Chapter 5

That afternoon, before my shift ended, Alvin showed up at the cleaners' break room.

From the end of the hall, he watched male employees crowd around me, grinning like creeps. His face darkened.

Once they left, he came over and sneered.

"You really know how to work it, Lena.

"Two weeks here, and you've already got guys lining up."

I kept my head down and wrung out the mop.

My silence seemed to piss him off. "What? They're not paying enough? Nobody here good enough for you?

"Come to a party tonight. Maybe you'll score someone with real money."

He just wanted to humiliate me. I kept my voice low. "Partying with my boss isn't in my job deion."

Alvin pulled out an envelope like he already had my answer. He flicked it, scattering cash over my head.

Bills landed in my hair, on my shoulders, around my feet.

"Eight grand. You in or not?"

Eight grand.

Enough to cover the $7,200 he'd docked, plus $800.

After a few seconds, I crouched and picked up the bills one by one.

"I'll go."

He scoffed above me.

He'd known I'd cave.

But what choice did I have?

I still owed him $16,000.

Every extra day pulled the noose tighter.

That evening, Alvin's assistant, Tony Hall, brought me a gift box.

Inside was a tight black dress with spaghetti straps, a plunging neckline, and barely any back.

I'd never been to a party for the rich. I figured this was what women wore.

Then I walked in with Alvin.

Wrong.

It was a charity dinner.

The men wore suits and ties. Most women wore tailored dresses.

And then there was me.

Wrapped up like an auction item, ready for the highest bidder.

People stared, sizing me up with open contempt.

I clutched my purse, ready to bolt.

Alvin barely glanced at me. "Keep up."

He led me through the ballroom and opened a door at the end of the hall.

The room was packed with rich kids his age. Callie was there too.

Everyone turned.

She smiled. "Meet Alvin's..."

She let it hang.

"Gold digger ex. Failed his little broke-boy test."

The room burst out laughing.

Someone lounged on the couch. "Alvin, you finally brought her?"

"You kept her under wraps like your prized possession. We figured you'd keep her away even if she failed."

"Five years, though? That's commitment."

I stood frozen as their words sank in.

The broke-boy test wasn't new.

These rich kids did it for fun. Date an ordinary girl, play broke, test her.

If she passed, they got a love story to brag about.

If she failed, they brought her here to be mocked.

A trophy to pass around and judge once the game was over.

My palms were clammy. I grabbed Alvin's wrist.

"Take the eight grand back. Please, just let me leave.

"I wasn't refusing you the twenty grand. My mom was sick. She needed surgery. I wasn't lying—"

A man yanked me into his arms.

"Twenty grand? For what? She barely has curves."

The laughter got louder.

Another guy grabbed my chin, turning my face side to side.

"Pretty, though. I'd pay for that."

He grinned at Alvin. "If Alvin's cool with sharing."

Alvin had looked pissed since we entered the ballroom. Now his face darkened.

Without a word, he pulled me out of the guy's arms.

The room went quiet.

He stared down at me.

"Lena, last chance. Take me to this sick mother of yours. Right now."