The VIP lounge of Crimson Velvet was shrouded in a heavy silence. Dim lighting filtered through dark velvet drapes, casting a golden glow. This atmosphere, steeped in luxury and secrecy, reflected the world to which everyone who entered it belonged.
Ethan sat alone in a large, comfortable chair. A crystal whiskey glass rested on the table before him, the dark amber liquid rippling slightly. As he ran his fingers along the rim, his mind remained calm, but the weight of the upcoming meeting hung in the air.
This was Ethan's playground - a stage where power, desire, and shadowy deals intertwined. Tonight, another game was about to begin. He slowly opened the thick, leather-bound catalog on the table. His fingers traced the edges of the pages, his eyes scanning the photographs like a predator. Each page presented women not only for their physical beauty, but as images, as brands. Though it resembled a modeling agency, a far different truth lay beneath the surface.
As he flipped through the catalog, memories came flooding back. Most of these women had reached their current status under his guidance. They had been molded and made into "characters" in his world. He thought of Aurin - once among these pages, now a finished masterpiece, having found her place and become one of the most valuable pawns in Ethan's game.
As he turned another page, heavy footsteps echoed outside the door. Ethan continued to skim the pages, already knowing who had arrived. Then a deep, authoritative voice crossed the threshold. As the door opened, dim light flooded the corridor, and in walked a man who oozed power and wealth.
Old Barker.
One of the city's most established businessmen, Barker stood in the doorway with his thick, graying hair and a presence that defied time. Ethan studied him with an appraising gaze. At fifty-six, Barker still carried the authority and refinement that years had given him. His broad shoulders were accentuated by the dark, tailored suit he wore, and his sharp eyes gleamed like those of a predator who had just sighted his prey.
When Barker stepped inside, Ethan finally raised his head and met his gaze. Without a word, he acknowledged him and gestured to the bottle of whiskey on the table - an unspoken but clear invitation. Barker smiled slightly and took slow, deliberate steps forward before settling into the chair across from Ethan.
"Ethan," Barker said, his voice deep and steady. "As always, in your element and ready."
Ethan offered a faint smile, though unlike Barker's, it lacked warmth. "Being prepared always guarantees victory," he replied, lifting the whiskey bottle and pouring the dark liquid into his glass. He repeated the motion for Barker before setting the glasses down.
Barker picked up his glass, feeling the cold surface against his fingers, and shot a quick glance at Ethan. "We have business tonight," he said, staring at the amber liquid. "But first, let's celebrate. After all, agreements made among friends have a different taste."
Ethan raised his glass. "Then let's toast," he said, tapping his glass against Barker's. The soft clink of the crystal broke the silence.
Barker took a deep sip, never breaking eye contact with Ethan. The younger man drank more deliberately, savoring the warmth of the whiskey. Their conversation had just begun, but the course of the night was already clear to both men.
Barker took a sip, then turned his eyes to the catalog. Leaning forward, he ran his fingertips over the leather-bound cover before slowly opening it. As his eyes scanned the pages, a smile of amusement played on his lips. He studied each model carefully - each one carefully chosen, refined, and almost perfect.
"Ethan, I've always admired you," he said, nodding slightly. "You create beauty like an art form. But what I'm really curious about is... how do you choose them?"
Ethan swirled the whiskey in his glass, watching the liquid ripple against the crystal. Barker's question may have sounded like a casual compliment, but Ethan understood its deeper meaning. Barker knew that these women were not just beautiful; they were the result of a carefully curated process.
"The selection process is based on many factors," Ethan replied calmly. "Beauty is just the first step. But for a model to be truly valuable, it is not enough to be beautiful. She has to be an icon. A brand. She has to be able to carry her own weight, have the right expression, know how to move in the right places."
Barker tilted his head slightly and smiled in agreement. "So you don't just see her as a commodity. You actually shape them."
Ethan smiled faintly. "Exactly. If you don't train them, they're just passing faces. But if you teach them how to become symbols, that's when they find their true value."
Barker nodded, his eyes still on the catalog. As he flipped through the pages, he lingered on a few models, scanning them with the keen eyes of a predator analyzing its prey.
"That girl... What's her name?" he asked, pointing to a particular spot in the catalog. "There's something about her pose. Innocent, yet fierce. She has a dangerous allure."
Ethan put down his glass and studied the model Barker had chosen. He nodded slightly before answering. "Her name is Lysandra. She's very new, but she shows promise. She has a natural charm, though she still needs to be molded. The potential is there."
Barker studied the photo more closely. "You say she's untrained... But with the right guidance, she could play a big game."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Barker, for men like you, I only offer finished pieces. But for some... special arrangements can be made. For the right price, of course."
Barker chuckled softly and raised his glass for another drink. "You always get right to the point. And I like that. Wasting time in business is the greatest luxury of all."
Ethan smiled subtly. This was the kind of conversation he was used to. Men like Barker only dealt with those who could articulate exactly what they wanted. And Ethan knew exactly how to deliver.
"And what about Aurin?" Barker asked, finally looking up from the catalog. "Is it her time now?"
Ethan locked eyes with Barker, his expression unreadable. He slowly set his glass down on the table and leaned back in his chair.
"The payment has been made, Barker. Aurin is yours now."
Barker nodded slowly, his eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of a hunter who has just claimed his prize. He tapped the table lightly before taking a deep breath and leaning back.
"Then let's see it."
The heavy silence in the Crimson Velvet VIP room was broken by the slow creak of the door opening. As Aurin stepped inside, the dim glow of the lights highlighted her elegance and flawless silhouette. Ethan, sipping his whiskey, turned his gaze to her, while Barker acknowledged her arrival with a slight nod of approval.
Aurin knew why she was here. Every move she made was controlled, deliberate, and seductive. Her long, cream-colored dress hugged her figure perfectly, the fabric rippling slightly with each step, complementing her delicate yet commanding presence. Her cascading red hair shimmered in the light with a coppery sheen. She was a masterpiece - one that Ethan had molded to perfection over the years. And now she was ready for Barker.
Barker leaned forward slightly in his seat, his eyes scanning the woman before him with meticulous intent-like a collector admiring a work of art, patient but filled with the insatiable hunger of possession. He watched Aurin in silence, noting the way she stood, the way the dress clung to her body, the slight curve of her lips and the effortless confidence in her poised shoulders.
Aurin did not meet Barker's gaze directly. Instead, she tilted her head slightly and gave Ethan a quick glance. Without breaking eye contact, Ethan gave her the most subtle nod of approval. That was the moment Aurin fully accepted the role she was meant to play.
She moved forward, her stride as confident as a model's on a runway - but this was no performance. This was submission. When she reached Barker, she placed her purse on the table in front of Ethan with a graceful motion. The soft click of the metal clasp echoed through the room, adding to the silence. Then, without hesitation, she sat down on Barker's lap.
This was more than physical contact. It was a symbol of devotion. A confirmation that Aurin belonged to Barker now. As she settled against him, she finally lifted her gaze to meet his for the first time. Her deep, knowing stare held an undeniable intensity, and slowly she parted her lips in a seductive, practiced smile.
Barker's lips curled into a satisfied grin. He placed a hand on Aurin's waist, his thumb pressing lightly against the fabric as he traced its texture. "Ethan," he murmured, his voice deep and pleased. "I have always admired your choices. But Aurin... she is a masterpiece."
Ethan listened to Barker's words, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Art, if not properly refined, is easily lost, Barker," he said, his voice calm yet persuasive. "My work is to shape the finest and give it value."
Barker nodded, his hand still on Aurin's waist. "And you have more than succeeded." He studied her again, the way a collector examines the perfection of a prized piece before claiming it fully.
Aurin was ready for these eyes. Now it was time for the last step. She lifted her head slightly, closing the small space between them. Her breath was warm against Barker's skin, a deliberate, tantalizing caress of air. Then, without hesitation, she pressed her lips to his.
Barker welcomed the kiss, savoring the moment. He felt Aurin's submission, experienced the carefully crafted perfection that Ethan had molded over time. This was the final seal. Aurin belonged to Barker now.
Barker pulled away slightly from the kiss, but his gaze never left Aurin's face. As his hand traced her waist, his eyes darkened with a deeper sense of possession. This was not just physical contact - it was a moment of ownership. He wanted to feel that she was his, to study her like a collector admiring a prized acquisition, to absorb every detail of what he had received.
Aurin remained motionless, just as she had been trained. Her breathing was steady, her face betraying no discomfort. She was made in Ethan's hands. Submission was not just an expectation - it had become her identity. There was no defiance, no hesitation in her. She knew that she belonged to Barker now, and she did not question it.
Barker continued to watch her, his fingers sliding from her shoulder down her arm before he let out a low chuckle. "Ethan," he said, still studying Aurin intently, "you always recognize true value. I may have paid you, but let's be honest - this isn't just a transaction. It's like buying a piece of art."
Ethan raised his glass and took a slow sip of his whiskey. Barker's words didn't surprise him. He had always seen his acquisitions as more than mere purchases - a conquest, a prize to be displayed and enjoyed. Aurin was no longer just a woman; she was an asset, a figure to be possessed.
"Art," Ethan said, putting his glass back on the table, "is not only defined by the viewer. It's about presentation. That's why Aurin is here. She's yours now, and how you choose to present her is up to you."
Barker nodded, pondering Ethan's words. He reached out and tilted Aurin's chin up, his thumb brushing her cheek. Aurin closed her eyes, accepting the touch. She had been taught not to resist, to accept the role, to surrender completely.
Barker exhaled in satisfaction. "It's time to take her," he said, turning back to Ethan. "I have no doubt we'll be doing more business together."
Ethan gave a small, knowing smile. "Barker, my doors are always open to the right offer."
Barker chuckled and shook his head slightly. "One thing I've learned - never underestimate a man like you." Then he turned back to Aurin. "Come now, my dear Aurin. You're with me now. Let's go."
Aurin gave Ethan a quick look - not a farewell, just an acknowledgment. She followed the rules of the game, moving from one stage to the next as she had been formed to do.
Barker's hand pressed firmly against her waist, guiding her forward. With effortless grace, Aurin rose to her feet, the fabric of her dress cascading down her legs, her delicate movements deepening Barker's fascination.
When the door opened, Barker and Aurin stepped out together.
Ethan watched them go and raised his glass once more. His face remained impassive, devoid of emotion. Another night. Another deal.
But this was just the beginning.
In Ethan's world, everything was calculated. This deal with Barker was just the first move in a much bigger game.
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