Page 5 of Toxic Obsession

“I will.” He gave me a little wave before he left the room.

My gaze was glued to his ass and long, muscular legs as he left.

“Wynter, I’ll be in my office.” Dimitri nodded in that direction, then strolled out behind Nick.

I turned to Anthony. “Thanks for the fun.” He had no idea that showing up for work was the only fun I ever had. Once I left, it was back to the real world. At least here, I could leave the nightmare behind me and pretend to be someone else.

“You should come back,” Anthony said, standing naked in front of me.

“I wish I could, but I’m off to start another boring year of college tomorrow.” I hoped that wouldn’t be the case. The reason I’d worked my ass off to attend Whitmore University was because it was a school for the smart kids that had the money to pay the tuition. Lucky for me, I’d managed to obtain a full scholarship for the next two years.

“Too bad. I would have been happy to spice up your boring existence.” He winked at me. “Later.” Anthony strolled out of the room, confidence in his stride.

I grinned, then walked in the direction of Dimitri’s office. Rounding the corner, I came to an abrupt halt. Dimitri leaned against the wall with his eyes closed as another guy sucked his dick. Dimitri grabbed the back of the guy’s head, and his mouth dropped open as his body shook.

I disappeared back around the corner, smiling. So that was how Dimitri managed to keep his hands to himself when he was working.

“Wynter, I know you’re there. Come on, and I’ll pay you.”

“Sorry,” I said, joining him as he secured his jeans.

The other guy had disappeared, but at least Dimitri had a good time.

“Will you be back for winter break?” he asked, placing his palm on my back and leading me down the hall to his office.

“Not if I can help it.” I folded my arms across my chest, not wanting to dive into another conversation about my personal life.

“If you need some quick money, you know where I am.” Dimitri handed me a roll of cash, and I clasped it in my hand like a lifeline.

“Thanks. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”

A flicker of sadness graced Dimitri’s brown eyes. “You’re a good one, Wynter. I wish you nothing but the best. I think a fresh start will be perfect for you.”

“Me too. I mean it can’t get much worse, right?” I rounded his desk and threw my arms around his neck. “You’ve been a great friend. I won’t forget you when I’m rich and famous,” I joked.

His chuckle rumbled through the room. “I have no doubt that you’ll be a success no matter what you choose to do.”

Releasing him, I stepped away. “I gotta go. Grocery shopping awaits. Stay out of trouble.” I flashed him a big smile before I left. As soon as I was out of his office, I shoved the roll of money in my bra to protect it. Even though messing around with hot guys and posing for a camera wasn’t what I’d planned to do with my life, desperate people made desperate choices.

Chapter2

Wynter

Balancing grocery bags along my arms, I nearly tripped up the steps of my house. It was almost six, and I was late for dinner.

With my keys clutched in one hand, I unlocked the front door and bumped it open with my hip. “I’m home!” I called out, my voice bouncing off the scuffed and worn wood floors. At one time they had been so well cared-for they gleamed. Not anymore.

“I’m coming,” Janine called. My seventeen-year-old sister bounded down the stairs, her socks muffling her hurried steps. She rarely dressed in anything other than running shorts and an oversized hoodie, but she always had socks on her feet no matter what the weather was doing outside.

As if reading my mind, she said, “Yes, my socks have the grippers on them.”

She joined me in the entryway and took some of the bags from me.

“Good. I can’t have you breaking your neck when I’m gone. No one will be able to help you.” I winked at her as we walked down the short hall and turned left into the kitchen. I was trying to pretend to be happy in front of her.

I wasn’t.

I forced a smile while I unloaded the groceries onto the white counter, once again noticing the blackened grout between the tiles. I’d tried everything to scrub the stains away, but they never fully faded. It was all just a reminder of what had happened.

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