7

Camila

“What?” Megan and Bianca ask in unison.

“Why would someone give you money? Ten thousand bucks?” Megan asks again, now sitting beside me on the couch with brows draw in together.

We’ve been friends since we started our freshmen in college. I know they will be surprised because who will just throw ten thousand dollars without a catch?

“Cam, stop zoning out. Why would someone offer you money? For what? Is this some kind of scam? Are you going to sell drugs as payment or...” Bianca’s eyes widen in shock. “Is he going to pay you for sex?” She’s already sitting on the coffee table, gripping my knees.

“Will you two stop overreacting. I did not accept the offer.”

They both sigh in relief.

“I mean I haven’t thought and decided, yet.”

They exchange a look—a look as if I’m losing my goddamn mind.

“What’s that supposed to mean, Camila Leigh?” Megan asks.

“It’s huge cash, and I can buy a car, you know.”

It’s disappointing because I am considering his offer, but it feels like I’m selling my soul to the devil if I am going to take it. I’m afraid Kyland will find out where the money comes from. How am I going to tell him?

“Cam, start talking. You’re killing us here. I have millions of ideas spinning in my brain right now. Spill it.” Bianca stands up, shoots me a glare, and crosses her arms over her chest.

“Never mind, forget about it,” I say, waving off my hand to cut this nonsense topic.

They groan in annoyance.

“No, you’re not just going to tell us to forget about it, Cam. Now, you’re going to tell us or I will ask Kyland and let him ask you instead. Your choice.”

I roll my eyes to Megan’s warning. Kyland will forever lock me in the dungeon if they will say a word about this.

Why do I even start this topic in the first place? Why am I so tempted with that prick’s offer?

I was beyond angry when he offered me. I feel so cheap like a whore. I wanted to punch him, but he might sue me if I will hit his gorgeous face again.

Ugh!

I just say his gorgeous. Well, he’s undeniably gorgeous, but he’s still a jerk.

“Okay, just calm down.”

“Just tell us already,” Megan says and stands beside Bianca.

“He offered me for a Boudoir photoshoot with him.”

“Who?” my friends ask in unison. They look more curious than ever.

“Pyke,” I say quietly.

“Pyke!” They yell into my face with wide eyes.

I startle to their reactions. Does this mean they know him?

“How did you meet him? Did you happen to have sex with him? I heard he’s huge.” Megan giggles.

“Oh, my god, Megan. Get a grip.” Bianca sits down and elbows her.

Bianca is beautiful with a gorgeous hourglass figure, blonde hair, and blue eyes. She’s brokenhearted once. Her boyfriend broke up with her after taking her virginity. He just wanted to win a bet by sleeping with Bianca in less than a month. It was too late when she found out, and the news spread already all over the campus, and she was beyond humiliated—that was when she decided to not go out on a date again.

“Just saying you know, it’s not bad to fantasize.”

“He’s a whore for God’s sake, Meg,” I tell her.

“How did he offer?” Bianca focuses her eyes on me.

I tell them how I first met Pyke and how I lost my phone.

“He gave me a phone, and I was so tempted to take it because, duh! It’s the latest iPhone model. I can afford to buy, but I will not spend my money on that. I still have no luck in finding a job. I can’t let Kyland do all the groceries every day now I can find a decent job.” I huff in disappointment. Until now nobody calls me for an interview.

Why am I so poor? I will pamper myself if I will get a job soon. I need to buy a new wardrobe, too. I was thinking of buying something special for Aunt Carissa. My shoulders sag at the thought of not happening anytime soon.

“Why did you not take the phone?” Megan asks, smiling.

“Because he thinks Cam agrees to do a photoshoot with him.” Bianca rolls her eyes to Megan.

“No, he thought it was his fault that I lost my phone,” I say slowly.

“He feels guilty,” Megan giggles. We shoot her a glare.

“Ugh! He’s hot.” She grins sheepishly. She’s right Pyke is living in every woman’s fantasy.

“How do you know him?” I ask inquisitively.

“Never heard of him? Ever?” Megan asks, cocking her brow on me. “He’s Kyland’s boss for years, and you’ve never met him?”

I shake my head. “Kyland will never allow me to go to the club where he works. He never invited me to meet his friends either.”

That’s right. He’s overprotective and doesn’t want to be a bad influence for me. He wants me to finish college without heart troubles. He didn’t tell me I wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend, but I chose not to.

“Shut it, Meg. She’s a good cousin unlike you, you knew everyone who has a dick.” Bianca snorts.

I laugh. “If it’s Charlie Hunnam’s dick, why not?”

“He’s too old for you,” Bianca disagrees.

“But not his dick,” I reply.

We burst into laughter.

“So, are you considering his offer?” Bianca asks, suddenly turns serious like a big sister.

I take a moment of silence, catching in the middle of considering his offer or turning it down.

“What is he going to do with those photos is the million-dollar question?” Meg asks.

“I’m not against it, Cam. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an art, but why you?” Bianca brows meet.

I shrug. I don’t know the reason either.

“Why not her? She’s a bombshell. She has tits that you begrudged, a pair of long toned legs that could run miles, luscious lips, and not to mention a great ass better than J-lo.” Meg pointed at my body. “Look at her?”

I roll my eyes with her exaggeration. “Meg, B, I’ll think about it. It’s tempting, you know, but I still have three weeks to re-think over and decide. If I will tell him early he will give me the first half of the money.”

“Wow! He’s that serious, huh?” B asks, but she doesn’t look surprised.

“Maybe he likes you girl, he never dated though. I doubt if he offered everyone he banged,” Meg says.

“Well, he doesn’t have to, they will be glad to do it. Pyke didn’t bang Cam, did he?” B asks her.

“What if he will use it against me? I mean some kind of a revenge plot for what I did to him.”

B and Meg laugh at me.

“Seriously? Kyland will kick his ass. Friend or boss, or not, your cousin will not let it go. That guy treats you like a baby sister. I think Pyke likes you as his model. I’ve seen photos like that, and they’re amazing. They’re full of passions, sexy, and sensual,” Bianca says.

“What he’s going to do with it? Sell it to the highest bidder? Hang it on his bedroom wall? Display it at the art gallery?” Meg asks.

“Why not? It will be a beautiful, Meg,” Bianca answers.

“So, should I take it?” I ask looking at them.

They nod.

“That’s a lot of money, and maybe an automotive design is not a good career path for you,” Meg answers.

“And a nude model is my career?” I ask her, arching my brow.

“A model, not a nude model, bitch!” she answers.

“Let’s start the movie, shall we?” Il

“Not until you’ll answer if you sleep with him or not,” Bianca says.

“Do tell, and I want deets,” Meg agrees.

“I told you, we only met three times.”

Their eyes almost pop out from each socket.

“Three times!” they yell at me.

I roll my eyes. “Seriously, you’re giving me early heart problems.”

“I don’t believe in you nothing happened in that three times.” Meg snorts.

“Meg, I don’t think she will just hump Pyke because he’s hot,” Bianca tells her.

Meg laughs. “Did you just agree with me that Pyke is hot?”

“Yeah, now stop laughing at me.”

“So, are you done despising men, Ms. Men-are-assholes-and-will-die-with-priapism?” Meg is still laughing at her.

I can’t help but laugh with them.

“It’s Pyke that we’re talking about,” she finally agrees.

“I know, right?”

“Wow, look at our little-goody-Cammy-soon-will-pop-her-cheery,” Meg tells Bianca while looking at me, waggling her brows.

“Oh, please not to Pyke. He doesn’t deserve your hymen, Cam. I doubt if he will go easy on you, and if he will gonna have sex with a virgin,” Bianca says.

My face heats with embarrassment. I can’t say anything anymore.

“Who says she’s still a virgin? You may not know what she did in high school, B.”

I stay silent while they’re talking about my sex life like I’m not around. I feel ashamed of myself of not having a sexual experience. I feel disappointed at the same time if Pyke doesn’t want a virgin partner.

Why do I feel disappointed? It’s not that we have to have sex while we are posing for the photoshoot, right? Oh, my God!

“What?” they ask. Did I say it out loud?

“What?” I ask back.

“You just say Oh, my God,” Bianca answers.

“Oh, I should pretend like we’re enjoying in bed, right?” I ask, demanding answers from them.

They nod.

“Do we have to be both nude?”

“It depends,” Bianca answers.

I cover my face with my hands and shake my head simultaneously.

“I don’t think I can do it,” I declare.

“Do what?”

My body freezes when I hear a voice from the door.

“Kyland,” Meg calls my cousin.

“Hey, how are my angels?” Kyland asks cheerfully, touching my shoulder, “You okay, Cam?”

I tilt my head and nod.

“Oh, hey!”

My friends gasp, and my head jerks to the voice at my back.

“Pyke?”