of excess and exploitation.

Amelia glanced down at her trembling hands, her fingers twisting anxiously around the delicate fabric of her gown. She had been raised in seclusion, sheltered from the harsh realities of the world outside her family's estate. But when tragedy struck and her family's fortune was lost, she found herself alone and vulnerable, with nowhere to turn. Desperate to save her family from ruin, she had made a deal with the devil himself, agreeing to participate in this twisted auction in exchange for a hefty sum of money. She had convinced herself it was the only way, the only chance she had to secure a future for herself and her loved ones.

But now, as she watched the bidding war unfold before her, she couldn't help but feel a wave of despair wash over her. What kind of future awaited her as the property of some rich and powerful man? What horrors would she be forced to endure in the name of survival? Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the auctioneer's voice, booming over the crowd like a clap of thunder. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, we come to the final lot of the evening. A rare and exquisite beauty, guaranteed to satisfy even the most discerning of tastes. I give you, Lot number 13: Amelia."

As the spotlight swung in her direction, illuminating her pale features and cascading curls, a hush fell over the crowd. For a moment, she felt as though the whole world had stopped, as though she were the only person in the room. Then, the bidding began in earnest, each offer more outrageous than the last. Men clamored for her attention, shouting out their bids with wild abandon, their eyes alight with lust and desire. But amidst the chaos, one voice stood out above the rest. A voice smooth as silk, with a hint of danger lurking beneath the surface. "Five million," it said, cutting through the noise like a knife.

Amelia's breath caught in her throat as she turned to see who had spoken. And there, at the back of the room, bathed in shadow, stood a figure unlike any she had ever seen. Tall and imposing, with dark hair and piercing eyes that seemed to strip her bear with a single glance. Alessandro De Luca. The name sent a shiver down her spine, igniting a spark of recognition deep within her soul. She had heard whispers of him, of his wealth and power, of his ruthless ambition and insatiable appetite for control.

And now, here he was, offering to buy her like a piece of merchandise, like she was nothing more than a pawn in his twisted game. But as she looked into his eyes, she saw something there that took her breath away. Something raw and primal, something that stirred a long-dormant fire within her. It was desire. And in that moment, Amelia knew that her fate was sealed. She was his now, body and soul, to do with as he pleased. And there was nothing she could do to stop him.