Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 62056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
I take a peek at the time on my phone, and I nearly fall out of my seat when I realize I have less than a minute left before classes end.
Stop moving so fast, Mr. Time!
But since I'm no Dr. Strange, the school bell eventually rings, and I can feel myself growing numb as I vaguely hear our professor dismiss us.
The other students are out in a flash while I find myself dragging my feet.
Am I really going to do this?
A fidgety-looking Madeleine is already waiting in the hallway when I step out of the room, and I feel my mouth turning dry as she hurries towards me.
"Do you want the good news or bad news first?"
"Bad," I answer without hesitation.
My friend makes a face. "Why am I not surprised you'd choose to hear the bad news first?"
I make a face back at her. "Just tell me what it is, Maddie."
"Long story short, I told Andie Rashad seems interested in investing in SFI, and that got her talking about the business side of things."
"Then she doesn't know I want to back out?" I ask in relief.
"Not a clue," Madeleine confirms. "However...what I did learn is that any trial candidates backing out has the potential to lower investor confidence—-"
I'm already shaking my head. "I don't want that to happen."
"I had a feeling you'd say that," Madeleine says with a wince. "Does this mean you're going to push through with the whole fantasy thing?"
"What's the good news?" I ask jerkily instead of answering her.
"I can't tell you how or why, but I can give you my word that the other party isn't an asshole."
My eyes widen. "But—-"
"That's all I can say," Madeleine stresses. "But it's still better than nothing, right?"
THE PARKING LOT AT the back of the school chapel is one of the few places that can assure me of complete privacy, and my fingers shake as I click on SFI's app.
Look at the bright side, Leah.
You asked God for a distraction, and He delivered.
Ergo: God is real!
I know my sense of humor isn't for everyone, but it works for me, and I can already feel the tension easing gradually from my body as I click on Start Encounter.
"Thank you for calling."
It's a relief to hear an automated voice answer my call. It make things more bearable if you will, since I don't have to worry about some CS agent judging me on top of everything else.
"Please enter your account number so we may verify your identity."
I type 5324, and I hear a beep after a moment.
"Thank you for calling, Temptation."
Cringe.
I must've been really drunk last night, to choose that as my secret handle.
"We will now forward your call to Doctor Somebody."
It's my first time to hear what the other party's secret handle is, and his choice makes me feel just a tad better about the whole thing. I was afraid he'd choose something terribly clichéd like 'Dr. Charming' or go for something outright vulgar like 'Dr. Big Cock'. Something like the last would've been a complete deal breaker for me, and I'd have rather sold my kidney than push through with the rest of this.
But Dr. Somebody?
It feels 'safe' for some reason, but since Madeleine did say this guy was no asshole, maybe I'm just stressing myself out pointlessly again, and—-
CLICK.
Was that a click I just heard?
Does this mean we're on?
Is it time to start playing?
Oh shit, why am I acting like I've just joined Squid Games?
Get an effing grip, Leah!
"Hello?"
The one who finally breaks the silence is the person from the other side.
I mean, end.
It's bad enough I got myself in this sex-fantasy-business, but saying the voice is coming from the other side would make things worse, since that means I've signed up to do kinky stuff with a ghost.
"It's Temptation, isn't it?"
The voice is deep but gentle, and there's a touch of some accent I can't quite put my finger on.
"This is Dr. Somebody."
His tone is calm but authoritative, and I find myself grudgingly acknowledging that the people behind SFI just might know what it's doing.
So far, so good, Andie's daddies.
Some girls might go for beta-type guys, and that's cool. I totally wish them all the best, but personally? Only an alpha-type dude can probably force me into being distracted, and I have a feeling Dr. Somebody here is as alpha as they come.
"I'm assuming this is your first time..."
Whoa.
Is he just going to straight up ask if I'm still a V?
"—-to consult a doctor by phone?"
Phew.
So that was what he was getting at.
One of SFI's rules is for involved parties to begin their "encounter" with a roleplaying phone call. Just to get the ball rolling, so to speak. I thought it was pure B.S. when I first read it in their contract, but I'm happy to say I was obviously wrong on that score.