Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
I smiled. That might not be such a bad thing.
Crossing the last street, I stepped deftly away from the outreached arm of a junkie begging for money, and skipped up the stairs to Ralph’s apartment. Almost shyly, I knocked on his door and bit my lower lip.
I knew that he’d come through for me. I just knew it.
The door opened, and he had a huge grin on his face. “You got my message. Good. I’m glad to see you, baby.”
“Me too.” I leaned up on my tiptoes to give him a kiss, but he turned his head and walked away. A little bewildered, I followed after him. “Ralph, I know what you’re going to say, and but I think this can work. You have your reservations, but it’s going to be okay.”
Turning, he gave me a strange look. “You know?”
“I do.” Reaching out for him, I gently tucked my fingers in the opening of his shirt and drew him near me. “I know that you’re concerned about us and about finances, but I promise this work out so that we’re both happy. Very happy.”
Tilting my chin, I kissed him. As usual, I waited for that moment when I’d feel light-headed and tingly, but it never happened. Kissing Ralph just never got my blood pumping, but not all good relationships were built on a consuming passion, right?
I couldn’t complain about him. He’d respected my need to take things slow. He didn’t hit me or yell at me, and he certainly didn’t try to do the things that I heard my father doing with women. It was the best relationship that I could hope for, and I really didn’t want to lose it.
“I knew you’d take it well.” He smiled at me and let his hands brush down my body. When they moved down my breasts, my stomach clenched, but I didn’t jerk away from him. “You’re such a good girl, aren’t you, Daisy. You’re going to do everything that he asks and get that money for us, right?”
“What?” I pulled back and frowned. “Do everything for who?”
“My boss. Brick Langston. I’m telling you, baby, this contract is my ticket to the big leagues. With that money, I’m going to move to the city, and now that he knows my name, he’s going to be watching me. I’m on the fast-track to the top.”
My mind whirled. “Contract? I don’t understand. You got me a job at your office? Doing what?”
“Fucking Brick, of course, although I doubt you could call it office work. You’ll be living with him for a month, and you’re not exactly the kind of woman that he’d show off to his employees.” He laughed. “You didn’t think that you’d be doing office work, did you?”
“Doing wh-what?” I stammered softly. “You made a contract saying that I would sleep with your boss? I don’t understand. I thought you were going to tell me that I could move in.”
Grimacing, he pulled away. “God, no. I already told you that wasn’t happening. But this is perfect. You needed a place to stay, and he wants you. So you’ll live with him for a month and do whatever to make him happy. He’s paying for you, Daisy. And the contract is already signed.”
“You sold me? Ralph, you don’t own me! I’m not your hooker. I’m not anyone’s hooker! You can’t just do that, and I won’t…” I shook my head, trying to understand what the hell was happening. “I won’t do that.”
“The fuck you won’t,” he snarled and advanced towards me. “I’m sick of supporting you, Daisy, and getting nothing in return. I know you’re slutting around with your co-workers. I’ve heard them talk, so if you can give it up to a bunch of minimum-waged stoners, you can give it up to a multi-billionaire.”
“What?” Stunned, I reached out and grabbed the kitchen counter. He was supporting me? As far as I could remember, Ralph had never bought me anything. I always paid for dinner when we went out, and most of the time, I had to buy groceries for him when he complained that his student loans were making him impoverished. And I certainly wasn’t slutting it around with my co-workers. “Ralph, I don’t know what’s going on here, but you need to calm down. I’m not resorting to prostitution.”
His ugly face softened, and he reached out and pulled me into his embrace. I stiffened, but when his arms wrapped around me, I took a few deep breaths and melted into his hold. This was good. We’d talk about it. Ralph was just desperate, that’s all.
“Don’t think of it as prostitution, baby. Think of it as the answer to all your problems. We’re not talking pennies, here. He’s paying good money, and I’m willing to give you, say, ten thousand dollars.”
Ten thousand dollars! I squeezed my eyes shut. The things that I could do with that kind of money. That would pay my rent for a year, but still… “I’d have to live with him?” I whispered. “Live with a stranger for a whole month? Ralph, I don’t think I can do that.”