The Billionaire Student's Secret.

10

Charles found himself pacing furiously, his footsteps echoing off the walls of the presidential suite he'd booked at the Golden Gate Hotels.

He'd texted Mistress Rania the room number about thirty minutes ago, and she'd not replied ever since.

Charles pondered on why she'd wanted to see him, and what was keeping her.

What was so important that she wanted to talk to him about outside Pleasure Palace?

Would she be pleased to find out what he looked like beneath the mask, or would she be disappointed? Was she running late because of a traffic jam or something?

What if something bad had happened to her? The last thought sent him into a frenzy, and he extracted his phone from his pocket and dialled the number Mistress Rania had given him.

“The number you've dialled is not reachable at the moment. Try again later.”

Charles sighed at the automated voice, put his phone into his wallet and continued pacing, this time much faster than before.

After a while, he checked his phone screen and saw that two hours had passed.

“What?!” Charles exclaimed as he hastily left the room, sure that something was terribly wrong.

After trying Mistress Rania's number a couple of times and receiving no response, Charles got into his car and sped off to Pleasure Palace. When he reached, he quickly got out, returning a second later to put on his mask.

When he thought he had it on right, Charles rushed into the building, his long legs eating up the distance between him and a smiling Mistress Ariadne.

By the time he'd reached her, Charles was trembling with trepidation at the thought of hearing that Mistress Rania had been shot or run over, or something.

“Oh, you again.” Mistress Ariadne smiled tightly, her smile not reaching her eyes, “how may I help you?”

“Mistress Ariadne, where's she?” Charles asked, almost senseless with worry.

“Where's who?” Mistress Ariadne looked at her iPad.

“Mistress Rania,” Charles replied, biting his lip.

“She's no longer in our employ,” Mistress Ariadne bit out, “shall I book you a session with another dominatrix? We—”

“I don't want another one,” Charles snarled, “where's she? What happened to her?”

Mistress Ariadne's face was transformed by a snarl, “Look, Sir, your beloved Rania was arrested earlier today for blackmail!”

“Blackmail? You can't be serious!”

“I am very serious,” Mistress Ariadne glared at Charles, “she made several videos of her sessions with various clients, and tried to get to pay her money in exchange for not uploading the videos online.”

Black's heart stopped for a moment and blood filled his ears. His mind kicked into overdrive as it finally dawned on him why Mistress Rania had wanted to see him. She'd probably made a video of him and had planned to blackmail him with it. He berated himself for his stupidity in not suspecting her, and thanked God that he always wore his mask whenever he came to Pleasure Palace.

“So, Sir, I ask again. Do you want to book a session?” Mistress Ariadne reiterated.

“Um, no, thank you. I'll be on my way,” Charles stuttered and left as hastily as he came, shame and relief burgeoning in his chest with every step he took, the conflicting emotions sending tears to his eyes.

* * *

“No, that's not the way to start the essay,” Harry adjusted his glasses and took another look at the paper Jade put before him, “it's an argumentative essay after all.”

He turned and saw Jade yawning loudly.

“Sorry,” Jade apologized, her cheeks reddening.

“You've been yawning ever since we started this,” Harry noted, referring to the study meetings the two of them had almost every evening. Tenzin's right hand was still in a cast

“I said I was sorry,” Jade snapped.

Harry smiled, “I didn't mean to make you feel that way. But what have you eaten today?”

Jade looked away, “That's none of your business.”

“You probably haven't eaten anything since today,” Harry concluded.

“That's a lie, I ate breakfast,” Jade retorted indignantly.

“That must have been over eleven hours ago,” Harry calculated, “why aren't you eating? I hope you're not on a diet or something.”

“I wish,” Jade muttered under her breath. If only Harry knew she was on the verge of starving. Her only saving grace was the last carton of cereal which she chomped on every morning without any milk and juice to go with it.

“Come on, let's go somewhere and eat, I'm hungry too.” Harry urged her, packing up their books with his good hand.

“No, I'm not going to eat.” Jade had no money to pay for her food, and she'd be damned if she took any charity from Harry.

“I'll pay for you, and you can pay the next time,” Harry offered with a kind smile.

Jade knew she'd have no money to pay during her turn, but her stomach rumbled again and that decided for her.

“Yes, let's go and eat.”

* * *

Four extra large plates of ramen noodles and five bottles of beer later, Jade was drunk and going off about her life problems to Harry.

“And then my mother sent me away without any money,” Jade hiccuped, “Who does that to their only child?”

Harry placed a placating hand on her shoulder, “There, there, it's not the end of the world.”

Jade removed his hand and rose, “And I've lost my job thanks to that i***t Leroy Hawkinsssssss.”

The other patrons of the restaurant they were in glared at Jade and Harry for interrupting their meals. Harry mouthed apologies to everyone who looked at them, and tried to get Jade to sit.

Jade would not be swayed and instead began to sing in an off-key voice, “I am so brooooooke, I am so brooooooke, and I'm on my own.”

The proprietress of the restaurant, a wiry old woman walked up to Harry determinedly, “Okay, young man. Get yourself and your lady friend home before she gets worse.”

Harry protested, “She's not my lady friend.”

“Wait!” Jade held up her hand, looking insulted, “am I not a lady?”

“You're a lady,” Harry concurred.

“Am I not your friend?” Jade queried, staggering a bit.

The proprietress rolled her eyes as Harry replied, “Yes, you're my friend.”

“Then I am your lady friend,” Jade concluded, looking very proud of herself.

“Young man,” The proprietress held her hand out, “pay for what you've eaten and leave.”

Harry forked over some rumpled notes into the woman's wizened hand, “Keep the change.”

Harry then proceeded to herd Jade out carefully but firmly. In front of the restaurant, he hailed a cab and stuffing her drunken form inside, followed her in.

Next, he made her give the driver her address and took her to her apartment. After she called her address, Jade fell asleep with her mouth open.

Looking at Jade sleeping, Harry used her good hand to arrange her hair, “Don't worry, Jade, everything will be alright.”