Shades of Grey

I sat alone on the delicate chair, twiddling a grass blade in boredom.
The man was late and I was annoyed.
Again and again I’ve been booked by this so called Frederick and he has never made it to a single one of our ‘dates’. I am to wait until the end of booking time for him to appear; otherwise I get punished by Will.
He can be merciless when it came to screaming divas and I knew better than to cause trouble.
I touched the stitches by my hairline and sighed. This was such a waste of my time!
A room with a small coffee table, two chairs and two walls with Plexiglas for a moderator to make sure of our safety tapped her clipboard with equal boredom. The room was false, like a cushioned prison cell and the frock made no semblance ordinary wear.
In any case, after Frederick’s booking I meet with Gustaf. He always arrives on time, with a creepy smile and a wooden flower.
My collection is significantly large, but I seriously disliked Gustaf, he was thin like paper, towering high even when sitting and gave a disgusting smirk whenever there was silence between us. He eyes me like meat and the mere thought of him makes me shudder in the seat.
I look at the clock above, 10 minutes left. I glance at the moderator who stares back. I point at the clock and she shrugs.
This is the problem with the stupid system; I can never refute a booking. Whoever wants to book me can just like every other girl I bunk with.
Two minutes to the end of the booking, Will appears behind the plexiglas and says something to the moderator angrily, she gaps at me and chases after him as he leaves.
He reappears in the room I’m in by opening the secret panel along the wall simulating a renaissance carpet.
“Change of plans, Gustaf was moved to tomorrow and Frederick rebooked Gustaf’s position for today. This shit’s not usually done, but the meeting will be held elsewhere.”
I blink in confusion. “Okay, where?”
He shook his head. “Made us close down the Library and is waiting for you. I don’t know why he even bothers!” and with that, he strode away again. The Moderator….Sally? Waited for me with a frightened face.
“Well, lets go.” I said with more confidence than I had and she ushered me out of the room, her face still twitching with worry.
I wanted to tell her it was alright, nothing was going to happen, but in the past 4 months I’ve lived here and the 15 men who have booked me since, I’d never had a situation like it.
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Twin left with the third man to book her. He convinced her he could love her like no other man could and so could his money. So she said yes, packed her bags and left the next day. A new girl was given her bed and I was alone for sure. I hid in the Library when I wasn’t in a booking, sleeping, eating, or checking my booking list.
David, pronounced Daviiiiiiiid, was a pompous man hoping his beauty would blind me with love. Nothing between the ears.
Alexandre had insecurities of who he was and was hoping that I, one of the four girls he booked would fix it for him.
Allen, James, Sain-Felix were all sweet, treating me with upmost respect and like the typical empty headed woman men sought. No matter how many times I dished out clever sarcasm, they ignored it and continued on with their honey dripping ways.
Sebastian and Lawrence were military men, Sebastian had lost his leg and has a complex against me in general which confuses me as he continues to book me. And Lawrence had to get plastic surgery on his arm from having it torn up in the navy. He liked talking….a lot.
Mostly of his accomplishments.
When I ask him of his travels, he vaguely mentions a country and moves on to battle.
Scott is interesting, a misunderstood son who hates the system but lives off it and tries not to be hypocritical even if it kills him.
Edmund, Raphael, Gordon, Ronald, and Emile are men who need a wife merely to pass on inheritance because they are that old. All 5 gave up after the 2nd booking, either dying or finding another bunny who wanted the gold.
And of course last but not least are Frederick and Gustaf. Frederick, who I’ve had 12 bookings and have not met yet.
Until now.
Sam, I think, knocks on the door and another moderator opens the door, her face also scrounged it distress.
“I’m so glad you’re here, he’s been…” She glanced at me and continued moving her lips in silence.
I was so done with this. “Excuse me.” I hissed, pushing her to the side and the door opened. The Library was poorly lit, few windows had their drapes parted and made the dark corners of the room complete and total darkness.
I hesitated, what was I supposed to do?
“Ms. Johnson?” A voice echoed. It was manly, thick and slightly accented.
“Mr. Frederick, it is a pleasure to finally meet with you.”
I saw a dark shadow shift in by a window and walked to him.
“Please, stay there, take a seat.” His voice didn’t make it sound like an option so I sat in an available armchair.
“I am sorry I have not been able to meet you in all this time, but I have been….kept away.”
I rested my chin on my hand and rolled my eyes. “I hope your time was well spent.”
“That is arguable, but I regret wasting so much of yours.” He inhaled unsteadily and when smoky air left his mouth, I sniffed the air. Had he been smoking? “But I can finally make up some of it for you. I know of you, and I wish for you to know of me.”
“Can I ask you something, Mr. Frederick?”
“Frederick, please.”
“What is it exactly you’re looking for? A bed partner, a money spender or a best friend?”
He chuckled darkly. “You are the only woman I have booked. I feel that perhaps whatever you can give me is want I want.”
“Something in me tells me not to believe that.”
“Well,” the puff emitted from his lips again and bloomed on the window. “I would understand that due to my consistency, you might be, uh, put off? But I need not rush things. I cannot expect your compliance in return for nothing.”
“My compliance?”
“Like I said, I know of you, but you have yet to know me. If enough time and patience is given I hope you can accept me.”
“Then why do you hide in the dark?”
“I….hope you come to me for my heart.”
“Ah….how very romantic.” My sarcasm was slipping with my patience.
“Am I wrong to think you could love me?” His voice had lowered a decibel and I paced my answer.
“Because of where I am now, I don’t think I honestly can without using you as an escape. You are not overbearing or a slime ball and appreciate the change but I can do little else but hope to leave. Love unfortunately at this point is irrelevant.”
I felt alone then, a cloud had blocked the sun and the room grew darker.
But his voice was closer. “Why then, have you not accepted one of the 14 other men?”
I blinked in the darkness.
“For the next meeting, I would like for you to make a list of questions you would like to ask me and at the end, I will give a surprise. A small token of my appreciation for who you are.”
“Ok.” I whispered, his breathe in my ear and a rushing smell of mint overwhelmed me.
A door opened and closed, the lights flickered on and Sam rushed inside.
“Rating?”
“Um, an 8.” I stared at the rug beneath me blankly.
Holy crap, this man… Love? Was he kidding me? A gift? Did I look like a freaking kid?
I stood up briskly and swiftly moved out of the Library.
Bloody hell, Dinner was being served and my stomach was in no mood for it, I ran to my booking checklist and found 4 of my usual bookers replaced Frederick.
What?
This…this man could change that? He could decide who books me?
Oh…..
He could pay them to drop me.
He could pay everyone to drop me so that I’d have only him.
He’d be my door out?
No…he wouldn’t…he….I don’t even know him…he could have, he might.
Fuck.