Page 44 of Agony

I was expecting as an immediate response as the first one, but instead of getting a text, my phone began to flash. Arsen was calling.

“Hey,” I said when I answered.

“How do you know about it?” he asked, with a nervous laugh.

“Jareth just came by to recruit me,” I replied.

“What did you say?” he asked, his voice rising.

“I said yes. They’re giving me fifty grand to do it; it was a no-brainer.”

“Back out, Neve. I’ll give you my check too, if you back out,” he said quietly.

I rolled my eyes for the second time in less than an hour. Between Arsen and Adesynne, I was pretty over having people tell me how to live my life.

“Can you pick me up on the way to the set tonight?” I asked.

“Did you hear what I just said? You can walk away from this free and clear right now.”

“I heard you, but I’m really curious about it now, so please pick me up on the way there, okay?”

Arsen was quiet for a few moments. I even said hello once or twice to make sure he was still there.

“Alright,” he finally said before hanging up.

I tossed my phone onto the table top and went into my room. I went to the closet and pulled the doors open and looked over my clothes with a critical eye. I was pretty sure there would be wardrobe there, because there always was, but I had a sneaky suspicion that it might be “used” so I wanted to wear my own stuff.

After an hour and a half of pulling out everything and trying it on, I settled on a blue and white sundress. I figured if there would be any almost sexual parts, that would make everything easy access and less uncomfortable.

I went into my underwear drawer and pulled out a brand new bra and panty set, before I grabbed the dress and headed toward the shower. Hopefully I could stay in there long enough to pass the majority of the time, and keep my mind off of whatever it was that would be expected of me.

CHAPTER11

8:00 Pm

Arsen showed up at eight on the dot. I had been impatiently leaning out my window to watch for him. Now he was here, stepping out of his car to pick me up.

“Hey!” I called down, with a wave.

He jerked his head up toward me and gave me a tight smile, returning my wave, before he got back into his car, closing the door behind him.

I walked over to the front door and slid on my white flip flops before I pulled open the small closet door next to it. I reached down and grabbed my purse off the floor, double checking to make sure that the check was inside, before I walked out and locked the apartment door behind me.

Exiting the building, I went over to Arsen’s car and pulled open the passenger door. I leaned in and tossed my purse into the backseat before I sat down and pulled my seatbelt on.

“Hey,” I said again, leaning over to give him a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Yeah.”

That was his response.

Not a “hello” or “hey yourself,” just “yeah.” I looked at him and shook my head. Something was obviously bothering him, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t tell me until it was the right time.

I watched him glance at his side view mirror, before he pulled away from the curb. For the first half of the ride, there was a stony silence in between us, but as we seemed to be leaving town, he put his hand on my leg. I glanced down and saw that it was open and he was expecting me to hold his hand, so I did.

“Still not gonna tell me what this is about?” I prodded.

His response was a gentle squeeze. It was almost as if he had been sworn to secrecy or some shit and I was contemplating jumping out of the car. I wasn’t sure why, but my survival instincts were starting to kick in and I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

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