Page 12 of Poison

Alex and I walked in silence until we were settled in his office. He stepped behind his desk and pulled out a clear bottle of brown liquid, pouring two shots for us both. He held up his glass, and I returned the gesture before swallowing the alcohol.

"Why are you helping me?"

Leaning against his desk, Alex smiled kindly. "Because I used to be you, Starburst. Perhaps I was never as famous, butIwas a servant. When my sponsor found out I had a taste for men, he used me and abused me. Like you, I found myself on a path of self-destruction. I would take any drug handed to me as long as it dulled the pain I was feeling inside. Luckily for me, my sponsor had an accident." His smile turned wicked. "I was debt-free. When I saved up enough sinders to buy this place, I acquired a few servants, but I will never once force them to do anything they are uncomfortable with. Wemberly, for example, didn't want to dance, and so she pays off her debt by working in the kitchen."

My eyes shot down to the empty glass sitting on his desk. I hoped he would offer me another, but I still needed to get home, and someone might as well tattoo "idiot" on my face if I returned to Hobbs smelling of fresh alcohol.

Alex walked over to me, gently running a hand over my shoulder. The action made me tense, and he must've sensed it because he pulled away quickly. "There were times I thought about paying for your time. I would be lying if I said I didn't want you to jump on my cock and ride it like a mechanical bull. But in my eyes, that would make me no better than the man who forced me to sleep with men. I would want you to come to me of your own free will." He chuckled, "But you're so young; you wouldn't look twice at some middle-aged old-timer like me."

I snorted, "I'm twenty-eight."

He eyeballed me for a moment. "I'm impressed. You don't look a day older than twenty-one."

I grinned slightly. "My skincare routine is zazzin."

"Zazzin indeed."

"Well, thank you, Alex," I sighed. "I have to get back."

"Tell your sponsor to contact me if he has any questions. Remember our story, and everything should be alright."

Chapter 9

Hobbs was there to greet me when I stepped out of the elevator to my apartment. Clenching my teeth in anxiety, I tried to force my body to not tremble at the sight of him. What was he going to do to me? Who would he make me fuck this time? Would he beat me? He hadn't done so in a long time, but I wouldn't put it past him.

He was scowling, his large arms crossed over his chiseled chest. I didn't pass out on Bliss. I got drugged. That was the story I had to stick with.

My stomach suddenly tied into knots, the contents sloshing around and flipping on my nearly nonexistent gag reflex. The urge was unstoppable; I vomited. The liquid I had drunk the night before spilled onto the sleek black floor. Wiping my mouth, my gaze slowly lifted up to Hobbs. He was no longer scowling. Instead, there was a gentle look of concern on his face.

"I'm sorry," I muttered, nearly vomiting again.

Trevor sidestepped away from the puddle of puke. Ever so gently, he grabbed my upper arm and led me away from the pile of stinking ooze. "I'll get someone to clean that up."

I was terrified to speak. Afraid that if I opened my mouth, I would puke again. My nerves were so frazzled.

He left me in my bedroom and returned with some makeup remover and a washcloth from the bathroom. After pouring some of the remover onto a cotton ball, he gently rubbed at my face. Even the slightest pressure made me wince as he neared the areas where I had been struck. Every time I winced, he did as well. Then Trevor gently washed my face with the cloth, making sure to catch any dribbles of vomit the cotton balls missed.

When he was finished, he pinched my chin between his fingers, forcing me to look at him. "Do you need a doctor?"

I shook my head vehemently, not wanting him to find out about the Bliss in my system. "I'm okay."

"It was kind of Alex to keep an eye on you."

"I had a couple of drinks, but I don't know what happened."

"Perhaps we need to send you out with an escort."

I licked my lips, trying not to show panic on my face. The last thing I wanted was an escort and losing the little bit of freedom I had left. "I don't need that."

"How can we be assured that won't happen again? The escort would be for your protection."

My mind raced, trying to come up with a quick lie to convince Hobbs that I would be fine on my own. "Alex said if anyone buys me drinks, the waiter will bring it right to me to make sure nobody dumps anything in it. And after the hangover I have, there is no way in hell I'm leaving my glass unattended."

Trevor frowned. "I don't like the idea of men buying you drinks to begin with."

"It's not like you give me much of an allowance," I grumbled, picking at the fuzz on my blanket.

"I don't like you drinking as much as you do, either. It will ruin you." He gripped my chin and pressed his lips to mine.

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