Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
All I can do is shake my head angrily. My hate for him grows every single day. Not wanting to risk running into him, I quickly head out of the house, exiting the same way I entered. One day soon, I’ll have the dirt I need on him and make him pay for everything he’s ever done. He thinks he’s the most powerful person in Oakmount County, but he doesn’t have a fucking clue about the lengths I’ll go to destroy him.
CHAPTER 14
BEL
I can only stare at this check for so long before ripping it up or cashing it. The corners are already creased from how many times I’ve taken it out of my bag to stare at it. It taunts me, and I don’t like it. The suite door opens, and Jack walks in, her hair a mess. I'd call it a walk of shame if she didn't look so damn satisfied.
She stops short when she sees me sitting at the table. "What are you doing, Bel? It's like eleven in the morning? I thought you’d be at a tutoring session or something?"
All I do is shrug. What the hell am I doing?
Her eyes dart to the scrap of paper in my hand, her forehead crinkling with confusion. "What’re you looking at?”
I let out a defeated sigh. “Nothing.”
She gives me a disbelieving look, deposits her stuff on the counter, and marches over to the table to get a better look. I don’t even bother trying to hide the check. “Nothing?! That’s not nothing. That’s a ten thousand dollar check, Maybel!!"
I mean, I guess when she puts it that way. I clear my throat and drop the check to the worn scarred wood of our shared dining table. "It's nothing, really. I don't even think I'm going to cash it."
She picks up the check off the table to inspect it, and her eyes meet mine over the top of it a second later. "Hmm...Mr. Marshall, huh? I suppose the one and only Drew? Unless you’re seeing his dad, which I mean, to each their own.”
I wrinkle my nose at her and shake my head. “Yeah, no.”
“Okay, so this came from Drew. What’s it for?"
I consider my response because I’m not really sure what to say. How do I explain the check without it seeming like he paid me for sex?
"I don’t know. Maybe it's his way of apologizing."
"That’s quite an apology. I wish someone would pay me ten grand as an apology… What did he do?”
My skin crawls, and I try to hide my cringe. I don’t want to go into the details about what happened that night in the woods, even with Jack. I’m still embarrassed about it myself and my body's reaction to the things I allowed to happen.
"He didn’t say, just told me to take the money. I think it’s his way of saying sorry for how things went during The Hunt."
Her eyes take on a gleam, and her hand clenches as she places the check gently on the table. "Just tell me, do I need to castrate that bastard?"
With a laugh, I shake my head and stand to get some coffee. "No, it's not like that. I don’t need you getting yourself put in jail because you tried to defend me against some rich prick. I’ve got it taken care of.”
She places her hands on her hips and looks at me like she doesn’t believe me. “Are you sure?”
I nod and decide to change the subject. I’m not used to having so much attention put on me. “Where are you coming from anyway?"
She shakes her head. "Ha, not falling for that. Let me shower really fast, and then you and I are going out."
I freeze, coffee cup on the way to my lips. "Going out where? I’m only in my leggings, and I don’t even have a bra on. I haven't even brushed my hair or teeth.”
All she offers is a shrug before disappearing into her room. A moment later, she reappears and slips into the bathroom with her bath basket in hand. “You better be ready to go when I get out.” There’s no questioning her, not when she’s demanding I be ready. The bathroom door closes, and the creaking of the pipes fills the space as she turns on the water.
I roll my eyes and take a sip of coffee and head into my room to put a bra on. I make myself look half presentable, tossing my long blond hair up into a messy bun. Then I walk back out into the kitchen and stare down at the check sitting on the table. I hate how much I need that money, but I hate even more how I obtained it.
I’m not sure how long I stand there, war raging inside my mind, but it’s long enough for Jack to finish her shower. She’s fully dressed when she exits the bathroom, and her long, silky, wet hair is piled on top of her head.