My hands trembled as I stood before Julian and his friends. Their eyes traveled over my body, lingering on the too-tight uniform that left nothing to imagination.
"What can I get you?" I asked, forcing my voice to remain steady.
Julian's lips curved into that familiar smirk—the one that once made me weak in the knees but now sent ice through my veins.
"That depends on what's on offer," he said, his friends snickering beside him. "The menu seems... limited."
I gritted my teeth. "We have burgers, sandwiches—"
"How about some self-respect?" Julian cut in. "Oh wait, you're fresh out of that, aren't you?"
His friends burst into laughter. My cheeks burned as nearby customers turned to stare.
"Are you ordering food or not?" I managed to ask.
Julian leaned forward, elbows on the table. "I heard you've been busy since our little... separation. Working as a waitress by day and what... a call girl by night?"
The accusation sliced through me like a knife. "That's not true."
"No?" He raised an eyebrow. "Word around campus is you've been desperate for cash. So desperate you'd do anything... or anyone."
My manager appeared beside me, eyes darting nervously between us. "Everything okay here, Sera?"
Julian flashed his charming smile—the one he reserved for authority figures. "Just catching up with an old friend. We'll have three beers."
The manager nodded and walked away, leaving me alone with my tormentors. I turned to follow him, but Julian's hand shot out, grabbing my wrist.
"We're not done talking," he said, his grip painful.
"Let go of me," I hissed.
Instead, he pulled me closer, causing me to stumble against the table. "I have a proposition for you."
His friend to the right—Brady, I remembered—reached out and ran his hand down my hip. "Maybe she could earn some cash right now."
I jerked away, but Julian's grip tightened. "How much would it take, Sera? To get you to do what I want?"
"There isn't enough money in the world," I spat.
Julian's eyes darkened. "Really? Not even to help your precious daddy out of jail?"
The mention of my father sent panic shooting through me. I needed money—desperately—but not like this. Never like this.
"Here are your beers," I said as the manager returned with a tray. I snatched it from him and slammed the bottles on the table, beer sloshing over the sides.
Julian caught my wrist again before I could escape. "Ten thousand dollars," he said quietly, pulling out his wallet. "That's what I'll give you if you chug one of these beers right now."
I stared at him in disbelief. "What?"
"You heard me." He slid a beer toward me. "Ten grand. All you have to do is drink up."
Brady pulled out his wallet too. "I'll match that."
My mind raced. Twenty thousand dollars—just for drinking beer? It was humiliating, but it wasn't... sexual. And that money would help Dad...
"You're insane," I said, but my eyes lingered on the beer.
"Tick tock, Sera," Julian taunted. "Pride won't pay your daddy's legal fees."
The diner had gone quiet. Everyone was watching us now. My manager stood frozen behind the counter, unwilling to interfere with wolves from a powerful pack.
With shaking hands, I picked up the first beer. "Twenty thousand. Cash. Now."
Julian and Brady both placed stacks of bills on the table. I fought back tears as I lifted the bottle to my lips and started chugging. The beer was bitter and cold, burning my throat as I forced it down without stopping. When I finished, I slammed the empty bottle down, gasping for air.
"One more," Brady pushed his beer toward me. "Another ten thousand."
Before I could think, I grabbed it and chugged the second beer too. My head was already spinning, my empty stomach protesting the sudden influx of alcohol.
Julian's eyes glittered with cruel satisfaction. "Look at her—Julian Bennett's mate, reduced to performing party tricks for cash."
"I'm not your mate anymore," I whispered, reaching for the money.
Julian's hand clamped down on mine. "Not so fast. Let's see if you've earned it."
He stood abruptly, dragging me toward the door. I stumbled after him, the alcohol already affecting my balance.
"What are you doing?" I demanded as he pulled me outside into the darkening parking lot.
"Just having a private conversation." Julian shoved me against the wall. "About our future arrangement."
"There is no arrangement," I said, trying to push him away.
His laugh was cold. "There will be. You need money, and I need... companionship. My engagement to Camille is purely political. I still need someone to satisfy my... other needs."
Disgust washed over me. "You want me to be your mistress? After what you did to me?"
"After what I did?" Julian's face twisted with anger. "You're the one who wasn't good enough. A dyslexic orphan with no status or wealth. What did you expect?"
"I expected loyalty from my fated mate," I shot back.
He leaned closer, his breath hot on my face. "You can still have me, Sera. Just not as my wife. Think about it—you get money, and you get to be with your mate again."
"I would rather die."
Julian's hand shot out, gripping my throat. "You ungrateful bitch. Do you know how many women would kill to be in your position?"
"Then ask one of them," I choked out.
His grip tightened. "You think I don't know what you've been up to? Selling yourself to whoever will pay?"
My head spun from the alcohol and lack of oxygen. I clawed at his hand, panic rising.
"Look at you," he sneered, using his free hand to push my hair aside, exposing my neck. He froze suddenly, his eyes fixed on a mark just below my ear.
The hickey. From Adrian. In the chaos of the past few days, I'd forgotten it was there.
Julian's eyes blazed with fury. "Who did this?" he demanded, pressing his thumb painfully against the mark.
A reckless anger surged through me. "Adrian Valois," I said, watching his face contort with shock. "That's right. Your future father-in-law."
For a moment, Julian looked genuinely stunned. Then he burst into laughter, joined by his friends who had followed us outside.
"You expect me to believe that?" Julian scoffed. "Adrian Valois doesn't mess around with nobodies like you."
"Believe what you want," I said, a bitter smile forming on my lips.
Julian's hand squeezed my throat again. "You're lying. You're nothing but a desperate whore making up stories."
I gasped for air, my vision blurring at the edges. Just as spots began to dance before my eyes, the distinctive purr of a luxury engine cut through the night. Headlights swept across the parking lot as a sleek black Bentley pulled up beside us.
Julian's grip on my throat loosened in surprise. We all turned to stare as the passenger window lowered smoothly, revealing the imposing figure of Adrian Valois in the backseat.
"Get in the car, Seraphina," he commanded, his deep voice carrying across the parking lot.
Julian's hand fell away from my neck completely. "Mr. Valois," he stammered, his arrogance instantly replaced by a sycophantic tone. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Adrian ignored him, his ice-blue eyes fixed on me. "Now, Seraphina."
Without hesitation, I pushed past Julian and hurried to the car. The door opened for me, and I slid into the plush leather seat beside Adrian, away from Julian's stunned gaze.
The window rose, sealing us in luxurious silence as the car pulled away. I could see Julian standing frozen in the parking lot, his expression a mixture of shock and rage.
I took a deep, shuddering breath, relief washing over me. But when I turned to thank Adrian, the cold fury in his eyes made my words die in my throat.
"Using me to make your ex-fiancé jealous, are you?" he asked, his voice like steel.