Page 124 of Plaything

“I know you think you care about these men, and I know that you think that they care about you, and for that, I am sorry that I have raised you to be so ignorant and unprepared. This is how the real world works, and it’s time you learn that your actions have consequences.”

“You can stop by to sign the restraining orders anytime before graduation unless you’d like to do it now,” he offered.

His words meant that I still had a month and a half with them before I would never see them again. I knew that I would sign the restraining orders; I couldn’t ruin their lives for my own selfishness. I wanted them and to be with them more than anything in the world. They were my safety and the only people I think I’d ever actually cared about.

Charles was wrong. Yes, they were my professors, but no manipulation or deceptiveness existed in our relationship. I’d known what I had gotten myself into. Still, I never expected Charles to find out about our relationship, let alone threaten them with things so extreme.

Eventually, I would sign the papers so they wouldn’t have to face the consequences of my last name. For now, I had a month and a half before I had to leave and never see them again.

“One day, you’ll look back on this and thank me,” Charles chided. “You’re free to vanish now.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. I stood up in haste, walking to the double office doors on shaky legs. I hated him—wholeheartedly and forever. Every time I felt remotely happy in my life, he was always there with a wrecking ball of substantial proportions.

As soon as my palm touched the handle, another wave of anger flowed through me. Why should he get to play innocent, like he’d never done anything wrong when he was the most corrupt person I’d ever known? “Charles,” I articulated loudly, pivoting towards him again. “As your most valuable business partner, I expect my percentage in my own name, as someone who did a fair share of negotiating on your behalf, up in your wing of the house,” I asserted.

It was the first time I had ever seen my father look guilty, and I basked in the emotion. It was clear that he never expected me to remember; after all, I was asleep.

Neither of us uttered another word as I slammed the door shut behind me.

My entire body felt numb as I approached the front door. I didn’t know where Vincent was; I was prepared to call a taxi service to take me home. Many cruel truths were revealed this evening, and I couldn’t bear it for another moment.

“Odette, are you alright?” Vincent asked as he jogged up to me as I walked across the pavement parking lot.

“I want to go home. Please just take me home, okay?” I pleaded as another wave of tears took over. My shaky legs finally failed me, and I stumbled over my heels.

Vincent was quick to wrap his arm around my shoulders, stabbing me as we walked. “Okay,” he agreed.

The drive home was completely silent, neither of us ushering a word to each other. The hours went by quickly as I replayed everything repeatedly in my mind. Once again, I felt like Lux Lisbon. I had no control over my own life.

I needed a distraction, I needed to forget, and I needed to control at least one thing. One good thing had to come from that dinner, and I would make sure it would. No matter how much I had to beg or plead, one of my professors was going to fuck me tonight.

Truthfully, I didn’t know that it would be my first time. For all I knew, I could’ve been raped in my sleep years ago. I guess it made sense why Charles always wanted me to take melatonin before I went to sleep. I was already prone to sleepwalking and night terrors; it made sense. He wanted to take the extra precaution to keep me asleep.

Come to think of it, I never actually needed melatonin at all. I’d been sleeping just fine without it.

It was funny how everything started to make sense as it fell apart.

“Thank you,” I mumbled to Vincent as I exited his car.

“Goodnight,” he responded with worry in his tone.

When I opened the door, my professors were all in similar areas around the living room. My entire body relaxed at the sight of them, and I felt safe again. “Welcome back, Baby—what’s wrong?” Wyatt’s smile disappeared as he stood from his seat on the sofa. I stopped crying an hour ago, but my face was horribly blotchy, and my eyes probably looked dreadful. I was an ugly crier.

“It was a really awful night, and I don’t want to talk about it,” I dismissed quickly.

They knew that something had happened and that something was obviously wrong. Each of them began surrounding me slowly, ready to comfort me. “Did something happen? Are you hurt?” Dominic asked, probably for his own assurance rather than mine.

“No, I’m not hurt,” I rushed out before grabbing Aiden (who happened to be the closest to me) and kissing him.

He was taken aback by the sudden affection, but he kissed me back. “Odette, “he tried to say, but I didn’t want to talk. “Babydoll, stop,” he straightened, leaving his lips out of my reach. “What is going on?” He deadpanned, caressing my cheek. His eyes looked between mine as if he’d unravel the clusterfuck of tragedies that happened tonight.

“I’m tired of waiting,” I grabbed the waistband of his jeans and started undoing his belt. “It’s been over a month of torture, and congratulations, I’ve reached my limit. You win!” I shrugged.

Aiden gently took my wrists and moved them to his chest, stopping my actions to undress him. “Calm down, this clearly isn’t about sex, Odette. Talk to us,” he eased.

“Swan, okay? Is that what it takes for you to understand that I don’t want to talk about it?” My voice broke as I spoke the word. That was what it was for, right? They said to use it when I reached my limit?

A thick silence fell over everyone as they looked between each other and me. “Okay…” Aiden put his hands up in surrender, but the look of concern was abundant on his features. “Tonight’s not the night, Doll. Not when you’re upset—”

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