The Two Week Arrangement (Penthouse Affair, #1) novel Chapter 34

Presley

I spend the rest of the evening tossing and turning on Bianca’s couch, searing pain throbbing through my chest whenever I picture the betrayal that was slashed across Dominic’s chiseled features.

I just don’t understand how everything fell apart so fast. A few hours ago, I was on a date with Dominic—a real date. I lost my virginity. I was falling hard and fast for the most difficult, most handsome, most brilliant man I’d ever met, and now . . . Now I’ve not only been dumped, I don’t even know if I still have a job to go to on Monday.

The pain in my chest throbs again. My future was looking so promising, and then it all went up in smoke. I choke back another sob. What the hell am I going to do?

Besides, there’s the not-so-little fact that I still need money, regardless of what happens with my internship. My chest is so tight, I feel like it could shatter into a million pieces at any moment.

I’m just thankful Bianca’s not home to witness my pity party. She’s out on a date and told me not to expect her tonight, which is for the best. I don’t think she’d be too supportive knowing I slept with my boss, and she’d probably want to hunt Austin down and strangle him for what he did. Although, right now, that’s an idea I could get behind.

I can’t believe I trusted Austin—I thought he was actually into me. I thought he wanted to get to know me as a person, and the entire time he was using me for my connection to Dominic. I’m not normally so gullible. I feel like a complete and total failure. On every level.

I take a deep, shuddering breath and decide the only thing that’s going to make me feel any better is talking to my brother. I dial his number, and he picks up on the first ring.

“Hey, sis.” His voice comes out strained, in a hurried whisper.

“Hi. Is . . . this a bad time?”

“I’m just at a party with some people from class. Everything okay?”

“Of course,” I lie. “Just wanted to talk to you, but it’s no problem.” My throat is tight and I can hardly get the words out.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he says over the rush of voices in the background. “The payment for my second term is due in ten days. Wanted to make sure you knew.”

My stomach drops. “I’ll have the money.”