Read Online Condemned (Beauty And The Billionaire Geek Book 2) by E.E. Griffin - Free Book Online
Authors: E.E. Griffin
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to get a Master’s degree, and I’m in my first year of community college. You’ve got this awesome website thing, and I’m a nude model. We aren’t exactly on the same level.” I twisted the charm bracelet on my wrist, feeling like I should give it back.
“Zoe. You worry about things that don’t matter.” He lifted his sandwich and took another bite. Maybe I was worried about nothing, but I couldn’t shake it.
When Billy drove me home, Stacy wasn’t there. I sat on my bed and did the rest of my homework. When she got back, she came into my bedroom and sat on my bed, instantly seeing my new bracelet.
“Wow, where did that come from? Did you buy that today?”
“Billy gave it to me.”
“Don’t sound so depressed about it. This is gorgeous. It looks kind of expensive,” she said grabbing my arm and twisting it to get a better look. I pulled my arm back and frowned.
“It isn’t cheap. I don’t think he makes any more money than I do modeling, but he keeps giving me things. It makes me uncomfortable.”
“What’s the problem?”
“It’s just moving so fast. I feel like he’s absorbing me or something. And the amazing sex and gifts don’t help either. It just makes me want to let him.”
“Hmm. I get it,” she said laying down on my pillow. “Have you looked into finding a dance troop?”
“I have.”
“Really, what is it?”
“Well, you probably won’t like this, but I met a girl from a burlesque troop at school today.”
“Geez, Zoe. Can’t you keep your clothes on,” she teased. I smacked her with my pillow and lay down next to her.
“The girl who invited me is really nice. I like dancing so much, it almost doesn’t matter what it is.”
“Well, that’s good. I’ve some good news of my own. I’m going full time at the gym.”
“Awesome!”
“You should find a regular job too.”
“I might. Marcus pays way better than a regular job. I’m making fifteen-hundred dollars in one day now. That was my entire month’s income back at the diner.”
“It’s hard to pass up,” she said with a sigh.
“Yes it is.”
After our date at the sandwich place, I didn’t hear from Billy for several days. I knew he had a tendency to get caught up in his work, but not hearing from him made me feel uneasy and lonely. I didn’t want to be the one to call. The entire relationship made me feel like I was falling under a spell. I didn’t want to be the desperate one who couldn’t go without talking to him for three days.
I sat by my bed staring at my phone, torn between wanting to call him to tell him to come get me and wanting to break up. In so many ways, he was just too good for me. The way he thought, the way he led, even his misplaced loyalty to his parents, made me feel inferior. Yet at the same time, all I wanted was for his radiance to reflect on me, the way the moon reflected the sun. That ridiculous sense of dependence made me hate myself and everything about my relationship with Billy.
Instead of obsessing over Billy, I grabbed my stuff and headed out the door to catch the bus from Capitol Hill to Pioneer Square. It rumbled along the road in the dim light of dusk. I was dressed in a pair of tan shorts, a tank top under a hoodie, and converse sneakers. I got off the bus in front of a popular café and walked along the busy street.
It felt good to be out in the evening, on my own. I’d been so wrapped up in Billy that I’d forgotten what it felt like to be young and free. Music spilled out of a bar and laughter filled the cobblestoned square. I found the studio and followed the stairs below ground where I knocked on a basement door.
Bea came to the door in full makeup and costume. I could hear the women talking loudly behind her and smelled the pungent scent of smoke. Bea wore a steampunk corset and a striped mini dress. Her face was painted in over-the-top baby doll makeup and her hair hug in ringlets around her shoulders. She gave me a quick hung and led me into
“Zoe. You worry about things that don’t matter.” He lifted his sandwich and took another bite. Maybe I was worried about nothing, but I couldn’t shake it.
When Billy drove me home, Stacy wasn’t there. I sat on my bed and did the rest of my homework. When she got back, she came into my bedroom and sat on my bed, instantly seeing my new bracelet.
“Wow, where did that come from? Did you buy that today?”
“Billy gave it to me.”
“Don’t sound so depressed about it. This is gorgeous. It looks kind of expensive,” she said grabbing my arm and twisting it to get a better look. I pulled my arm back and frowned.
“It isn’t cheap. I don’t think he makes any more money than I do modeling, but he keeps giving me things. It makes me uncomfortable.”
“What’s the problem?”
“It’s just moving so fast. I feel like he’s absorbing me or something. And the amazing sex and gifts don’t help either. It just makes me want to let him.”
“Hmm. I get it,” she said laying down on my pillow. “Have you looked into finding a dance troop?”
“I have.”
“Really, what is it?”
“Well, you probably won’t like this, but I met a girl from a burlesque troop at school today.”
“Geez, Zoe. Can’t you keep your clothes on,” she teased. I smacked her with my pillow and lay down next to her.
“The girl who invited me is really nice. I like dancing so much, it almost doesn’t matter what it is.”
“Well, that’s good. I’ve some good news of my own. I’m going full time at the gym.”
“Awesome!”
“You should find a regular job too.”
“I might. Marcus pays way better than a regular job. I’m making fifteen-hundred dollars in one day now. That was my entire month’s income back at the diner.”
“It’s hard to pass up,” she said with a sigh.
“Yes it is.”
After our date at the sandwich place, I didn’t hear from Billy for several days. I knew he had a tendency to get caught up in his work, but not hearing from him made me feel uneasy and lonely. I didn’t want to be the one to call. The entire relationship made me feel like I was falling under a spell. I didn’t want to be the desperate one who couldn’t go without talking to him for three days.
I sat by my bed staring at my phone, torn between wanting to call him to tell him to come get me and wanting to break up. In so many ways, he was just too good for me. The way he thought, the way he led, even his misplaced loyalty to his parents, made me feel inferior. Yet at the same time, all I wanted was for his radiance to reflect on me, the way the moon reflected the sun. That ridiculous sense of dependence made me hate myself and everything about my relationship with Billy.
Instead of obsessing over Billy, I grabbed my stuff and headed out the door to catch the bus from Capitol Hill to Pioneer Square. It rumbled along the road in the dim light of dusk. I was dressed in a pair of tan shorts, a tank top under a hoodie, and converse sneakers. I got off the bus in front of a popular café and walked along the busy street.
It felt good to be out in the evening, on my own. I’d been so wrapped up in Billy that I’d forgotten what it felt like to be young and free. Music spilled out of a bar and laughter filled the cobblestoned square. I found the studio and followed the stairs below ground where I knocked on a basement door.
Bea came to the door in full makeup and costume. I could hear the women talking loudly behind her and smelled the pungent scent of smoke. Bea wore a steampunk corset and a striped mini dress. Her face was painted in over-the-top baby doll makeup and her hair hug in ringlets around her shoulders. She gave me a quick hung and led me into
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