How did that all go so wrong?

I finish up in the shower and dry myself. I put on the black velvet robe that’s hanging on the back of the walk-in wardrobe door, and I walk back out to the living area. A sense of regret sits in my chest.

Damn it… I’m pissed at myself.

Why would I sleep with him when I promised myself I wouldn’t? That is not who I am.

Mind you, he was the last person on Earth I thought would come to a place like this.

I pour myself another glass of champagne, and I peer inside the fridge to find a huge serving of chocolate covered strawberries sitting on a silver platter. I take them out and walk into the living room, placing them on the coffee table in front of me. I pick up the remote and turn the television on.

I drop down and curl my legs up beneath me.

Sipping on my champagne, I stare into space, his words coming back to me.

I’m single. Not that it matters.

I eat a strawberry and the wonderful flavor bursts through my mouth.

Answer the question, Cartier. Do you want my cock… or will I go and get someone else who does? Any wet pussy will do.

God.

I thought we were role playing… but were we?

I close my eyes and drain my glass, only to refill it immediately. I want to forget tonight ever happened.

Five thousand pounds never felt so cheap.

“Don’t be lazy. Your essay details are in the assignment sheet that was emailed to you last week,” the lecturer says from his place on the stage. “Remember: this is thirty percent of your total mark. Switch on, people.”

The class gives an audible groan.

The bell rings through the speaker, notifying us of the end of the class, and we begin to pack up our desks.

“If you are having problems,” the lecturer calls, “I’m holding a study group after class next Thursday night in the library to help you prepare.”

I put my laptop into my bag. I really should go to that. I have no idea how to navigate this essay. I looked at it briefly last week, and it confused the hell out of me.

Thursday, though. Why do I feel like I have something on Thursday?

I sling my backpack onto my back, and I walk out of the auditorium.

Shit... I’m working in the Escape Club next Thursday. It’s my second shift.

Ugh, I’ve felt like crap all day today.

Sleeping alone in that Escape room last night was definitely a low point of my life. When I was leaving this morning, I saw a few of the other girls leaving their apartments with their dates from last night. It rubbed salt into my wounds a little.

They stayed with their date.

I trudge down the crowed corridor now, toward my last lecture of the day.

Why the hell has this upset me? It’s not like I went there looking for love. I went there with an agenda. The money. Five thousand pounds, and that’s what I got.

I made a plan and I stuck to it.

Stop beating yourself up about this, I remind myself.

Only three more shifts to go. In one month, I’ll have twelve months rent and I can resign. This is not my jam, but I’m sticking to my game plan. I need twenty thousand pounds, and damn it, I’m getting it.

“April!” I hear someone call from behind me.

I turn to see Brandon running to catch up with me.

“Hey.” He smiles as he falls into step beside me.

“Hi.” I smile. “How are you?”

Brandon is one of my friends on campus. He’s studying engineering and is on my football team. He’s a freshman and has a girlfriend at home.

“Good. Hey, Harvey asked me to see if you’re going to that party on campus tomorrow night.”

“Oh God,” I frown. “You tell Harvey, for the fifteenth time, even if I am going, I am not into him. He’s way too young for me.”

Brandon chuckles. “I keep telling him that.” He bumps me with his shoulder. “He’s hoping you will change your mind. He wants to be your boy toy.”

I laugh out loud. “Yeah, well, that’s not happening.”

“What are you doing for dinner tonight? Do you want to grab something with me and Lara?” Lara is our other friend. She’s lovely, too.

I feel like shit because I hardly slept a wink in that Escape apartment last night. “No, I’ve got an assignment to do, but thanks, anyway. You guys have fun.”

“Do you want us to bring you something back?”

“Maybe,” I frown. “Text me from wherever you go.”

“Okay. Oh, and word on the street is that there’s an afterparty to the party in Penelope’s room tomorrow night.”

I exhale heavily. “Great.” I sigh.

“Do you want to sleep on the floor in mine or Lara’s room again?”

“No, it’s okay. I might be going away for the weekend.”

“Really? Where to?”

“A friend of mine is over here. I’m thinking of catching up with her.” That’s an appalling lie, but I’m thinking of taking a mini break out of London for the weekend. I do have a little extra cash injection now, and maybe I could find somewhere dirt cheap. Anything is better than sleeping next door to the Rave Cave when it’s in full swing.

“Okay, I’ll text you tonight with the menu of wherever we end up eating,” Brandon says before he turns off toward his next tutorial.

A weekend away. That’s not actually a bad idea. Yeah, I could go away by myself.

I smile as I walk up the corridor, hmm…. where, exactly, could I go?

Sebastian

I bring the club back and hit the ball with force. It whistles through the air.

“Nice shot,” Spencer coos.

“Your game is on point today, Garcia,” Julian says as he retrieves his golf club from his bag.

I watch the ball bounce and then land on the green. “It’s always on point. What are you talking about, Masters?”

Spencer chuckles as he brings the ball toward him on the ground with the back of his club. Golf on a Sunday is one of my favorite pastimes.

We watch Spencer hit the ball with force, and it hooks at the end and bounces over the net, out onto the road.

“Fuck it!” he cries out. “Why the hell am I playing so bad?” He pretends to snap his club over his knee. “I know. I’m overfucked and underpaid, that’s why.”

We chuckle.

Spencer being overfucked is something we never thought we’d hear. He’s a deviant from way back.