The Professional Lover II (18+) | [Complete]

07 : Whipping It

A/N: I don't have a beta reader, so I don't know. I tried.

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I sit on the patio of the coffee shop on campus, having purchased nothing once again. Owing so much to other people has gotten me into the habit of holding onto every cent I have. A few splurges on a three-dollar coffee turns into a late water bill. In my life, every cent adds up.

I crack open my anatomy textbook and start reading my chapter. Bone names are ridiculous, not to mention their fucking divots. It's a shitload of names that I'll probably never use, and only three weeks to memorize every one down to the letter, all before I have to do the same thing with muscles. I couldn't imagine having a full-time job right now.

My phone starts to vibrate on the table next to me. The familiar Pheonix number lights up my screen and my heart drops. I answer it, "Hello?"

"Hello!" the person who only calls when her company wants my money says. "I'm calling for a Magdalena Abbatelli."

I hate when people use my real name. "This is she."

"Hi there. This is Jeanie from the Stone Center. We are calling because it looks like your payment didn't go through this month."

My skin turns to ice. "What? I sent the check in last week."

"Yes. We received your check for ..." she trails off to the sound of tapping on a keyboard, "2,042 dollars. That leaves you will a balance of ..." more tapping, "487 dollars."

I feel sick. "Five hundred dollars more? When did it go up?"

"We sent you some information about the changes to grounds and facility fees two months ago."

Bullshit you did. "Sure. And do you see on my account where I opted out of mail from your facility?"

Tapping. "Yes. I see that now." She gives me a breakdown of the additional fees for maintenance bullshit, all of the nickels and dimes totaling exactly 487 dollars.

"And how long do I have to pay this unexpected extra amount?" It's funny how the people who demand money get to decide when things get paid rather than the people that actually have to pull the money out of their ass.

"It will be due with next month's payment on the twenty-third, otherwise you will forfeit the room to another patient."

Three weeks? Seriously? "Great. Thanks for letting me know."

"It also looks as though you haven't visited in some time."

I hesitate before saying, "Yes, I'm aware. I've been busy."

"Well, it's very beneficial for our patients to have a connection to their families. It would be wonderful if you could take time out of your busy schedule to come visit." Passive-aggressive bitch.