“So you’ve decided to work it off?” he asked. He eyed me up in a way that no man of his age should look at a woman of mine and gestured obscenely at his crotch.
“No. I have the money.”
Randell frowned, puzzled, as if he hadn’t reckoned on me getting together so much money in such a short time. “You have it?”
“Yes. Five hundred pounds, like you said.” I let go of Henry’s business card and took out the first of two bundles from my bag. I knew better than to give Randell all of it in one go. He took the bundle I held out and stuffed it into his trouser pocket. Therewas a loud bang behind him, as if a gust of wind had slammed shut a door.
I cleared my throat. “How much do I still owe you?”
“Three thousand five hundred pounds.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. I needed to be certain before I put all my cards on the table. I didn’t want Randell to come for me later demanding more, claiming there was interest or inventing some other flimsy pretence.
He nodded, irritated. “Yes. And not a penny less.”
“If I give you the money, you’ll leave me alone?”
“Of course. Do you really think I enjoy chasing after a brat like you?”
“I’m glad to hear it.” After a final hesitation, I reached into my other jacket pocket and pulled out the rest of the money. Randell’s eyes widened when I held out the notes. “Three thousand five hundred pounds, and not a penny less. Like you said.”
He grabbed the money from me and counted it with his dirty fingers. Once. Twice. Three times. His self-satisfied grin grew wider each time. My heart bled as I watched. He didn’t deserve it. I could have rented myself a little room for the winter with the money, and then I wouldn’t have to be outside in the cold. But I knew Randell wouldn’t ever leave me alone unless I paid him, and it was worth it for that alone.
After he’d counted the notes a fourth time, he looked at me with a gratified glint in his eyes. “How did you get the money?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Does it matter?”
“It will if the police turn up here.”
“It’s legit.” As legit as it could be when blackmail was involved. But even if Henry decided to send the police after me, which I doubted, it would be pretty much impossible to trace the moneyback to Randell. Unless I ratted him out, which I wasn’t planning on doing. I was happy never to have to think his name again, let alone speak it.
“If you’re lying...”
“I don’t lie,” I interrupted. “It’s my money.”
He hesitated. “Did you spread your legs for it?”
I was about to deny it, but why should I? I didn’t care what a loser like Randell thought about me. If he wanted to believe I’d sold my body for the money, then so be it. I pressed my lips together and let my silence speak for me.
“I always knew you were a dirty whore,” he sneered, entertained. “I kept telling your mum too, but she didn’t want to hear it. She always thought you were such an innocent angel.”
My hands instinctively clenched into fists. I hated this guy, and I hated the idea of him trying to turn my mum against me. If he hadn’t thrown me out without warning after her death, I wouldn’t have had to do many of the things I’d done.
“So are we even now?” I asked.
I didn’t want to talk to Randell any longer.
I just wanted to leave.
He didn’t move or speak for a moment, and my heart stopped out of fear that he would find some ridiculous excuse to keep me in his debt. But then he nodded. “Yes. Now get lost.”
I couldn’t think of anything I wanted to do more.
10
Dream Couple Alert! Henry Darlington and Olivia Asterdam Spotted Kissing in Front of The Darlington After a Hot Night of Passion!
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