Page 65 of Brandy Snap: Part One

It was then that I realised he didn’t have a single clue how much ten thousand pounds really was. That it was enough to help drag us out of debt. That it would give me time to get back on my feet so I could find another job.

Hurt and anger blazed through me as he kept on talking. “Even the dress Kai will make you is likely to be half that. There is no reason for you not to ask us for more.”

“No reason?” I asked numbly.

“Yes, we can discuss a different form of payment, if you’d prefer. Goods rather than money. We’ll also pay you after each event. A quarter of whatever number we settle on.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He was encouraging me to accept more money, while I’d been trying to not be greedy. Yet, like with Kai’s cruel words, he’d slashed through my heart with his cold offer.

If I was Rosa, I’d start haggling with him. I could guess how far she would go. It was easy to imagine her eyes gleaming as she tested him, giving Sin a bigger and bigger number until he said enough. Fifty thousand, seventy-five thousand, a hundred thousand.

“No, money is fine. It makes it easier.”

“Very well. Please text me your address when we end the call, and Kai can make arrangements,” Sin said. “Now that you don’t have a job, I assume you’ll be available all day?”

My mouth dropped open, swept away by his statement. As if I had nothing else to do except wait around for them.

“I’ll also put you in touch with one of our assistants who will arrange your schedule for the month leading up to the Selection Ceremony.”

“Okay, sure,” I answered casually, like it was no big deal he’d just solved all of my problems instantly. What little fight I had when I’d been talking to Kai was gone. It was the same with Rosa. I was just tired and disappointed. With them, and with myself for even having expectations, as if I had any right to. We’d just fucked, that was it. If I hadn’t bitten Kai, it wouldn’t have meant anything. I probably wouldn’t even be talking to them again.

“And your bank details. We can arrange the payments based on your performance.”

I flinched, nearly yanking the phone away from my head as another bolt of pain hit me.

I stared in shock at the wall as my ears rang with his words.

It really was just business to him…

Another silence bloomed between us as all the things I’d been wanting to say to them fought to reach the surface. I was going to see them again, I had a way to help my mum, and I’d have enough money so I didn’t have to worry when it was all over.

“Melanie? Is there anything else I can do for you?”

I bit my lip to stop myself from asking him to come to my flat, to come to my nest and lie in my bed and hold me. Even if it was just him, or if Kai and Caspian came to pour their hate onto me, I wanted someone to tell me I could do it. That I was strong enough to get through all these road bumps.

It had been years since I’d wanted to rely on someone, to not carry it all by myself. And they were the worst people to lean on.

“No, it’s fine, Sin. Thank you for the offer,” I replied as politely as possible.

I clenched my eyes as my heart pulsed. Those omega instincts were taking me over again, and I had to get off the phone before I gave in to my need.

But even just hearing him breathe felt so comfortable I could have drifted off to sleep with him next to my ear.

“I’m hanging up now,” he said briskly.

“Okay,” I replied to the awkwardness that followed.

“Goodbye, Melanie.”

My voice cracked as I replied. “Goodbye, Sin.” I ended the call as quickly as I could. It wouldn’t be good to linger when it hurt so much.

I lowered my phone onto my lap, staring at it with my eyes wide.

Two days.

In two days, I’d get to see them again. Even with the pain, hope and excitement still curled through me.

All while my omega instincts sent pleasure tingling through my body as my heart beat with one word:

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