“At least you know the real thing,” I mutter under my breath.
“What’s that, love?” asks the driver.
“Nothing.”
I exhale a long sigh. There’s no way an intelligent man who looks like that, fucks like that, and has wealth like that is single. There’s also no way a man buys a fully equipped dungeon unless he has at least one permanent woman.
Professor Segul never wanted me in the first place. He completely dismissed me in the Red Room until I started spouting off about being a needy brat. He was probably just angling for a one-night stand and then I complicated things by being his student.
Not to mention the blackmail.
I need to forget about him, even though I just had the best sex of my life.
The last thing I need is for him to discard me the way Veer discarded me after taking my virginity.
The last thing I need to spend the rest of the year obsessed.
I reach into my pocket, pull out my phone, and log into the University app. There are two red alerts in the profile section that indicate I haven’t paid my rent and tuition fees.
Ignoring my outstanding debts, I navigate to the electives section, where each lecturer outlines their curriculum, along with the required readings and the titles of each assignment they intend to set with submission dates.
This coming week in Advanced Finance and Accounting is Capital Budgeting, a subject that Dad drummed into my skull years ago. The assignment is something I can do without going to the lectures.
“Right then,” I say under my breath. “I’ll do the reading in my room.”
It might just work.
Professor Segul gave me the option to leave and get my debts paid. Without strings. I didn’t exactly say I would stay for the allowance.
If he covers the cost of my tuition and rent, I could borrow books from the library and get a weekend job to pay for food.
If that promise of financial support was just bullshit, then I’ll have to drop out of university.
A shudder runs down my back and settles at the base of my spine. My insides fill with a sense of cold, blank terror that seizes my lungs until my vision blurs.
The phone slips from my fingers and lands on my lap, breaking me from my mini panic. I shake off the transparent spots dancing before my eyes and force in a breath.
Dropping out isn’t an option. Not with Dad not around to give me a home.
Marina University isn’t even accredited, so I wouldn’t qualify for a student loan. If I borrowed from a shark and couldn’t pay, then he’d probably sell me to one of the pimps who work for that trafficker, Crius Vanir.
“Here we are,” the driver says as he stops the car. “Marina University.”
I slip my phone back into my raincoat pocket.
Professor Segul isn’t stupid. What we did last night would get him fired. He’ll pay my rent and tuition only to keep me quiet.
Then I’ll get a job to pay my expenses and spend the rest of the year avoiding his classes.
That way, there’ll be no repeat of what happened with Veer Burisson.
ChapterSeventeen
MARIUS
On Monday morning, I arrange an anonymous transfer to Marina University to cover Phoenix’s rent and tuition fees.
I send her a text:Funds sent. Next time you visit, I won’t let you leave so easily.