ask.
“Yes, he is our boss. What else would we call him?”
“His first name, possibly his last?”
Her eyebrows raise. “No. He prefers it this way. It’s showing him respect, and we respect him.”
I scoff at her as I walk closer. “I’m tired.”
She gives me a look of understanding. “Tomorrow’s plans don’t start until after lunch, so you have time to sleep.” Then she turns, and I start following.
“Am I meant to sleep with these men?” I ask her, cringing as I say it.
“Yes. If you feel comfortable with that.”
“Comfortable?” I ask while shaking my head. “I didn’t even agree to come here.”
“All the women are here out of their own choice. They choose to come and do whatever is necessary to give their chosen man pleasure. And in doing so, that man gives her money and looks after her. You may think we are whoring girls out, but most of these girls come from good backgrounds, and some, well some, are just addicted to sex and chose this as their outlet,” she explains.
“I’m neither,” I say back to her.
Her eyes zoom in on me through her glasses. “No. I guess you aren’t. But the men tip very well, and it will help with your debt.”
“It’s not even my damn debt.”
“You took it on. You agreed to it. So, yes, now it’s yours.”
“I had no choice.”
“There is always a choice, Theadora. Always.” She stops and waves to the cottage in front of us, which I now recognize as mine.
“Will you at least tell me how much longer I am here for?”
“Tomorrow may be your last day if you haven’t gained the interest of any of the men.” She smiles and then walks off.
A knock on my door is all the notification I get telling me it’s time to get up. I hear it and look around for the rumple of clothes I threw around last night, finding the one with today’s tag on it. It’s a short pastel pink skirt with a cream-colored shirt that showcases a lot of cleavage, and a pair of wedges to match. Opening the door, I spot Ruby as she walks past with another girl at her side. When she sees me, she stops as the other girl continues.
“I tried to look for you last night.” Ruby smiles, then touches her chin and rubs.
“What happened?” I ask, reaching for her, but she brushes me off.
“It’s nothing. Please, don’t worry.”
“Is someone hurting you?”
“I feel okay. I’m embarrassed by it and would like to not talk about it.”
“Okay.” I nod, accepting her answer and not pressuring her for more.
“So, where did you go?”
“I went off with a guy named Nicholas.”
She grips my arm. “Tell me more. Was he good looking?” I look at her and see pure excitement.
“He was not what I expected.”
“They never are.” Ruby blushes as we make our way to the same room as last night, but today it looks completely different. The doors are open, and the flowers are vibrant today, which gives the room a brighter appearance.
Ruby squeezes my arm and walks straight to a guy I saw her with last night. He puts an arm around her and pulls her to his side.
“I see you came back.” I turn to that voice and smile.
“I guess I did.” Nicholas offers me a bottle of water, unopened, and I take it. “Thanks.”
“No problem. The games are about to start soon, feel like escaping again?” he asks, a hint of hope in his voice.
A part of me is screaming at me to say no. Stay. You need to stay here. But then I think this could be the one that pays off your debt. You could be free after this. But then when I look around the room and find Atlas in the middle of a conversation, I know otherwise. He isn’t going to let me go until he’s had his way. Whatever that may be.
“Yes. We won’t get in trouble?”
He chuckles and captures my wrist with tender fingers as we leave. “Trouble is my middle name.” He winks, making me smile at his words. “This island has more to do than gambling. Mr. Hyde has made this an island everyone wants to visit. It’s whispered about and wanted by many men.”
“For the women?” I ask.
“They are a huge bonus, not going to lie.”
We walk out, and when we get to the sandy beach, I release his hand and reach down, taking off my wedges, dropping them where we stand, and then putting my hand back