I nod.
“Yeah, my guy was a little more vague but I like him,” I say slowly, leaving out the steamy bits. “My guy’s name is Carver and he said that they are all literally billionaires back in the real world actually. Did Evan tell you that as well?” I ask while taking a bite of my macaroni.
Amelia nods.
“Yeah, he said the Billionaires Club is a super-exclusive male club catering to the needs of ultra-wealthy guys. I guess he didn’t tell me exactly how much everyone was worth, but even if they’re not billionaires, it doesn’t matter, does it? I mean, they must be multi-millionaires at least, and that’s a lot.”
I consider that for a moment.
“Amelia, let me ask you this. Did they also offer you thirty thousand dollars for three months here? Is that what you’re getting?”
My new friend nods while blushing.
“Yeah, but Evan made me a special deal on the side. He said that because I’m a virgin, he’s going to add a ten thousand dollar bonus, and also if he likes me, he’ll tip me at the end. It’s going to be a lot of money when you add it all up,” she whispers, eyes wide.
I stop eating for a moment and put my fork down.
“Do you realize how terrible this makes us? We’re basically forking over our bodies for money. How can that be happening? And the amount of money doesn’t matter because let’s be serious – what we’re giving up is priceless, right?”
But Amelia merely keeps chewing while looking at her plate.
“Yes, but Ava, like I said, Evan is really nice and really handsome. Plus, it’s not really about the money anymore. I want to,” she confesses, looking up at me with slightly guilty eyes. “He’s so hot, and I know it sounds bad, but I want to give him my virginity. I mean, how was your guy? Was he really good-looking as well? Did he offer any special perks?”
I think my new friend is too innocent for me to tell her how Carver and I really met: which is that he caught me in a compromising position and started pounding me with my toy before bringing me to the brink of ecstasy. Instead, I just smile weakly at her.
“He didn’t offer me money, no. But Carver offered to let me stay with him. He said that the dorm setting was a little spartan, and said that I could stay in his suite.”
“Oh my god, you have to go!” squeals Amelia with bright eyes. “It’s going to be so fun! You guys can play cards, read books together, and snuggle and then kiss before anything really exciting happens. You should totally do it!”
I nod, shooting her another weak smile. The fact is that I was thinking of saying “No” to Carver and rejecting this set-up on Billionaires Island. After all, they have to let me off the island if I protest, right? They can’t keep me a prisoner here. There must be some pilot who will fly me away from Maruba.
And yet, after talking to Amelia, I’m not so sure anymore. My friend’s so excited about meeting her billionaire, and her excitement is rubbing off on me too. It’s kind of sweet, in a way, although I’m hardly a virgin like her.
But what could go wrong? A lot of things, if I’m being honest with myself. Carver could end up being a BDSM guy with lots of chains and whips and a predilection for inflicting pain. Or maybe this whole Billionaires Club thing is a front. They really are a drug-running cartel, and Amelia and I are going to be forced into becoming mules. Or maybe, they are a club of billionaires, but they’re not going to pay us a cent once we’re back on the mainland.
A bunch of possibilities run through my head, but then Amelia cuts me off. She takes a bite of her sandwich and asks, “What do you have to lose, Ava? It’s not like we have ace jobs waiting for us back in New York. And you don’t have a boyfriend either right? So why not see if your guy delivers? Give him a chance, and just go day by day. Maybe it’ll be better than you think,” she adds with a smile.
I take another bite of my macaroni. There is some truth to Amelia’s words. I’m currently single, and frankly, have been single for longer than I’d like. And Carver is really handsome, although of course, Amelia doesn’t know how we really met. She doesn’t realize that my man is handsome, dominant, sly, cocky, and as hung as a horse. She doesn’t realize that I’ve already engaged in the dirty with him, and that it was oh-so-good. She doesn’t know that at this very moment, I’m starting to heat up thinking about Carver, and that maybe, a three month session of debauchery with him is exactly what I need. After all, maybe this could be a way to relax and let go of my deepest inhibitions … all at the hands of an ungodly gorgeous man.