I look over at Annabelle, and she’s watching me with concern.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m good. I just have to make a call real quick.”
I head upstairs, closing my bedroom door behind me, and dial Sterling House. It’s after eight and I’m not sure if anyone will answer, but it connects quickly.
“Sterling House, how can I help you?”
“Hi, this is Amelia Brooks. I was wondering if I could leave a message for Pippa.”
“Oh, she’s still around. You want me to connect you?”
“Uh, thanks, yeah. That’d be great.”
There’s a click, and then Pippa answers. “Hey Amelia, how are you doing?”
“I’m good. I’m really sorry to bother you, but I think there’s been a mistake with my pay.”
“Oh no, really? Okay, well, let me check that for you. What seems to be the problem?”
She sounds worried, like she’s expecting me to be angry. “Uh… I have too much money in my account. Like a lot more than I expected, and I’m not supposed to be paid until Friday.”
“Oh, I see,” I can hear her mouse clicking through the phone. “No, the money we sent is correct. Mr. Crawford was very pleased with you today. He confirmed your hire, which is fantastic, and there’s a bonus for the additional services you provided.”
I stare ahead of me, barely breathing. “But that’s five thousand dollars.”
“Yes, three for the successful interview and two for the additional services. Mr. Crawford is one of our more generous clients, and that’ll be a standard bonus for any extras you provide for him.”
I sit down on the bed, calculations running through my mind too fast to process.
“Oh. Great. Well, thanks for checking on it.”
“No problem. Well done today. If you need anything else, you can call me.”
“Okay.”
I hang up and stare at the shiny four-digit number in my account. I’ll have to deduct taxes, but still, that figure is more than double what I was hoping for. Bethany hadn’t been specific in how much I’d be paid, but if I don’t screw it up, I could be earning enough to pay for Annabelle’s treatment in a matter of months.
Six months down the line, she could be starting it. A grin spreads over my face, and I’m so elated and excited I can barely contain myself. I stand up, then sit down again, staring at the screen disbelievingly. It’s more than I’ve earned in a month with three jobs, and this isday one.
I lie back on the bed, a twinge between my legs reminding me just what I am being paid for. But I don’t give a shit.
Sitting back up, I go to Annabelle’s room to retrieve my battered laptop and bring it into my bedroom. Shutting the door and listening to see if anyone is coming, I sit on my bed and open it to a private tab.
Navigating to the porn site I tried a few nights ago, I glance at the door again, nervous in case somehow my sister finds out what I’m doing. I’m gonna have to be careful if she uses my computer—I can’t have her know what I’m doing.
I’ve never been more determined to do a good job in my life, and I’m watching a woman on her knees blowing a guy with a huge cock when my phone screen lights up with a call from Hope.
“Hey,” I say, pausing the video, the woman’s mouth open wide around the thick dick pushing down her throat.
“Hey, yourself. I just wanted to call and find out how it went.”
I sigh, relieved that I don’t have to lie to her. “It was… interesting.”
“So, what was the interview like? Did he ask you for yourqualifications?” she asks, her voice teasing.
“Uh, not really. He just kind of… got down to business.”
There is a long, pregnant pause, and then Hope splutters in disbelief. “Did you have sexforthe interview?” she asks, sounding as astonished as I was.
