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I quickly scroll through my contacts, dialling her number when I reach her name, before flicking back to the camera app when it rings. I watch as the phone ringing wakes her up, and try not to read into the small smile that spreads across her face when she sees it’s me calling.

“Hello,” she mutters, sounding shy and sleepy.

“Harper, I have an assignment that I need your help with.”

The cameras capture as she sits upright in the chair, giving me her full attention. As I explain the plan, an array of emotions flicker across her face, while she remains silent, listening to everything I have to say. It’s clear she’s worried, and not at all happy when I mention involving Wren.

But a part of her finds the assignment more than a little intriguing, and I can tell her interest is piqued, even though she tries to hide it in her voice.

“Is there any way we can do it without Wren?” she asks.

I shake my head, even though she can’t see me. “No. I won’t let you do it alone, and I trust Wren to look out for you. Besides, Bram will be watching you at all times, too. Nothing bad will happen to either of you.”

She’s silent for a moment, and I watch her shuffle nervously on camera, looking very unsure of herself. When she finally speaks, it’s barely above a whisper, and I have to strain to hear her. “What if I’m not able to seduce him, to get the information we need?”

I let out a harsh laugh, which startles her. “Sweetheart, you have no idea how fucking gorgeous you really are, do you? You won’t even need to try, and I’m certain the arsehole will still head straight for you. But if it makes you feel any better, I’ll give you some tips.”

The notion of her trying to seduce someone other than myself makes my hands ball into fists, but I sure as fuck am going to seize any opportunity to turn this situation to my advantage.

“You really think I’m gorgeous?” she mutters, shifting uncomfortably on the chair.

“Yes, Harper, I think you’re gorgeous. I wouldn’t have made you my whore if I didn’t.”

Her face twists into a scowl as she glares at the phone, clearly not happy with my response. I hate that I have to remind her of her place with me, but after the meeting with my father, I need to be very careful around her. I can’t have Harper thinking she means more to me than just another hole to fuck and use whenever I want. Even if that very thought makes me sick to my stomach.

I have no idea how I feel about Harper, but I know what’s expected of me, and right now, that has to take priority. Not only do I need her help with this assignment, but to make my father happy, I have to punish her—and make her believe that I want to punish her.

To pull that off, I have to keep Harper at arm’s length, making it clear she’ll never be anything more than a Prize to me.

“I’ll come to your dorm and get you soon, when I’ve finished what I’m doing. Make sure Wren is free on Friday, as that’s when we’re going ahead with the plan.”

I don’t even wait for her to respond before hanging up, watching on the screen as she throws her phone across the room in frustration, before getting up and pacing around her dorm. My chest tightens at the anger she holds for me, but I quickly push it away, since there’s nothing I can do about it now.

Bram’s laughter pulls my attention from the app, and I look up to see him shaking his head at me. “You’re such an arsehole. Pulling on her pigtails in the school playground didn’t work when we were kids, and it sure as shit won’t work now. If you want Harper to like you, maybe try being nice to her.”

I wave him away, my face a mask of calm as I inwardly grapple with my confusion. “I don’t want her to like me, so I don’t need to be nice to her. I just need her to take my dick when I give it to her. Nothing more.”

Bram’s sadistic smile widens as he continues shaking his head at me. “Keep telling yourself that, dickhead.”

I don’t bother saying anything more, as it’s an argument I really don’t want to get into with my best friend. Instead, we fall into a comfortable silence as I continue watching Harper on the secret camera app, unable to look away from what is quickly becoming my obsession.

“No, no, no. I can’t go out like this, Wren,” I snap, my voice tight with nerves. I smooth my hand over the cool, soft fabric of the short black dress, the silky material gliding over my skin with each worried movement, willing it to magically lengthen.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful dress, just not the sort of thing I’d ever wear. The silky fabric makes the black almost shimmer, like a waterfall cascading down over my body, showing off every curve I didn’t know I had. The shape of my small waist, rounded hips, and arse is more visible than normal.

The narrow spaghetti straps holding the dress up are barely visible, exposing the pale curve of my collarbones and neck. Not to mention the deep V-shaped dip in the front that highlights my boobs—and the fact I can’t wear a bra, thanks to the low back.

The hem of the dress stops mid-thigh, and even though it puts far more on display than I’d like, there’s a traitorous part of me that wonders if Lawson will like what he sees. I don’t know why the hell I care about his opinion, but I do.

I have a strong feeling he’ll notice my bare legs; the killer heels Wren has forced me to wear add inches, elongating and giving them shape.

Wren walks up behind me, and I track her movements in the mirror as she reaches over and starts carefully arranging my long hair. It took her ages to meticulously curl every piece, and now she’s ensuring they fall in the correct way, pulling a few strands back so they’re off my face before securing them with a sparkly clip.

She’s also done my makeup, and it’s definitely not the style I would usually go for. I normally go for a “no-makeup” look, using subtle, natural shades to enhance my features without looking overly made up.

But not tonight, as Wren has gone for what she calls “Full Party Glam”. That involves dark, glittery eyes, circled by thick black liner to make them pop, pink blush to brighten my cheeks, as well as contour and concealer to shape my face more than I ever thought makeup could.

Then she adds a bright-red lipstick that appears to shimmer, making my lips appear plump and almost wet. It certainly stands out, without looking like I’ve gone down the route of lip fillers. Despite being the opposite of ‘me’, it certainly draws attention, and I can’t stop staring at my lips in the mirror.