Scott swallowed. “It wasn’t a stranger. It was my teacher.”
Thomas recoiled, and stared unblinking at Scott.
“Look, he knew my family were struggling financially, and he offered to help us out –”
“He wasn’t helping you out. The sick bastard was helping himself.”
Scott closed his eyes. “Either way, it doesn’t matter now. He’s dead, and I sleep with men as my profession. Although I’ve taken a slight detour…”
Thomas hummed. “I’ll spend tomorrow fixing that video up to post.”
“And what will I do?”
“I’ve got a job for you…”
“What kind of job?”
Thomas looked him up and down. “How good are your lungs?”
“What kind of question is that?
“I thought a simple one, but obviously I was wrong.”
Scott raised an eyebrow. “My lungs are fine, thanks; they’re working right now.”
“Well, you’ll need them tomorrow.”
“I need them every day, Thomas, if not, I’d be dead.”
Thomas turned to Lucy. “He’s a smart arse, isn’t he? Makes me want to spank him silly.”
“Thomas?” Scott sighed.
“It’s another request.” Thomas’s smirk could be seen in the reflection. “And it sounds like a fun one.”
Scott frowned. “If you think it’s fun, then that’s a worry.”
“Balloons,” Thomas said bluntly. “One of your subscribers will pay you £2000 if you burst a hundred balloons by sitting on them…”
“Wow.”
Thomas nodded. “You in?”
“I’m in.”
Chapter fourteen
Thenextmorning,Scottleft Thomas’s quarters to meet Janice outside.
She pointed at the vacuum cleaner first, and Scott obediently took it upstairs with a few stops en route to catch his breath.
Thomas had propped the front door open, and Scott struggled through with the vacuum cleaner in his arms before setting it down in the corridor.
He was already panting by the time he returned to Janice.
“That doesn’t bode well,” Janice muttered to herself before handing him a plastic bag of balloons.
Scott peeked inside. “Assorted colours?”
