Page 34 of Plaything

Dominic didn’t even look at me as he left the library, another knife in my chest.

Niko and Wyatt looked at each other with the same looks of disappointment.

For the first time since I met them, I felt very unwelcome. I don’t know what I said or did. Maybe they were realizing the same thing I did earlier, that this wouldn’t end well, and a relationship couldn’t happen between us.

I sucked in a breath, feeling uncomfortable in their intense silence. “I’ll see you later,” I said quickly.

Wyatt just nodded, still not looking at me as I turned and left.

The hour was spent in the auditorium, replaying our conversation in the library, trying to figure out what set them off. I barely said a sentence. Maybe my extra credit comment reminded them that I was a student above all else. But that didn’t explain what Aiden said. That I somehow fooled him.

I was a horrible liar, and he knew it. What did he think I fooled him with? Maybe my ass looked bigger in leggings, and this skirt wasn’t flattering. ...Obviously, that wasn’t it, but it was a fun thought.

I walked into Mr. Ridley’s office after knocking. It was a little past four now, and most of the students and teachers had gone home for the day. “Hi,” I greeted.

He was sitting behind his desk; the lamp in the corner of the room was the only light, making me slightly uncomfortable. His eyes lit up as he watched me enter the room. “Odette, I’m surprised you decided to meet me,” he chuckled. “Go ahead and shut the door behind you,” he nodded behind me.

I closed the door. “I’m always open for extra credit,” I shrugged.

“I’m going to make you work hard for it. Are you sure you want to go through with this?” He asked with a smirk.

I pushed my eyebrows together, a strange shiver going up my back. I shrugged. “That’s why I’m here.”

Before tilting his head to the side, he eyed me in a way I really didn’t like. “Come on over here, don’t be shy.”

Thinking he was going to show me an assignment or a tutoring schedule, I walked over to his side of the desk.

He rolled his chair back, and my heart stopped for a solid five seconds as I was met with his naked lower half. His slacks were pulled down to his thighs, revealing his... oh my God.

My entire body felt frozen, panic coursing through my veins. “W-what—”

He smirked at me. “Don’t get all shy in me now; you were so eager earlier.”

This was not what I expected when he said extra credit. Disgust washed over me as I recalled our conversations up until this moment. I didn’t know... I would have never come here if I thought he meant this.

I tried to move my legs, but they wouldn’t budge.

He took a breath. “Look, you don’t have to pretend. I’ve heard about you and some of the professors who work here,” he said, stroking his disgusting thing.

My heart stopped again. Wyatt told him? That was the only explanation I could think of. Wyatt told him and probably others about last night.

My stomach twisted, feeling used and appalled with myself. Was that what he thought of me... I was just some desperate student willing to sleep with teachers to better my grade.

You certainly had me fooled.

They knew what Mr. Ridley meant by extra credit.

My chest was caving in on itself, my eyes welling with tears of panic as Mr. Ridley patted his thigh with his hand that wasn’t occupied. “Come on, take a seat,” he husked, his voice sending chills through my entire body.

Wake up, Odette. You’re dreaming, you have to be. You didn’t sleep last night. None of this is real.

He looked annoyed now. “Look at that sexy little skirt; so convenient for you to sit on my penis,” he reached out and touched my thigh.

His cold fingers on me were enough to snap me out of my shock as I stumbled back. “Don’t touch me,” I warned, my voice coming out cracked as I tried to keep it together.

His expression changed as he studied me. “Oh shit,” he cursed. He quickly pulled his pants up. “Odette, I thought—”

I ran out of his office, running all the way to my car. I got in and locked the door quickly. My hand shook as I started my car, needing to get as far away from this place as possible.

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