Now? Now, I’m not too sure.

I put the phone down. I’m sure his job offer will come with strings attached.

I must get out of my pyjamas and get down to the pawn shop. The thought of having to rely on other people or my parents is my worst nightmare. I never could have imagined being in this situation.

Looking around my apartment, I need to give it a good clean when I get back. I’ve had zero motivation to do anything.

Argh. My life is a fucking shambles.

Chapter 9

Roman

I shouldn’t be disappointed that she refused my job offer. I sent my IT manager on sabbatical leave to open up the position for her. I watch her put the phone down. Her hair is a tangled mess around her face.

I tried doing this the easy way for her, but the end result is going to remain the same.

There is a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Dante walks into my office.

“Shipment get picked up?”

“Yeah, no problems. The house has been set up as you requested. When are you bringing your–uh–guest?”

I smile at him.

“Tonight.”

None of them knows once she has settled into her new life, she will be more than just a fuck for me. With the unsavoury people I mix with, she will be well protected. She won’t like having her freedom taken away from her. But she made a mistake by messaging me.

???

I knock on her apartment door. She opens the door and pokes her head out before looking around the hallway.

“I think you’ve got the wrong apartment,” she said while she looked me up and down.

Her blonde hair is damp from the shower she took not long ago. I know exactly what she is wearing under her robe. I feel my heart pounding.

I smile at her.

“I’m at the right apartment. I’m Roman.”

I hold my hand out.

“Roman? As in Filthy Fucker, Roman?”

She slaps her hand over her mouth and looks around the hallway again. Since she isn’t taking my hand, I gently push her back into the apartment.

“Why are you here, Roman? I mean, it’s lovely to see you, but this is very unexpected. Wait. How did you find my address?”

She stops in the hallway and turns to face me.

“Why don’t we take a seat and have a chat?”

As soon as she sits on the sofa, she tugs on her little robe. Little does she know I’ve seen her naked several times.