KARINA

“How did it go?” Holly asked before I was even through the front door.

“What are you doing still up?” I asked as I walked into the living room. “It’s three in the morning.”

“I couldn’t go to bed without finding out what happened to you, now, could I?” She smiled, tapping the sofa next to her. “Come on,” she continued, throwing half the blanket over me. “Tell me all about it.”

“Well, it went well, I guess.”

“That’s nowhere near enough detail. I want to know everything. Remember, I’m supposed to be writing an article about Game Inc.”

I told her about the club, about being auctioned on stage, dancing with Cole, The Birdhouse. Then I paused, trying to decide what to say about going to his house. In the end I told her about being locked in the play room but I didn’t tell her I chose to go in there, saying instead that he had made the decision for me. I also didn’t tell her about kissing him. That was just for me.

“Wow,” she said when I was finally finished. “It sounds like a hell of a game. Don’t you think?”

“I don’t know,” I replied. “It just seems unfinished somehow. I wasn’t expecting it to end like that.”

“Maybe it’s not over yet.”

“What do you mean? Of course it’s over.”

“I think you should go back to the club tomorrow night.”

“You’re not serious?”

“I’m deadly serious.”

I shook my head. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because that’s not who I am. I’m not some femme fatale, I’m me. I don’t go hunting for billionaires. I sit in the park and grumble about films.”

“Bullshit. You got into a private club, you went on stage, you danced. I’ve never seen you dance. You ended up in a mansion handcuffed in a play room straight out of fifty shades. You’re much braver than you think you are.”

“I’m not.”

“Damn it, Karina. If you don’t do this, I’ll bloody spank you.”

“I’ll think about it, all right? Now, I’m going to bed. I’m tired.”

“Get all the sleep you can, I get the feeling you won’t get much tomorrow night.”

I left her on the sofa, heading into my room and slipping out of the dress. I looked at my body in the mirror. What would Cole have thought if he’d seen it? I turned left and right. Would he like it? It was academic anyway because I wasn’t going back. It was hard enough walking away from him tonight. I’d only end up getting my heart broken if I went back.

No, it was better that things ended now, before I got too attached to him. He’d only been acting anyway. He wasn’t really interested in me.

I climbed into bed, closing my eyes and immediately his face was there. My lips tingled as if he was kissing me again. The memory was so strong. I dreamt of him that night.

The next morning I woke up to the sound of Holly singing down in the kitchen. I wrapped a dressing gown around me before descending the stairs, my nostrils assailed by the smell of bacon cooking. “I made you a sandwich,” she said when she saw me yawning in the doorway. “And a couple of letters came for you.”

“Really?” I asked, taking my seat and picking up the first envelope. “I wonder what this is.”

“If only there was some way of finding out,” Holly said, putting a plate down in front of me. “I guess it’ll have to remain a mystery forever.”

“Very funny,” I said, tearing the back of the envelope and unfolding the paper inside.

“Well?”

“Nothing exciting. Just the bank wanting money I haven’t got or they’ll charge me fees, meaning they’ll want even more money I haven’t got.”

“You should have asked your billionaire to lend you a bit.”

“He wasn’t really a billionaire, you do know that, don’t you? He was only acting a part.”

“Yeah, well you still should have asked. What’s the other one?”

“Dear Miss Browning, we are delighted to inform you that your painting, ‘Summer Mourning,’ has sold. The balance is ready for you to collect along with the paperwork you need to sign. Yours, L Vaughan.”

“You sold a painting!” Holly said, her hand in the air. “Don’t leave me hanging.”

I gave her a high five as she began tucking into her bacon sandwich. “I can’t believe I sold one,” I muttered.

“Eat up,” she replied, her mouth full of bread. “Before it gets cold.”

I picked up my sandwich but my mind was already wandering. Summer Mourning. That had been on sale for five hundred. It was a ridiculous price but someone had paid it. Someone had bought it. I felt a burst of pride inside me as I ate.

“I better get dressed and head down there,” I said when I was done. “Before they try and return it.”

“What about tonight?” Holly asked.

“What about tonight?”

“Are you going to go back to the club?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think I should. The game was only supposed to last a day after all.”

“Yes but didn’t they say you were testing a new one. Maybe it’s still going on right now. Maybe I’m part of it? What if I am? Would you know if I’d been replaced by an actor?”

“Yes, they’d be able to sing better than you.”

She scowled before laughing. “At least I can dance.”

“Touché. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must visit my gallery to collect my funds so I can pay my bank charges. Like all the best artists do.”

“Seriously, Karina,” Holly said, collecting my empty plate. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks,” I replied. “Proud enough to do the washing up for me?”

“You’re a Bohemian artiste,” she replied with a smile. “You’re supposed to live in squalor and filth.”

“Leave it in the sink then,” I said before heading upstairs to get dressed.