STARGIRL

12. Blackmail

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Arabella had come to terms that she would never be taken seriously. She would never be respected like the woman she was and she didn't expect to anymore.

Any hope for that was gone.

She didn't understand men and their need to betray their partners. She didn't understand why she constantly found herself in these similar situations.

She took a seat on a worn down bus bench and crossed her legs.

Arabella took in a deep sigh before pulling her cellphone out. Turning it on, she frowned realizing her mother's medical bills would be due in about a week again.

Still, she didn't have all the money, virtually, less than half. Yet here she was, wasting her time at teenage parties when she could've been out escorting.

At a fancy soirée with a designer dress on and a pristine sparkling glass of Dom Perignon in her manicured hand. The smell of cigars penetrating the room and the sound of live jazz.

She gripped onto her phone tighter and then dialed the number she knew by heart. She didn't expect an answer either.

"Can you please meet me?"

-

Arabella bit down on her lower lip from all the anxiety gushing within her. Her legs were bouncing in anticipation and her knuckles were knocking on the surface of the table with impatience.

She raised the warm cup of hot chocolate she had bought up to her lips and carefully drank from it.

Beyond nervous, Arabella suddenly felt someone approaching her table from behind. It was around 2 in the morning and she was just thankful the McDonald's drive-thru was always open 24/7.

The sudden firm hand grasping on her shoulder made her knees weak.

She wanted those hands to be around her neck.

Arabella stayed silent for a moment, he took his hand off her shoulder and then cleared his throat.

"It's cold out here, let's talk in the car." He suggested plainly in his rich and charismatic voice, Arabella nodded her head in agreement before slowly rising from the bench.

Stanford's back was facing her as he led the way, Arabella kept a distance between the two. Her cup in her hand and her hair a tangled mess from the breeze.

Stanford approached his all black Escalade and opened the passenger side for Arabella who avoided his gaze as she climbed up into it.

She took in a deep breath before he shut the door and walked around to get to the drivers side.

Arabella picked her head up and flirtatiously smiled as he got in and closed the door, "Thought I paid you to leave me and my family alone."

Arabella let out an incredulously sardonic laugh as she turned her body towards him, "No, you paid me for a little while, I've got you by your dick until I turn 18 and baby, that's 2 years away."

Stanford shook his head in disapproval before the corners of his mouth began to turn upwards, "You can't and you won't blackmail me."