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Hazel felt totally weak in the legs after hearing Charles' last words. Her heart wouldn’t stop thumping against her chest so hard it actually started to hurt. She stared at the man sitting a few feet from her, her eyes wide and disbelieving.
"Wait," she stammered, her voice trembling. "How... how do you know my second name?"
She hadn't told him that. At least, she didn't think she had. The memories of last night were a blurry mess and she couldn't remember everything fully but she remembered Brooks—her cheating, lying ex-boyfriend. She remembered the burning desire to get back at him, to show him she wasn't some boring, predictable girl like he always thought.
“You told me that yesterday, do you not remember?” He said.
With all that happened yesterday she was never supposed to end up in a stranger’s bed!
Her face went from pale to a deep, burning crimson. Her first time... gone. Just like that. She had saved herself for years, imagining a romantic night with the man she loved, and instead, she had given it away to a stranger she’d met in a stupid bar.
‘Oh my God, how much did I drink?!’ she screamed internally while raking her hands through her hair.
And then, a cold realization washed over her. She looked at the man properly. He didn't look like a cheap escort. He looked like a complete Greek God. His skin was flawless, his shoulders were broad, and his eyes held a piercing intelligence that made her feel like he was reading her soul. This man was high-end. He was a luxury.
‘How much does a night with him cost?’ she wondered, panic rising in her throat. ‘Could I even sell my soul to pay his fee?’
Charles watched the colors change on Hazel’s face—pale white, red, then a sickly shade of green. It was like watching a very stressed-out person. He found her reaction absolutely hilarious. Most women threw themselves at him; this one looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole and pull the dirt in after her.
He decided it was time to stoke the fire even deeper. He leaned back, putting on his best wronged expression.
"I usually only sell my time for the night, you know," he said, his voice smooth and cold. "Not my body. But last night... you were persistent. You forced me to sleep with you. Honestly, for a woman who looks so delicate, you were incredibly strong. I couldn't resist."
Hazel’s jaw dropped. "I... I did?"
"It was my first time, too," Charles lied, his face perfectly serious. "You’ve ruined me for anyone else. You have to take responsibility. I’ve decided I’m going to turn over a new leaf. From now on, I’ll just stay with you."
Hazel felt her knees go weak. Her life hadn't just turned upside down; it had been tossed into a blender and set to pulse.
She was incredibly naive. The only man she had ever been close to was Brooks, and they had barely progressed past awkward hugs and holding hands. She had no idea how the world worked, and she certainly didn't know how men like Charles worked. She believed every single word.
"Take responsibility?" she asked. She was shaking. "But I have no money! I’m a student. I can't pay for your fancy clothes or your food. I could barely take care of myself, and you look much more expensive!"
She wanted to run away as fast as she could. But Hazel was a good person. She thought, ‘If I leave him now after what I did, I’ll be a bad person like Brooks.’
"What will you do if you follow me?" she asked. "I really am poor. I only acted like that last night because I was drunk and my heart was broken.”
Charles wanted to laugh because she was so sweet and simple. He had never met anyone like her. He looked at her and said, "I will stay with you no matter what. Even if we are poor, I won't leave you. Just don't leave me.”
While Hazel was panicking, Charles’s phone rang. It was his assistant.
"Boss," the assistant said. "I found out who she is. Her name is Hazel Penelope Ward. She is a very smart student at the top university."
Charles listened and looked at Hazel. He felt sorry for her. He wasn't going to let her go. He walked up to her and trapped her against the wall. He was so handsome that Hazel’s heart skipped a beat.
‘If I were rich,’ Hazel thought, ‘I would definitely want to be with someone as handsome as him.’
"You are graduating soon, right?" Charles asked.
"How do you know?" she asked.
"You told me last night," he lied. "Since you are smart, you will get a good job. You will have to work hard so you can take care of me."
He took her phone, put his number in it, and gave her a gold card. "This is the key to this place. Come see me when you can." Then, he walked out.
Hazel sat on the floor and screamed a little bit at her stupidity. She realized that drinking alcohol was a very bad idea. Now, she had a "kept man" to look after, and she didn't know how she would pay for his life.
Just as Hazel was worrying about her future, her phone rang again. It was her grandma.
"Hazel! Come home right now!" her grandma yelled. "I am very sick and I might die! If you care about me at all, come see me!"
Hazel was scared. She caught a taxi to her grandma’s house.
Hazel’s life had been very hard. After her dad died, her uncle and his wife moved into her house. They made her do all the cleaning and cooking. Her cousin, Rose, was mean to her and ripped up her school papers. Her grandma was the meanest of all and used to hit her.
When Hazel got to the house, her grandma was lying in bed. Her uncle and aunt were standing there looking nervous.
"Grandma, I’m here," Hazel said.
"The doctor says I need a very expensive surgery," Grandma said. She didn't actually look sick. "Your uncle has no money. You need to give us the house your father left for you. We will sell it to pay for my surgery."
Hazel felt a sharp pain in her chest. That house was the only thing she had left from her father, and he had told her not to sell it when he was alive.
"You're an ungrateful child if you don't help me now when I most needed your help!" her grandma shouted. "That house should have been mine to begin with! Sign the damn papers right now!”
Hazel was usually very quiet and scared. But today, something was different. She looked at her mean family, her expression steady in years.
"No," Hazel said clearly. "I won't be signing any papers."
her grandma’s eyes went wide. She couldn't believe that Hazel was finally saying no.
- Writer
