Page 6 of Control Freak

I took a seat, knee jiggling. “What’s this about? The kids are in the middle of a test and?—”

“Don’t worry about your class right now. This is about you.”

My heart faltered. “What about me?”

He spun the computer monitor around, displaying a camboy site.Mycamboy site.

ShyGuyForYou.com.Complete with a reel of damning photos. A bare torso arching. A view from the back, ass pushed out and up. A close-up of a guy in profile, bangs falling over his eyes as he peeked to the side demurely. Even with half my face hidden, there was no denying it was me.

My breath whooshed out of me as if someone had just kicked me in the chest.

“I can explain.”

“There’s nothing to explain,” Principal Weigand said. “We have a zero-tolerance policy in our handbook. You’ve violated the morality clause.”

My face went hot. “Principal Weigand, please, I need this job. Ilovethis job. I just needed to make a little extra money.”

“Then mow some goddamned lawns!” he exclaimed loud enough to make me flinch. “Get a part-time gig at the coffee shop. Jesus. Anything butthis.”

“There were no other jobs that would have paid enough,” I said tightly.

“It’s disgusting,” he muttered.

When this conversation started, I was embarrassed to be caught out. A little ashamed because Iknewit was against policy. But now, seeing the revulsion on his face, I got angry.

“Not everyone lives a perfect life where they can meet a partner and have their needs fulfilled. I help my viewers feel a little less lonely. I am not ashamed of that. It’s a service, just like any other.”

“Well, you’ll have a lot more time toservethem. You’re suspended. But I have no doubt you’ll be terminated once the school board reviews your case.”

“Please reconsider,” I said. “I love my job. I’ve never had a single complaint lodged against me in all my years here.”

He sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re a good teacher, and I hate to lose you, but my hands are tied. The parents would havemyjob if word got out we knew and didn’t act.”

There was no convincing him. Ten minutes later, I was escorted out of the building.

I stumbled toward my bus stop in a daze. I’d always known camming was a risk, given my profession, but I hadn’t had much choice.

I stopped abruptly as I spotted Brick Olson. He looked about the way his name implied: large, flat face with intelligence to match. He was leaning against the kiosk at the bus stop, arms crossed over his chest, an ugly sneer directed at me.

“Leaving work already?” His gaze panned over me, making my skin crawl in primal response to a threat. Then he glanced at his knockoff gold Rolex and smirked. “That didn’t take long.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked numbly.

“I came by to tell you that your payment just went up.”

“What?But I…” I waved toward the school a block behind me. “I just lost my job.”

“Then you should have more time to cam like we suggested, huh? Those shows are lucrative. You’ll raise the money in no time.”

Realization crashed down. Brick wouldn’t know to be at this bus stop right now unless…

“Tell me you didn’t.”

He shrugged. “The teaching thing was limiting how much you could cam. Now, you can bring in more money and pay us faster. It’ll be five hundred next week.”

I shook my head. “No way. I can’t!”

His eyes went hard, flat. There was a reptilian quality to them. Before I could react, he’d grabbed my throat and slammedme up against the kiosk. I cried out as a sharp pain radiated through my spine.