Page 26 of Under His Control

My brow tightens. “Earn it how?”

“However I like.”

“I don’t like that. You have to be more specific.”

“It doesn’t matter what you like. If you want my money, you’ll do as I say. Whatever I say.”

Maybe it’s the way he put emphasis on the word “whatever.” A depraved thought crosses my mind.

What if he wants something sexual?

He wouldn’t.

Right?

“How will that work when I’m returning to Toronto tomorrow morning?”

“You aren’t. You’re going to spend the next two weeks here with me.”

I recoil with a scoff. “What? No. I have a job and a life.”

“The only job and life you’ll have if you return to Toronto empty-handed is spreading your legs for that loan shark. For other men too once he gets bored of you.”

Jacob’s retort makes me uncomfortable. It’s too crass. Too accurate. Cedric already made it clear he’s willing to pimp me out to pay off the debt.

I squeeze my hands into tight fists.

“You’re being unreasonable and you’re taking advantage of me.”

He lets out a short, humourless laugh.

“I can say the same about you. It’s unreasonable for you to ask me for thousands of dollars after you torched how I earned a living. You took advantage of the fact that I used to be your stepfather too. You’re in trouble and Mommy’s gone, so you run crying to Daddy.”

“You’re not my daddy.”

His smile makes me uneasy. There’s something sinister about it.

“Do you accept my offer?”

Hell no.

The words almost come out. I hold them in. He’s backed me into a corner but he’s also the one who can help me out of it. I can’t let my anger take control and jeopardize what’s at stake.

“I want proof you have the money, and something signed that says you’ll give it when the two weeks are up.”

“You’ll get neither.”

I let out an exasperated sound and lay my hands palms-down on the table.

“I can’t give up two weeks of my life without a guarantee that I’ll be better for it afterwards.”

He leans forward. “You and your mother made me give up a lot more than two weeks.”

“Oh, I see. This is tit for tat.”

“Do you accept, Penelope? That’s the last time I’m going to ask.”

Dear god, why? Another day, another moment to choose between two terrible options, and one of them includes Jacob.