Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“I’ll give you money,” she offered.
“No! Absolutely not! I will never take money from you. Thanks for the offer, but I will not go down that route,” I fired back.
She was the first real friend I had made in a long time and I wasn’t about to fuck it all up by taking her money.
“Okay, fine,” she relented but seemed a little miffed.
“Please, Elissa, don’t be mad at me,” I pleaded.
“I'm not mad, but damn girl, you do make your life harder than it has to be. I'm your friend for fuck’s sake. I want to help you,” she groaned.
“I know and I love that you do, but I can’t, Elissa. I just can’t.”
She walked me out of the bathroom. We said our good-byes in the hallway and I headed for the locker room. I began to get undressed when I felt a presence in the room.
“When did you get that scar?” Daimon breathed.
I froze and covered myself up quickly, hiding the scar that ran down my back. I had promised myself I wouldn’t ever think about it again. That part of my life was over and I was stupid enough to let it happen.
“You might own the time we decided on, but you don’t own me. Now get out, I need to get dressed,” I seethed. It wasn’t exactly Daimon’s fault, but the anger I had about that night was still inside me. I really needed to stop bottling things up.
Daimon watched me, his eyes narrowing. “Fine,” he spat out.
I dressed and hurried out only to be stopped by the great wall of Daimon. I knew I should have gone out the other way. He took me by the wrist and began walking me to the front of the bar. I tried pulling away, but Daimon turned and cornered me, his face inches from mine.
“Just try it, Addie. Just keep testing me and see how far I’ll go. Now act like you love the attention I am showering over you and be a fucking good girl and follow me out,” he snarled.
My body was at attention as he leaned in. I could feel his hard chest pressing onto me, pushing me into the wall behind me. He dared me to look away, but I didn’t. I stared at him defiantly. He pushed himself off me and started off again. We walked by Clara’s table. I heard the sneers and jeers, which were directed toward me. I tried as I much as I could to not hear them, but words such as gold digger, poor and destitute, were said loudly enough for my benefit.
Daimon turned around and looked at me; he sighed and pulled me close so I could stand next to him. “You are my equal, don’t stand behind me,” he said proudly. He looked down at me and half-grinned. I looked away, I had to. This stupid deal I had made with him was affecting me. I had to keep reminding myself he was playing a part and I was the toy he bought to play with.
***
Daimon drove me home in relative silence. He sat in the driver seat brooding for a reason I didn’t know. Maybe I didn’t play my part right, but he always pushed my buttons the wrong way. It was hard not to want to push back.
“That scar…” he started.
“It’s none of your business,” I said curtly.
“I'm making it my business,” he said fiercely.
“I seem to recall in our contract there is something about not asking personal questions. The deal was I play a role and you pay for Sofia’s first semester,” I bit out.
He growled low into his chest as he stopped the car in front of my house. “Do you carry that stupid contract around with you? I hardly remember anything about that fucking contract. All I wanted...” he stopped.
I didn’t bother waiting for him to say anything else. I jumped out of the car and ran inside. I leaned against the front door, holding onto the doorknob. My home was silent; everyone was asleep upstairs. I let out a sigh when I heard his tires screech as he left.
CONTROL
“Yes, I know,” I said to the bank manager. “I’ll try to get you the money soon.” I hung up.
My body literally ached I was so tired. How the hell was I going to come up with the cash I needed? I picked up my phone and called Darren. I asked for more shifts, which he was glad to give me. I was going to work two more shifts this week, they should help me cover some of the rent.
“So, anything new with Mr. All Blue Eyes?” asked Silvia.
“No,” I spat out.
“You better get going with your man or else I'll take him,” Silvia said to me with a sinister little grin.
“Silvia, if you want him then you can take him.” I waved my hand at her, lost in my thoughts of how I was going to make rent.