Chapter 8 – The Offer
The rain hadn’t stopped. The living room felt heavier now — too quiet, too cold.
Celeste curled into the corner of the couch, phone in hand, checking the Grab app again.
Still surging. Still stuck.
He sat on the opposite end, eyes on his phone, legs stretched out. From the outside, it looked like two friends waiting out bad weather.
But inside, the tension had changed.
She could feel it. He could, too.
He glanced over suddenly. “Celeste.”
She turned, unsure why her name felt different coming from him now.
He hesitated.
Then: “I wanted to ask something. But only if you’re okay talking about… serious stuff.”
Her gut clenched slightly. She didn’t like how that sounded. “What kind of serious?”
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I know things are tight for you. You've said before that the money helped.”
She didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. It was obvious.
“I can offer something more. But it’s not another shoot.”
There was a beat of silence. She stared at him, waiting.
“A thousand dollars,” he said quietly. “If you’re willing to give me a blowjob.”
The words weren’t said with shame. Or malice. Just… calm. Like he was offering a business deal.
Her stomach flipped.
He added, “Fifteen minutes. That’s it. No photos. Just us. You get paid immediately.”
Celeste blinked.
She felt heat crawl into her face, but not from embarrassment — from something sharp and cold. She wasn’t stupid. She’d known he liked looking at her. But this?
“I’ve never done that before,” she said softly.
“I know,” he said. “That’s why I’m offering so much. And I’ll make sure you’re okay. You’re safe here.”
Her hands gripped the edge of her hoodie. “You’re really asking me to do this… just for money?”
He didn’t move. “I’m offering. You can say no.”
She stood up, slowly. Her voice was quiet, but clear. “Yeah. I am saying no.”
He watched her walk toward the door. No shouting. No arguing. Just a faint trace of disappointment behind his mask of calm.
“I’m not doing that,” she said, sliding on her shoes. “Not for cosplay. Not for bills. Not for anyone.”
She stepped outside. The rain soaked her almost instantly, but she kept walking.
She didn’t care about the cost of the ride. She just needed to get out.
To be Continued ..