Chapter 3: For Sale

            The men were run through a tough one month retraining regimen, which was longer if you fought them.  They were taught that there were now just property and to do as their master told them.

JC rested his head against the bars, shielding his eyes from the flashing cameras. He didn’t like the thought of his fate being in the hands of someone else but he was somewhat lucky; He now had value do to his fame as a solo artist and as a member of ‘N Sync.  It wasn’t that they treated him better but they didn’t do anything to injure him psychically.  They wanted him to look prefect for the fans. 

The sale was long overdue, since JC had tried to hold out.  He wasn’t about to let them take his freedom and he was known to be stubborn like that.  Now he was on display in a show room for potential buyers to get a better look at.  He didn’t smile for them or try to put on a show; he wanted them to know that they were buying a very unhappy man. A lot of people showed up mostly just young fans trying to get a glimpse of their favorite singer.  From time to time they would be plucked him from the safety of his cage and make him perform for the crowd, anything to show that he was a good purchase.  JC had some fight in him, he wasn’t going to make it easy for them to sell him off, it wasn’t until he was in pain and broken that he did as he was told.

He was sure there was a better way to survive in this new world but he didn’t care.  He had never felt so low in his life.  This place made him feel like a piece of meat, he couldn’t see how it could get any worse.

When the showing was over they sealed the place up tight and gave the guys that had been on display some bread and soup to tide them over for the night.  This being the only thing that they had to eat all day, they all happily ate it even though it was nearly flavorless.  Once everyone was gone and dinner was over with JC threw head against the bars.  He shook them feverishly and cursed at the top of his lungs, which was something he had wanted to do all day.  The others just looked around to see if anyone was coming to discipline JC for the noise.  Some time passed and no one came, so they felt safe to talk. 

“You are so screwed.” Some guy finally said. 

“I am beyond screwed.” JC replied not looking at him, his eyes were fixed on the ground.  He couldn’t care to face the stronger; it wasn’t like he would ever see him again.  All of JC’s fame was about to bite him in the ass.  A lot of people would want him, for a lot of different reasons, none of which JC cared about any more.  He didn’t feel like singing if someone else was reaping all the benefits and it wasn’t love if someone forces you into it.

“I want to go home.  I want to sleep in my bed.  I want to do whatever the fuck I want to do and when I want to do it.” JC yelled, but he knew that those days were over, now everything he did would be because he was forced to.  All those years that he had put into his career, building it up, would now benefit someone else.

After a bad night’s sleep JC woke up to people setting the stage for the auction.  The guys were given a small snack to get them by as people started to file in for the auction, no fans this time only serious buyers.  JC waited quietly in his cage, trying not to make eye contact with anyone.  He wasn’t about to encourage them in any way.

The auctioneer came to the stage and read aloud some of his impressive accomplishments, then announced that they would begin shortly.  JC lower his head to pray and with a bang from the gavel the auction started.  Everything seemed to go so fast.  The bid was going up faster than the auctioneer could say it.  He never looked up to see who was biding.  JC saw no use in it; after all there was nothing he could do about it. So he kept his eyes shut and listened to the auctioneer rattle off the numbers.  The bidding took longer than even he thought it would.

The numbers slowed down and then stopped.  JC opened his eyes and looked at the auctioneer.  She thanked everyone for coming and called the winning bidder to the stage.  JC had no interest in who had won; he just wanted to get out of here, though he was sure that where ever he was going next probably wouldn’t be any better. 

It wasn’t long before a somewhat older woman approached the auctioneer.  She was dressed nice with her hair pulled back tightly, but she kind of scared JC.  She looked very professional which meant that this was a business transaction.  The officials took her money and then she turned to the JC.  She reached into the cage and grabbed JC’s chin and smiled for the first time. 

“You my friend are going to make me a lot of money, aren’t’ you?” She asked.  JC just glared back at her.  He wasn’t so sure that he wanted to work for her yet.  “I have heard all about you and your attitude mister.  But I think we are going to get along just fine, I can handle anything you can dish out my friend.” She said.  She ordered them to unlock the cage and had them bind JC tightly so they could take him out to the van that she had waiting.

JC was quickly loaded up and they started off for his new home.  He sat quietly in the back of the van, it wasn’t that he was afraid to talk; he just didn’t have anything to say at this point.  It wasn’t clear if this was going to be better or worse than the reform centers had been.  He mentally prepared for the worst but secretly hoped for the best.

            Once they arrived at their destination they took him in trough a back door where they were greeted by and rather somber looking young woman. 

“Alexandra, did you set everything up like I asked?” The woman asked the girl. 

“Yes, Miss Gaillard.  I set him up in Justin’s room and I got the music for his songs this morning.” Lexi answered.  JC perked up a little and the sound of that name, but could it be the same Justin that he had known?  If it was then this wasn’t going to be as easy.   It was one thing to be in pain yourself but it was harder to see your friends suffer.

“Great, now fetch the little heart throb and bring him to me.”  Miss Gaillard snapped.  The younger girl just nodded and then disappeared.  JC noticed that she had rolled her eyes at her boss’s snippy attitude.   Miss Gaillard turned to JC who was still trying to take it all in.  There was a very stern look on her face as she got close to him and wrapped her hand around his throat.  She squeezed just enough to cause him to struggle a little to breathe. 

“Listen up sugar.  You belong to me now and you will do as you are told or I will make your life a living hell.  I can hurt you in ways you can only imagine.” She explained carefully.  JC nodded in agreement to her, if nothing else just to get her off of him.  The woman untied JC; it wasn’t like there was any place for him to run now.

Lexi returned with a very cautious Justin Timberlake in tow.  He didn’t know why his master wanted to see him but it couldn’t be good, it never was.  She only called him when she wanted something or he was in trouble.  The look on Justin face when he saw JC said it all.  This wasn’t a place that JC wanted to be.  Justin heart sank when he realized his friend was there.  JC looked Justin over, he seemed a little leaner than JC remembered and he seemed to be very submissive.

“Justin, would you be a dear and show JC around?  Maybe help him get settled in?” Miss Gaillard asked, but Justin knew he didn’t have a choice.  “I need to talk to Alexandra for a minute.” She added.  Justin just nodded and waited for the two women to leave before taking JC by the arm.  He led him into what appeared to be a night club.

Jade Gaillard owned one of the largest Night clubs in L.A.  It was known for its entertainment and hospitality.  When everything changed Jade was right there changing with it.  She had a staff of attractive young men to work the floor and a few cocktail waitresses mixed in to help keep order.  All the women came here when they wanted to have a good time.

“So this is the stage, they will probably have you performing.” Justin said softly, looking at the stage and not JC.  It brought back memories of his own performances, he hadn’t been there too long, but long enough to know his place. 

“What happens if I don’t feel like performing?” JC asked.  There was no one else around them so he felt safe enough to ask his friend the tough questions.  He trusted Justin to tell him the truth.

“Trust me you want to perform.  On that stage you are safe, for the most part.  She won’t hurt you in front of the customers.  And if you aren’t performing then you have to be out here with the customers.  And they can get…a little rowdy.” Justin trained off as if the memory alone was too much for him; the touching, grabbing, and his inability to tell them no sent a shiver down his spine.  JC saw the expression on Justin’s face and it made his heart ache.

JC could still remember a time when Justin had just been a little kid trying to make a name for himself.  He was a born entertainer and had grown to be very successful.  But now he looked more like that scared little boy then that man he used to be.

“I think I get it.  So how long have you been here?” JC asked.  Justin thought for a minute the days and the weeks were starting to run together. 

“A month maybe.” Justin said making eye contact.  “I can show you where our beds are.” Justin offered.  JC just shook his head and grabbed Justin’s arm to stop him from running off.

“I don’t care about that stuff, I think I can figure all that out on my own.  Just tell the things that I really need to know.  The things that you wish someone had told you when you got here.” JC requested.  Justin took a deep breath before beginning.

“Lexi, the girl you met when you got here, she is your life line.  She’s the nicest one around here, if there is anything you need it’s best to just ask her.  Miss Gaillard won’t even consider your requests.  There’s a perimeter set around the building, if you try to escape it sets something off … and it hurts like hell.  You will probably be like me; we are performers, so we take the stage, several times a night. We also do parties and dates, which aren’t as much fun as they sound.  Those are brutal; let’s just say the girls like to get their money’s worth.  Anything goes accept sex of course.  Sex cost extra and as luck would have it for you and me, it’s pricey.  So it doesn’t come up often.  It hasn’t happened for me, yet.” Justin said, he had taken a seat on the stage and was looking at his feet the whole time he spoke.

“That sounds … great, so I really am screwed aren’t I?” JC asked.  He took a seat beside his friend.  Justin just shook his head, he wasn’t going to lie to JC, and this place wasn’t exactly what they were used to.

“Just do as you are told.  Life here sucks, but it’s even worse if you are on Jade’s bad side.  She really will make your life hell.” Justin explained, assuming that JC had gotten the same warning he had the day he arrived.  He could remember the first time he had told Jade Gaillard no.  She left him for 24 hours locked in a cell with no food or water.  He couldn’t see or hear.  It was so dark and cold; a shiver ran down his spine just at the thought of it.  He didn’t want to see that happen to JC.

They sat there is silence for awhile processing all the information they had just shared with each other.  They both looked up when they heard a woman clear her throat.  Lexi didn’t want to interrupt them, but her boss had sent her to check on the guys and make sure they weren’t getting into trouble.  She smiled sweetly and waved at JC.  After all she hadn’t really been introduced to him.

“JC, this is Lexi.” Justin offered, he gestured to her and returned her smile.  After all she was the only one that smiled at him anymore.  JC offered her his hand; he wasn’t sure what was appropriate in this kind of situation. 

“I hope Justin hasn’t been saying anything bad about me.” She joked.

“Only good things, I promise Miss.” JC said.  It sounded awkward rolling off his tongue but after what Justin had just told him he didn’t want to say the wrong thing.

“You can call me, Lexi.  There is no need to be so formal, I am not as important as it would seem.   It’s very nice to meet you.  I am sure Justin didn’t tell you but I used to be an ‘N Sync fan back in the day.  So Miss Gaillard wants me to spend a day or two with you to get you ready to perform.  Do you remember most of your songs?” Lexi asked, truth be told Jade treated just about everyone like dirt.  JC nodded; after all he should remember them.  He wrote most of them. 

Lexi showed JC to his new room, which he would share Justin.  It looked like what could have been a storage room once upon a time.  Inside there were two cots and a small bathroom.  JC looked around and was somewhat disappointed but didn’t let it show.  Lexi decided to leave the guys alone, she was sure they had some catching up to do and even though her boss wanted her to talk with JC right away about his upcoming performances, she thought she could put it off at least until tomorrow.  JC was in for a huge adjustment and she didn’t want to shove him into it too fast.

            JC watched the door close behind her as she left then fell onto one of the cots.  “This is just great.” He sighed.

            “Lexi did hang up some posters for us.” Justin commented.  JC looked over at the artwork on the walls, he appreciated the effort but it really didn’t make much of an improvement, if anything else it only made it look more pathetic.