Page 7

After I was sure Fenella truly left, I stripped off my bathrobe. Fenella might insist on managing the heat, but I mitigated it by having scorching hot showers three times a day. She hadn’t worked it out yet, blaming the landlord for the exorbitant water bill.

I dragged off the scarf covering my white blonde hair. Paired with my eyes like ice shards of the lightest blue, it made my Hartlock heritage obvious to anyone who paid attention in history class.

I pulled down the box that hid my collection of lingerie.

A strappy black number called to me. I was determined to earn extra tips, if only to spite Fenella. A flutter of butterflies rioted in my stomach as I opened my Only Omegas account on my phone. I was in the top three percent again and was on my way to hitting a record earning this month.

One step closer to my twenty-five-thousand-dollar goal.

A pile of clothes spilled onto the floor and I pressed the heap back with a slight grimace. One day I would tidy properly, but I couldn’t face the prospect today. That would mean accepting this apartment was my home. The setting winter sun illuminated mycreaky single bed and faded purple bedspread left by Fenella’s previous roommate.

When Fenella had given me the tour, she’d encouraged me to decorate. I stared at the unmarked walls, the nondescript beige lamp with its dusty base. The bleakness of the past few years had stolen my urge to nest completely. It had filtered down to every aspect of my life, including my wardrobe.

I used to reach for pink, lace, and sparkles. High heels, glittering hair barrettes, and bangles that chimed my arrival.

My parents called it attention-seeking behavior. I guess I proved them right, not in the way they expected, though.

The apartment was several floors up, so only the clear, cold sky saw me in the skimpy outfit. I adjusted my phone and my notifications pinged. A smile crept across my face when I saw the one I was waiting for.

Alphareadyorknot.

He was a customer. I tried to remind myself, but my fingers trembled as I replied to him.

We’d been speaking daily since I started my account.

Alphareadyorknotor Lloyd started off like all the rest of my fans, liking my photos and videos. He joined my subscription and paid a regular monthly fee, as well as extra for me to do requests. I rarely accepted those. My parents’ voice jabbed through my thoughts like a needle. Berating me for sullying the Hartlock name.

Sorry, Mom and Dad, but your little girl had to grow up, and guess what? Bills cost money.

My parents raised me to never rely on anyone else. Bitterness hit the back of my throat. You can only be rebuffed so many times before you realize it is safer to keep your problems to yourself.

I stretched my arms over my head and banished the invisible strings of shame that tied me. Scores of followers were hungryfor more of what I could give them. I tucked my signature silvery locks into a bun. My face remained hidden in my content, but I also didn’t want to take any chances.

For the next few hours, something luscious swept through my body as I turned, cupped, and fondled myself for the lens. I dragged down the lacy cup of my bra and bared my pink nipples. My bottom teeth dug into the soft cushion of my lower lip.

Adrenaline surged as I became Tahlia. Not Tully, the disappointing Hartlock omega.

Remember when you wanted to use your camera to make documentaries?

My inner voice sneered, and I stopped to take a sharp breath.

I’d been sheltered and idealistic when I had those dreams. The real world didn’t care about hopes. I’d shed the lingerie and returned to my baggy nightgown when my notifications pinged from Lloyd again, and with a personal request. A bolt of shock charred my spine.

He wanted to video call me.

My fingers hovered in the air.

The money he offered was… obscene. Three hundred dollars for a fifteen-minute call? It would go a long way to my tally. I bit my lip and spun the bracelet on my hand.

WWED.What Would Esta Do?

I had great hopes of being just as revolutionary as she was.

Reality wrung ambition from my veins. A harsh slap in the face of my naivety. Esta might have been a heroine, but I was just trying to get through the day. This bracelet didn’t inspire me. It reminded me that not all that glitters is gold, and Esta might have found treasure, but I wasn’t as lucky.

I replied to Lloyd with my acceptance and a reminder that I wouldn’t show my face. I quickly changed back into my lingerie set. Oddly vulnerable, even though I was alone.

Within seconds, his call came through, and I swallowed a wave of nausea before I answered. My heart crashed against my ribcage as Lloyd filled the screen.