Page 7 of Virginity Sold

Three rings.

I’m beginning to think it’s going to go to his voicemail and feel slightly relieved. He’ll get the voicemail and hopefully take into account how long we’ve been living here and how I bust my ass to make the payment every month.

“Hello,” his gruff voice comes across the line, and a pit forms in my stomach.

“Yes, Mr. Grundelson, this is Elena Hastings,” my voice trembles.

“How can I help you, Elena? Do you have the rent? Need me to come and pick it up?” he asks with delight.

“Umm, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” I ramble nervously. “I had most of it, but something happened and now I don’t. Could I please get another extension?”

I cross my fingers, praying like hell he has a generous heart tonight.

“This is becoming a problem, Elena. I gave you an extension for what you were short last month and you’re already late for this month. Now you’re telling me you still don’t have it?”

“Yes, sir.” My breath hitches and I stifle a sob. I will not cry or show him how weak I am. This is all Mama’s fault. She knew that money was for bills. How could she take it?

“If I continue to give you extensions, all my tenants will demand one. That’s not how I can run a business.” His voice is firm, not a hint of caring present.

“I understand. I’ll find a way to make sure I get it to you per our previous arrangement.”

The line is quiet. He doesn’t respond and I don’t know what else to say. Do I hang up? Ask again, hoping that some compassion has seeped into his soul?

“There is another option, Elena,” he states, but his tone sounds sinister, more skeevy.

“Anything, Mr. Grundelson. Thank you for being so understanding. What is it?”

“Meet me at my house tomorrow night. Wear something sexy.”

Wait. Did I hear him wrong?

“Excuse me? I don’t understand.” What kind of arrangement is this?

“Come on, Elena, surely you’re not that dumb? You want an extension and I want to fuck a sexy little thing like you. I’ve had my eye on you since you started developing, and I want that pussy of yours before you get too old for my liking.”

My eyes go wide and my jaw drops. Surely he’s not saying what I think he is.

“Well? I don’t have all day.”

He wants to have sex with me? “And if I do this, I won’t have to pay rent?”

He laughs loudly, like I’ve just said the dumbest thing. It’s so deafening, I have to pull the phone away from my ear. “No, I’ll just give you an additional week to pay. Business is business, Elena. I can only be so lenient. So what’s it going to be?”

My whole body shakes. He wants to sleep with me, but it’s something I’ve never done before. Hell, I’ve never even dated anyone. Not really, anyway. I’m twenty, a virgin, and my last boyfriend was in the sixth grade. He was the hold hands while we were at school type of boyfriend.

“Time’s ticking, Elena. Are we on for tomorrow night, or should I go ahead and draw up those eviction papers?”

“I... I… I’ll have the rent as planned by the end of next weekend,” I tell him before immediately hanging up.

Why did I say that? Because I’m a chickenshit, that’s why. There’s no way I’m going to have the money by then. I wouldn’t even with the additional week extension. I’d have to work from open to close and find a second job, never sleep or eat. Then, if I’m lucky, I might have the majority of it, but not the full amount.

I’m so frustrated that I don't even want to call the power company. They also already extended the due date, and god only knows what they would want for a few days longer to pay the past due balance.

The edge of the business card Edward gave me last night catches my attention on the floor and I bend over to pick it up. It’s just a website, but his words ring out in my head. A job. Well, rather, a way to make my life easier. I could go for that right now and I don’t actually have any other options at the moment.

I stare at the beautiful card, the words Club Lust standing out. So many things run through my mind, but I shake them off, pull up my email, and start typing.

Hi, Edward.

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