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“Why does it matter? You’re a hypocrite, Pres. Just because you screwed on a new head doesn’t mean you get to chew me the hell out over this.”

“Is she even being monogamous with you?”

“Get the hell out.” No, I need to be the cool one right now. “What is this about? I can’t believe you’re acting like this because I’m seeing someone new.”

She sighs. “Sorry, sorry.” Presley hesitates before pulling a folded piece of paper from her back pocket. “Someone shoved this beneath my office door sometime between last night andthis morning. I don’t know how true it is, but it made me think, you know?”

I snatch the paper from her hand. The writing was typed in standard font, standard size. From the timestamp in the bottom corner, I can tell it wasn’t printed in our office. God only knows where it came from.

“Thought you might want to know that Alessa Penrose has a medical history that might harm both Ms. Marcon and the company’s overall image. It starts with an H and ends with an S. Signed, a friend to the company.”

“How charming and mature.” I wad up the paper and shove it to the bottom of my trashcan. “This is bullshit, and you know it.”

“Even if it is, Jules, you’re reaching an age where you can’t play like you do. And,” she interrupts me, “I don’t care if you’re the queen of disengaging and pretending you don’t have a sliver of empathy for any of these girls you fuck until you’re bored of them. You’re playing Russian Roulette with more than your health.”

I don’t want to admit that she’s right. Admitting that means making changes—for both myself and for Alessa.

Chapter 12

Alessa

“See you next time!” I wave goodbye to my lunchtime study group, comprised of other young twenty-somethings who are convinced they’re going to change the world. I used to think like that. Before my thoughts became consumed with Julianna, anyway.

One of my friends I don’t get to spend enough time with waves back at me. “Lunch tomorrow, girl!” Kelly calls. My other friend Selkie gestures that she’ll join me for lunch.

I barely have time to yell a confirmation before I hop on the bus that will take me to the offices of Bradford & Marcon. It doesn’t help that I instantly forget them when I pull out my phone and see more texts from my girlfriend.

“I have something I need you to take care of when you arrive. Someone will meet you in the lobby. You’ve been excused from work. I’ll catch you up to speed when you’re released.”

Well, that wasn’t sexy…

Hm. Nothing about the next hour is sexy.

I had visions of reaching the office, sashaying past the other interns as I head up to my new work position, and brazenly closing Julianna’s office door and getting fucked like she promised. What can I say? Her mouth hasn’t been between my legs nearly enough yet.

I walk into the lobby and instantly encounter a woman who looks like she’s been waiting for me. She introduces herself, but I never remember her name. Next thing I know, we’re in some doctor’s office on the fourth floor. Can’t say I’ve ever been here before.

She says she’s offering me a free physical on my girlfriend’s dime. Sounds weird, but I go along with it. Maybe it’s an insurance thing she wants out of the way.

Except they want a blood test. And some other test I don’t dare mention here.

Suffice to say, I get Julianna on the phone before anyone brings any needles near me.

“What the fuck is this?”

“Sweetie…”

“No! No, don’t say that. What the fuck is this, Julianna? They’re testing me for shit!”

“If it makes you feel better, I’m having the same tests done.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better!”

“We’ll discuss this later.”

“I swear to God, Julianna if you think I’m consenting to an STD test like this…”

“It was my mistake for not clearing it with you first. My apologies.”