The Price of Passion

"One hundred and twenty thousand dollars for a virgin," the MC exclaimed. The word "virgin" caused the audience in the theater to scowl and scoff. They considered virgins unfit for sex and disliked the innocence. But the billionaires continued to haggle.

"One thirty," exclaimed one of the billionaires with a laugh. Lola was even more embarrassed when she realized she was being made fun of.

The host said, "One thirty. Do I hear one fifty, anyone? Anyone?"

One more person bid, "One fifty." Lola had a sneaking suspicion that this evening would not be pleasant. She was ready, yet fear never left her.

"Two hundred," said a third billionaire, causing the auditorium to quiet down. Lola lost hope because it appeared like no one was willing to go any farther.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars," said another one.

"Anyone else?" The host, eager to seal the deal, remarked, "Remember, she is the only item available for your satisfaction tonight."

Through the cordless microphone, a fourth billionaire said, "Five hundred thousand dollars."

"Five hundred thousand dollars, Do I hear six hundred thousand?" the jubilant host said. Everyone had stopped bidding and the hall was silent. As the presenter started to wrap things up, Lola realized that her fate was set.

"Five hundred thousand dollars going once, goi...."

The club echoed with a commanding mechanized voice, "Seven million dollars." There was a sound of footsteps and bright lights came on.

Everyone started to shiver, gasping beneath their breath, saying, "It's Maschera Del Re."

Lola was shocked beyond words.

***********

Earlier Don Marcello Santo, the Mafia from Italy rubbed Lola's ear as she trembled in terror, moving aside as tears fell down her face. He said, "You, baby girl, can go up for auction at the Chester Club tonight to help raise money to pay off your late father's debt. Wonderful idea, isn't it?"

Right in her presence, he had made her father's life miserable by torturing and murdering him, the man demanded money from her to settle his debt. Lola was not a moron. She wiped away her tears and held her head high.

"Absolutely not, Marcello. Your debtor is no longer alive. You should have waited for me to do that and get you your money when he was still alive but you have killed him and now that he's dead, his debt should be forgotten as well."

Marcello clenched his jaw, his expression lethal, and took hold of her throat. Even though Lola was breathless and helpless, her head was still held high and tears were still streaming down her cheeks. She didn't even flinch, and her eyes remained arrogant. She wouldn't be able to flee Marcello's bodyguards even if she managed to get away from him. That was the only explanation for her failure to attempt self-defense.

"You know what I'm capable of. I will find your brother, kill him too, and also eliminate you. His debt is not settled until I wipe off his entire offspring and bring an end to his bloodline." With a chilly spit, Marcello gave her a stern glance and tightened his grip.

Camila, Lola's closest friend, flung herself towards Marcello and went on her knees. She started pleading on behalf of Lola.

"Please let go of her so we can have a conversation about this."

He slightly relaxed his hold on her, but he held on to her. Lola started to cough non-stop. "Please let her go; we'll figure out a way to pay you every single dime." Camila kept making heartfelt pleas.

Marcello looked down at her. "Great, now it's Ricardo's daughter. You should get your nose out of this business and find out how your mother passed away." Camila froze, but he disregarded her and gave Lola a stern look. "You will ensure that my 3.5 million dollars is in my possession within twenty four.... No, in the next few hours. I already gave you a suggestion on how to get it after all."

Releasing his grip on her throat, he retreated three paces. He muttered, "Tidy up, boys, we need to get moving," and turned to leave the tense atmosphere. "Don't worry," he added as he turned back and approached the door. "If you manage to be bought at more than 3.5 million at the club, you will definitely have the rest. Believe me."

"Lola, there has to be another way for this to be settled," While Marcello's bodyguards started wrapping up her father's lifeless body, Camila stood forward, gave Lola a hug, offering her comfort.

"I'd give anything to know that other way, Camila." As her father's body was being taken away, Lola sobbed and clenched her hands around Camila. "He just murdered dad. He'll treat my brother and myself in the same way."

He had mentioned her mother, Camila remembered. All she had to do when she got home was question her father about it. Her primary worry at the moment was Lola. "But what happens if the money isn't available?" Lola was requested by her. Lola thought of her famous mother, but the last time Lola saw her, the woman pretended not to know her. She was left alone.

"Then I'll just have to continue," she said resolutely. "I'll keep doing it till I clear whatever my father owes."

Reluctantly, because Camila could not make 3.5 million materialize in front of them, she consented as that was the only option. "Okay, we can schedule you to go last because there are only a few people up for auction tonight."

"How do you think this will go?" Lola enquired. Though she was aware that she would lose her virginity, but it was preferable compared to losing her only brother. The only family she had left.

"Many of those foolish billionaires will place higher bids if you are the last person up for auction since there won't be any more for them to pick from. We have to get that money quickly and we can't get it in one night," Camila said sadly.

"Nice," Lola concurred. Camila was right when she said that the billionaires wouldn't want to spend all of their money on just one if there were options. They would weigh their options and become very picky. The worst thing was that she wasn't even sure about tonight because they detested virgins in general. Due to their inexperience, the majority of virgins were only sold for at least a hundred thousand dollars or a little more at auctions.

She had a strategy in mind, even if it would take a miracle for her to obtain 3.5 million tonight. She would be relieved if she made it through tonight and returned to be put up for bid. She would be able to make at least 3.5 million dollars by doing it like that. If Marcello was given an explanation, he ought to comprehend.

"You realize it will hurt, don't you?" Reminding her that this would be her first time, Camila inquired. Lola loved her virginity and planned to give it to her boyfriend after getting married, but he broke up with her when he learned about her father's gambling addiction, thinking that Lola would turn into her personal ATM machine.

"Is there anything more hurtful than what he did to my father?"

"You are right." With a strained smile, Camila spoke. She could easily see that the agony of losing her father would be worse than the pain of losing her virginity.

She was forced to drop out of college and take jobs in the club to take care of her brother and pay some basic bills since her father was a jerk who gambled his entire life away.

She did, however, still love him.

Lola and Camila showed up at the club a couple of hours later. While heading into the changing area, a man's voice inquired from behind them.

"How come you ladies are in this place? Is today not your day off?" As Finn, the girl's supervisor, moved his glance between them, concern clouding his expression. "Lola, is everything alright with you?"

"I decided to be auctioned tonight." Lola uttered those words with resolve. Finn's eyes went horrifying. Lola exuded strength and pride. How could she want to be up for bid when she could fight against anybody and everyone? She was a waiter and bartender. She would break if she was put up for auction like the prostitutes.

"What the fuck am I hearing? Why would you want to do that?"

"Finn, she needs the money," Camila stated.

Finn didn't believe it was the best method for her to generate income. Lola was different among the girls who participated in the auction; most of them required drugs of some kind to get through it.

"Hear me out, even seasoned sex workers have difficulty with bidding at auction. A few spend weeks in the hospital, and a few even pass away. These billionaires include some sex addicts." He turned to walk away, warning, "Please don't do this to yourself," but Lola caught him by the shoulder.

"I need to do this, Finn" she said.

He could no longer find the words to discourage her since she was so driven. He had done his best. "Fine, do what you want, but don't come back asking for help because I'm going to tell you, I told you so." He rounded the corner, called the lady in charge and told her, "She wants to be auctioned, prepare her."

"She would like to be the last to be auctioned." Seeing the girl's eagerness to get Lola ready for tonight, Camila broke off.

"She is the only one up for auction tonight. So you do not need to worry about that," With sadness, Finn said.

Anxiety simmered in Lola's gut as the girl led her to the changing area. She was transformed into a whore—something she never imagined she would be—by the skimpy, sparkly outfit and thick makeup they applied.

She didn't look like herself after they were through. She trembled as they brought her to the cage, the iron so cold her half-naked body gave out shivers.

The cage's closing sound, which was accompanied by a heavy silver chain pulling it down and dazzling lights hanging from the ceiling like a chandelier, sealed her doom. Beneath her, she could see and hear cheers that made her pulse race and made her feel ashamed. To avoid them, she closed her eyes. It's going to end tonight.

She curled into a ball as the chilly breeze made her tremble. The lights went down and she could hear the clamor of stupid billionaires, setting her thoughts on fire. The host took the mic when the music was lowered.

A call came over his Bluetooth to the man holding the chain. He received a lethal threat from the caller. "Make sure that she falls from the cage and dies regardless of who bids and the amount."

"Don Marcello?" Perplexed, the man questioned. Marcello was a brutal mafia don from Italy. Your family would pay up for any misbehavior. Because of his resentment at Lola's father, he wasn't just after the money in Lola's case; he also had bad motives.

"Sure. I have credited your account with two million already." Coldly, Marcello said.

Before the call terminated, the man added, "Alright." The only sounds coming from the dimmed lights were the murmurs of the men, the host's voice and low background music.

"We changed our minds about the auction tonight after initially saying there wouldn't be one. Tonight, we only have one item on display." He gave a sly smile.

The host's remarks caused Lola to cry. In her life, she never imagined being addressed in that manner. With roars of laughter, the stupid billionaires started to bargain for her.

***

Hello everyone, welcome to another exciting journey.... hope you enjoy this book...

Maschera Del re means the masked man or man behind the mask.

The majority of people were aware of maschera del re; they merely saw images of him in the newspapers. Nobody had actually laid eyes on him. There were rumors that he had no heart and he was always blood thirsty. There would be mayhem if he was present. While some were already sneaking out of the club, others were curious as to what would happen or why he was paying so much for a virgin. Perhaps he was crazy.

The sound of the voice caused Lola to open her eyes. She believed that the five hundred thousand would seal her fate and that she would have to go up for auction once more. She didn't expect this prompt interference, but her hope was restored.

The thought that she wouldn't have to work in the club or be put up for auction again was enough comfort, even if the man turned out to be a sex addict.

Excitedly, the host said, "OMG, Seven million." It was a nice catch because the bidder would have to pay the club management twenty percent of the sum bid, and twenty percent would also be subtracted from the victim's wages. The best virgin they've ever had up for auction was this one.

"You all just heard that, seven million people." The host hurriedly responded, "Do I hear 7.5 million? Anyone? Anyone? Going once, twice, Sold to the man with the mask. You just won a virgin, sir." He wanted to hurry things along and go away since he was terrified of the man.

The man behind the mask said, "Set her free," waiting for the cage to be lowered. He detested seeing women handled inhumanely. Though he didn't particularly like them, he couldn't stand to watch them suffer. His weakest points were women and kids.

The host gave the man with the chain a signal to lower the cage, but nobody anticipated that it would open while it was still suspended in midair. Everything happened quickly, but maschera moved more quickly when he heard a shrill voice. He sprinted to the bottom of the cage and just in time to use his body as a shield for the person who fell.

Lola collapsed against something hard, his arms encircling her waist as she shook in fear and gasped. She was only astonished, but not injured in any way. Fearful of what had transpired, the man with the chain turned to run while the man behind the mask yelled, "Do not let him get away!"

Maschera assisted Lola in getting up from the floor, and security personnel swiftly arrested the man. It wasn't until Camila threw a warm towel around her that she stopped shivering and realized what had happened. Maschera approached the man who was begging the security guards. After his communication device was tapped, Marcello stated via his Bluetooth, "You know very well what I am capable of doing to you if you simply mention my name."

As he was flung forcibly to the ground in front of Maschera, the man realized that his time to die had arrived. Bending over, he said, "I didn't mean to do this, I swear, it wasn't intentional, I'm sorry."

Maschera said, "Oh really, Then you'll have to accept my apology too." The man on the ground was perplexed, but when Maschera gave the order, "Place him inside the cage."

Horrified, the man persisted in his plea, believing he would soon be put up for auction, until Maschera gave them another order, "Raise it up and make sure it's as high in the air as possible."

When the last command was given, "Now, let him go," the cage was raised with chains to the ceiling.

The man flew down as soon as the cage opened, but he hit the hard tile floor with his head smashing into the earth because no one was present to shield his fall. Everyone looked scared as blood spurted out like water. Yes, that was accurate. Everywhere the heartless man went, blood would definitely flow.

Before being questioned, one of the security personnel stated, "He's gone."

"Tidy up the mess and forbid auctions in this club. I'll speak with the manager tomorrow," Maschera replied in his monotonous voice. The man's true voice was concealed by the vocal filter used to create the mask he was putting on.

Although the majority of billionaires were unhappy that the auction was being prohibited, they were afraid to express their discontent. Maschera's heartlessness was well-known, as almost everyone had heard. Everywhere he went, damnation followed him. Since no one knew who he really was, he was difficult to target.

People could breathe again as the atmosphere began to lighten and they could no longer see his back. He had finally left the place.

When Lola was ready to be delivered to the man who had bought her, she gradually came back to herself. He not only paid an exorbitant sum for her, but he also spared her life.

With way over 3.5 million now in her possession, she could launch a business or make investments once Marcello and the club had paid her her portion of her earnings. Before the auction, she signed for everything she earned to be transferred to Marcello, not knowing what Marcello's true goals were and never imagining that something like this would occur.

"Is it possible for you to set up a transfer of the remaining cash to my bank account?" As Camila was drying her hair after getting out of the shower, she inquired. She needed a hot shower immediately because the makeup from earlier was just too much and she was feeling really cold.

"You do not have to worry about that bestie, I will handle everything. Are you prepared?" As Camila picked out a sexy lingerie for her, she inquired.

"I believe so." As she covered herself with a robe, Lola spoke.

"I'll be right here if you need anything. I hope things turn out well." After saying so, Camila walked away, leaving Lola to be led by the other girl to the man's room who had just bought and saved her.

Lola was going to lose her virginity, so the spacious presidential suite sounded intimidating. In a similar vein, if this man hadn't shown up here, she would not be here right now. She owed him everything and would willingly put up with whatever he did to her, even though he might be harmful. She slept on the couch slowly, not sure how long she had waited. She was terrified of getting on the bed. She was clueless as to what to do.

She was startled out of sleep before the light turned on by the familiar tapping sound of old-fashioned leather shoes. Just as Maschera was ready to remove his mask, he sensed an unusual presence. He turned and saw an unfamiliar face. Lola maintained her signature proud look while looking pure without the excessive makeup. The man with the mask was taken aback to find a lady in his room as he had never made arrangements for one.

"Why are you in this room?" With his artificial voice, he inquired.

Despite her confusion, Lola clarified, "Well, You--- bought me for seven million."

It dawned on Maschera that he had forgotten the regulations of the auction. It could have been that he detested these kinds of occasions. His original purpose for coming there was altered when he witnessed the cage being raised into the air, and he became determined to help her. "Oh, I said to set you free in there, so you're free. Go and lead a life of your own choice."

Lola was still more perplexed. "What do you mean?" She was standing beside the sofa, and he was at the door. She longed to see the face concealed by the mask.

"What I mean is that I'm not going to touch you. You are simply lucky that I was there today, so go ahead and live you life to the fullest." Once more, she was dismissed by the unpleasantly synthetic voice.

Despite how pleasing it appeared, Lola was uneasy and unhappy. She believed that she owed him too much and that she was unable to go away from him without returning the favor.

"I wish to give you something in return. I'm yours because you bought me.” She took off the large robe to reveal her clear underwear. With his back to her, Maschera bellowed, "Get away from here, woman. Don't make me repeat myself."

Her face reddened and she felt ashamed at his harsh tone. "You are even worse than what people talk about," she said to him, her voice tearful and her eyes watery. "This is even more degrading than if you treated me like a whore. It would have been better."

The man with the mask pivoted, approached her, took up her robe, and concealed her figure. "Was it wrong of me to give you your freedom?" He enquired. Lola continued to cry as she gazed longingly at the dark blue mask, which did a fantastic job of concealing the man's features.

"No it's not. But I would always have the thought that I am indebted you," she remarked arrogantly. Despite his confusion, the man felt glad he had saved her.

"Not at all. I don't want you to ever feel that way about me. It's nothing" After saying, "You might never even see me again," he ushered her through the door. Lola's hand pushed against his, which was wearing a black glove, on the door handle before he opened it.

"I have a request," she said quickly.

Maschera sighed and replied, "What is it this time?"

"Can I take off your mask? I want to see your face."