“You know this school isn’t cheap,” I say, forcing the words past my lips. “What makes you think I have cash to spare?”
“Come on, CurvyGirl. Let’s not play games.” He flips the laptop around to reveal my Fangirl profile. “I’ve been following your channel for a while now. You’ve got quite the following.”
He’s been watching me online.
My skin crawls at the revelation.
I’ve got thousands of fans online, but they’re strangers, not people I know in real life. People I have to face every day in class. People who grade my freaking papers and have influence over my future.
Talk aboutick.
I’ve never felt uncomfortable camming, until now. In one fell swoop, he’s stripped my control. I’m not sure I’ll ever look at Fangirl the same way again.
“Why are you doing this?”
He shrugs, like he’s not trying to fucking blackmail me right now. “Higher education is expensive.”
No shit.
“Do you have any idea how many student loans I have?” Irritation creeps into his voice. “I’ll never pay them off working in education, but as they say, every little bit helps.”
That he’d rather blackmail another student than find a productive—and legal—way to pay his debts is nauseating.
You’re not the only one out here disappointing Dr. Barnes tonight.
“How. Much?” I ask through clenched teeth. I don’t bother trying to feign cheerfulness. He’ll know it’s a farce and frankly, he’s not worth the effort.
“Five grand.”
“Five thousand dollars?” I shout, voice reaching a pitch only dogs can hear. “You’re unhinged.”
It would take me at least a month to raise that kind of cash.
He narrows his eyes and leans forward, resting his forearms on the table. “You have three days.”
Three days? He can’t be serious.
“That isn’t nearly enough time. I don’t have that kind of money lying around.”
“Then I suppose you’ll have to find it,” he says, picking a piece of lint off his button down. “Because if you don’t, I’ll expose you, and I really don’t think Dr. Barnes will react well to learning one of her students is a sex worker.”
I’m going to have to tap into my savings. There’s no other choice.
I can’t afford to call his bluff, and I can’t go to Barnes.
Not if I want to finish my degree and get my teaching certificate.
My chest tightens and I rub it absently, trying to figure out how things have gotten so screwed up in such a short amount of time.
“Here.” Mike slides a business card across the desk. His Venmo handle is scrawled on the back. “If the money isn’t in my account in three days, Dr. Barnes will receive an email with a link to your Fangirl account.”
25
BRADY
It’s now or never.
I draw a steadying breath and knock. I have no idea if Piper’s home, and I probably should have called first, but I was afraid she might blow me off and what I have to say needs to be said in person.
