Page 72 of Apparently, I’m A B!tch

“I’m not interested. Not anymore.”

A breath left her nose and she tutted, but her face still held all the hard glee she came in with. “Not so hasty now. Surely you can see the benefits to our arrangement? You attend events with me, helping me prove to all my contacts and that horrible ex-husband of mine that I am well and truly doing just fine without that bastard, and I’ll let Kenny keep you as a teacher.”

My lips tightened as her fingers swirled against my chest, her hard nails marking my skin.

“You’d make Kenny fire me, wouldn’t you?”

She tilted her chin, blinking only once. “I would, darling. I truly would. And wouldn’t it be such a shame? Especially as I’m not asking you to do anything underhanded. I’m simply asking for some company, a kiss here and there in front of the right people. That’s all.”

I ground my teeth and flexed my jaw, trying to keep myself from doing or saying something stupid. “If I knew what you wanted from me, I never would’ve agreed to go with you to those events. I’ve told you, I’m in love with Nikki. I can’t kiss you and pretend I want you… I don’t want to use you like that.”

I gripped her wrist and gently pulled her hand from underneath my shirt, and her expression finally shifted. “Oh, well aren’t you just so noble? What about this woman you’re in love with then? Does Nikki want you back? Did she forgive you for fucking me on Monday?”

I flexed the muscle in my jaw before I looked back at Nikki’s unfinished canvas and shook my head.

“Well, what is the point of ruining a perfectly good art career at the expense of some woman who doesn’t want you? Why not join me at the next show? I’ll let Kenny keep you on as his teacher, and you’ll join him for the ArtBox gallery showing in September.”

I was sleep deprived, heartbroken and frustrated. My patience was worn thin.

“Find. Someone. Else.”

She let out a laugh, rich and demeaning. “Oh darling, I would. But my friends have been whispering that I’ve been dumped by a nobody, and I can’t have that. My contacts are calling me with sympathy, wondering if I’ll dare to show my face at the next event, what with Roger swanning about with his new conquest on his arm.”

“I don’t want to be a part of this ridiculous game you have with your ex-husband. My answer is no.”

The corners of her lips turned down mockingly as she cocked her head to the side. “Oh, poor me. Poor little me. Rejected before my entire offer was heard out.”

Her hands went to the belt at her waist, and she untied the knot fluidly, letting her trench drop open by her sides.

Underneath that black swath of fabric, she was naked.

She reached a hand to one of her breasts, cupped it and circled a finger against her nipple. Her other hand pushed the side of her jacket behind the curve of her hip, as her chin lifted confidently.

“You could have me right now, you know. I could be so good for you,” she whispered, sliding two fingers between her thighs. “Come closer.”

I wasn’t made of stone. The sight of Rochelle, naked and touching herself, made my body tighten. But it also made my stomach roil.

I looked aside and said, “You should cover up, Rochelle. I’m not interested in any part of your offer.”

I braced myself as she screeched, hands furiously working to cover herself up as she screamed, “You’ll never be an artist worth anything, you useless, prudish bastard!”

She turned and stomped out of my classroom, slamming the door behind her. I turned a pace in the middle of my student’s work when a knock sounded at the door. Carlos came in.

“Was that Rochelle?” he whispered, as if she might still be around to hear him.

I crossed my arms, more hugging myself than anything else. “Yep.”

I was glad to see him. This burning numbness was like being drowned. Dark, heavy and dragging coldness had been swelling inside of me, choking me, making it difficult to go through my day. The more people I had around me, the more distractions, the more I could manage being away from her.

“What did she want, man?”

Carlos walked into the room and looked up at me. His permanently upbeat demeanor was gone, and I felt sicker at the thought that Rochelle might make even him fear for his career.

“She was trying to get me to change my mind.”

“And?” he pushed.

“And nothing’s changed. I’m not going to whore myself out for an art career, Carlos. She can tell Kenny to fire me; I don’t give a shit anymore.”