Chapter 5

Charlotte’s pov

That night, I barely got any sleep and by the time morning came, I didn’t go to class. The only time I mustered enough energy to step out of my apartment was when I was sure classes were over.

By the time I arrived at his office, it took me several minutes to knock and when I finally did, he answered almost immediately.

"Enter.”

I pushed the door open. The office was spacious and filled with the scent of old paper and him. Zade sat behind a massive desk, with his white shirtsleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing the strong muscles of his wrists. When his eyes settled on me, they hardened.

"I believe office hours ended at three, Miss Willy," he said.

I felt myself cowering as his cold eyes bored into mine but remembering I was doomed if I didn’t speak up now, I swallowed hard and took a shaky step towards him.

"Professor Stone," I started, with my voice cracking. I cleared my throat, stepping further into the room and closing the door behind me. "I... I need to ask you for a favor. A very big one."

Zade leaned back in his chair as his expression remained unreadable.

"I am an educator, not a guidance counselor,” he ground out. “Whatever academic issues you are having can be addressed tomorrow after class."

"It's not academic," I blurted out desperately. "I need money no, a loan. 50 thousand dollars and I will pay back every single cent, I swear it. I'll sign any contract you want, I'll pay whatever interest you demand, just... please."

Silence filled the room as his expression hardened.

"Fifty thousand dollars?" he said, before letting out a humorless laugh that cut right through my chest. "You come into my office, days after a reckless encounter, and ask for a fortune? I don't hand out charity to my students, Miss Willy. Especially not to ones who think a single night gives them leverage."

The accusation stung so badly I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. But I didn’t feel offended because I needed help.

"It's not leverage! My mother caused it all. She used my name as collateral for her gambling debts and now, loan sharks tore my apartment apart. They gave me forty-eight hours to find the money, or they're going to kill me."

Zade's gaze flicked down to my arms, noting the faint, dark bruises where Scarface had grabbed me. His jaw hardened as his eyes flashed with anger but almost immediately, his face turned to stone one more time.

"A tragic story," Zade said coldly. "But still not my problem. If you need financial assistance, go to a bank."

"The banks threw me out!" I cried out as the tears I had been trying to hold back began to finally spill over my face. "Nobody wants to help me so please, Zade... you're the only one who can save me. I’ll do any work you need. I can clean your office, handle your work, sort your schedules, anything!"

Zade's sharp eyes followed my form but he remained unmoving.

“I already answered you and nothing is going to make me change my mind,” he said coldly.

Frustration filled me.

“Why are you acting like you don’t know my name?” I snapped. “We shared a night and even though that is not the reason I am here, acting like you have never seen me before is heartless.”

“Oh, is it?” he asked as he leaned forward in his seat. “We fucked and you were gone by morning. Whatever we had ended there, so stop embarrassing yourself.”

I couldn’t stop the tears anymore, I began to cry bitterly, realizing I was going to be ruined for real, this time.

“Please,” I begged, hoping he would budge. “I am willing to do anything….”

There was silence for a moment and before I knew it, the air seemed to thicken up. Without warning, Zade got up and walked around the desk, heading right for me. I panicked immediately and began to back away but he didn't stop until he had me pinned against the wall and squeezed his card into my palm.

"Anything?" Zade murmured. "I have no need for a secretary, Charlotte. But it seems fate has brought us a solution since you are in need of such an amount."

I frowned, with a knot of apprehension tightening in my stomach. "What do you mean?"

"I will transfer the entire fifty thousand dollars to your mother's debtors by tonight," Zade said, his gaze locking onto mine with an unyielding possessiveness. "On one condition. You will spend the next thirty days at my private estate. You will stand in my studio, and you will serve as my naked model for my upcoming collection."

My heart stopped and the blood drained from my face.

He wanted me to be naked for thirty days because I was willing to do anything?

"You're a monster," I whispered, as horror and humiliation filled me.

"I am a businessman making an investment," Zade replied smoothly, showing no remorse. "Thirty days of your submission as my muse, and your debt is erased. Take it or leave it."

Rage exploded through my veins and before I could stop myself, my hand flew up and landed a hot slap on his cheek.

Zade’s head snapped to the side, with his jaw tightening as a red mark formed on his skin. He didn’t say a word as he turned back to face me.

"Get out," I choked out.

“You’re in my office, Charlotte.”

As realization dawned on me, I ran out of his office and didn't stop until I arrived at my apartment as my whole body began to tremble like I was on the verge of passing out.

But when I reached my front door, it was already wide open, with my door totally shattered. Shocked, I cautiously stepped inside, with my breath hitching.

The apartment wasn't just messy anymore, it was completely destroyed. Every single piece of furniture had been chopped to pieces. My clothes were shredded, my mattress was sliced open, and half of my belongings had been burned.

I gasped in terror as I stepped deeper into the room but my eyes immediately trailed to the bold markings on the wall.

24 HOURS LEFT. TICK TOCK, CHARLOTTE.

A shiver ran down my spine, and my knees finally gave out, sending me collapsing onto the floor. I was going to die and no one, not even my mother, was going to bat an eye.

I was all alone now, with no one to run to.

With tears streaming down my face, I looked down at my palm to see the card Zade had squeezed in.

He was all I had now. Without thinking, I pulled out my phone and dialed his number with shaky hands.

It rang once.

"Stone," his deep voice answered.

I squeezed my eyes shut, letting out a broken sob as I shook.

"I'll do it," I whispered. "I'll be your model."