For some strange reason, my smile grows wider at the admission.
I checked with the school, and they said you’re still registered. Why don’t you come along tomorrow?
You’re in senior year, aren’t you?
The request is so odd, I’m taken aback, uncertain how to respond. The only reason I enrolled at school was so Ant would qualify for a larger benefit—something that no longer applies now my eighteenth birthday has been and gone.
You let men pay you to suck their cocks, but you’re drawing the line at school?
Except blow jobs are simple to understand. I don’t know what this request has in store for me. But I guess it won’t hurt to find out.
I’m enrolled but I haven’t signed up for any classes.
Then you can come along to mine.
My uniform doesn’t fit any longer.
Naked it is.
Another laugh bursts from me and I give a guilty start as Ant shifts in his seat, pulling the thin rug higher.
I should keep it foremost in my mind that Maddox wants something. Something that scares the hell out of me. A fact he obviously knows, hence the deluge of presents.
The expense won’t mean anything to him, but I appreciate the thought he put into the gifts he sent today. It’s not like he shoved a preloaded card in my hand and left me to it. He selected these items, knowing how much of a difference they’d make. The impact they’d have.
A warm feeling rises in my stomach and it’s nothing to do with the meal I just ate.
I’m probably being stupid. A rich, handsome boy isn’t hanging around with the likes of me because he fancies himself the prince to my Cinderella. He’s leveraging my need to pressure me to do what he wants.
But maybe I can get what I need from him in return. That’s what he’s offering, isn’t it?
I can probably pull together an outfit.
Fantastic. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning. Eight on the dot.
Okay. See you then.
I tug my knees even closer to my chest, staring at the screen for another few minutes in case he has anything more to add.
When nothing new appears, I uncurl myself and head for the pile of clothing boxes in the corner. It’s been a while since I last walked through the halls of Tiaki Academy, but I’m sure there’ll be something uniform adjacent I can wear.
CHAPTER SEVEN
MADDOX
The insideof the Cherry Red Gentlemen’s Club and Bar isn’t meant to be seen in the light of day. Dust motes twirl lazily through the air before coming to rest on the sticky carpet, adhering where they fall. An odour of sweat, beer, and seafood permeate the room, overpowering the fans going full tilt trying to blow it outside.
Wilder’s already waiting by the bar. “Remind me never to let you organise a party,” he scoffs, shaking his head at the sorry state of affairs. “This is not an acceptable meeting place.”
“Bet you wouldn’t say that if some sweet thing shook her titties on the stage.”
He gives me a lazy grin. “I mightn’t say it, but I’d still think it.” He rests his hands on the polished counter, then withdraws them, lip curling in disgust. “Why the hell is everything so sticky?”
“Please don’t answer that,” Zane says, emerging from the rest room and joining us at the bar. “I have enough trouble sleeping at night.”
“Fine. Pick someplace else. I just need a few minutes to talk to the manager.”
“You’re notbuyingthis place, are you?” Wilder says accusingly. “Because I gotta tell you, this is a business that sounds a lot more attractive than the reality.”
