Chapter 4 Hannah I pushed myself up from the floor and grabbed my phone . First things first - I needed more hours at work . I dialed the cafe where I'd been serving coffee for the past two years . " Moonbeam Coffee , this i is Jerry . " " Hey Jerry , it's Hannah . Listen , I need all the extra shifts you can give me . Like , starting today . " nah , you're already working twenty - five hours . " There was a pause on the other end . " Hannah , " I can handle it , " I insisted . " I'll take morning shifts before class , night shifts after , whatever you've got . Please , Jerry . It's important . " He sighed . " I can maybe get you up to thirty - five hours , but that's pushing it . And no advances on paychecks - corporate policy , " My heart sank . " Thirty - five is better than nothing . Thanks , " After hanging up , I did some quick math . Even with the extra hours , I'd make maybe $ 2,000 in a month . Nowhere near enough . I showered quickly , trying to wash away the feeling of Vincent's eyes on my body . The hot water couldn't scrub away the memory of his words : " Pretty girl like you could make that money back in a weekend ." I punched the shower wall , welcoming the sting in my knuckles . By noon , I was sitting in the financial aid office , leg bouncing nervously as I waited for my appointment , The advisor , a kind - faced woman with gray - streaked hair , pulled up my file and frowned . * I'm sorry , Hannah , but you've already maxed out your federal loans for the year . And your emergency hardship grant from last semester … " She trailed off , looking sympathetic . " The university simply can't offer any additional assistance at this time . " I left feeling hollow . The campus was bustling with students lounging on the grass , laughing , completely unaware that my life was imploding . It must be nice . ma at our usual café spot between classes . Her face fell the moment she saw me . I met Emma at our " Jesus , Hannah , you look like hell . What's wrong ? " I poured out the whole story - Vincent's showing up , his disgusting suggestions , the thirty - day deadline . Emma's expression shifted from concern to outrage . " That perverted asshole ! " she exclaimed , loud enough that several nearby students turned to look . She lowered her voice . " He actually suggested you … what , become a prostitute to pay him back ? Who does he think he is ? " " Someone who knows I'm desperate , " I said , stirring my coffee without drinking it . " And he's right - I am desperate . I've got 532 in my account , and I need fifteen thousand . " Emma reached across the table and grabbed my hand . " I've got some money saved . About a thousand dollars from that bartending gig . It's yours . " I shook my head . " I can't take your money . " " You're not taking it ; I'm giving it . And I'm not taking no for an answer . Her eyes softened . " Han , that creep threatened you . He threatened your mum . This isn't just about money anymore . " I squeezed her hand back , fighting tears . " Even with your thousand , I'm still way short . " What about another loan ? Emana suggested " That's how I got into this mess in the first place ! I pulled out my phone and showed her what I'd been researching all morning . " Look at these horror stories about loan sharks . One guy borrowed ten grand and ended up owing fifty . Another woman had to skip town because they were threatening her family . " Emma paled as she scrolled through the articles . Okay , scratch that idea. No more loans . Especially not from guys like Vincent . " הו Chapter 4 That evening . I sat cross - legged on my bed with my laptop , spreadsheets open as I calculated every possible scenario . Between classes and my now - expanded coffee shop schedule , I could maybe scrape together $ 3,000 with Emina's help . I'd need to sell everything 1 owned to get another thousand or hið . That still left me at least $ 10,000 short . 1 flopped back on my pillows , exhausted . The café job barely covered rent and groceries on a good month . Even if I dropped out of university right now and worked full - time - which would mean kissing my studies goodbye when I was so close to finishing - the math simply didn't work . " Fuck , " I whispered to my empty room . My phone buzzed with a text from my boss confirming my new schedule morning shifts on Tuesday and Thursday before classes , evenings Monday through Saturday , and double shifts on Sunday . Fd be working nearly forty hours a week on top of my full course load . And it still wouldn't be enough . Not even close . I rolled onto my side , hugging my pillow to my chest as tears leaked onto my sheets . Vincent's leering face appeared in my mind , his voice slithering through my thoughts : " Pretty girl like you could make that money back in a weekend . " I threw my pillow across the room . " Not happening . " I said aloud to the empty apartment . There had to be another way . There had to be . My phone buzzed . Emma Emma : Come over . I've got wine and a plan . sighed , grabbing my jacket . Emma's " plans " usually involved either tequila or terrible ideas . Sometimes both . But right now , even a terrible idea sounded better than wallowing in my empty apartment . Twenty minutes later , I was knocking on Enima's door . She swung it open , wearing pajama shorts and an oversized t - shirt , her hair piled messily on top of her head " Where is everyone ? " I asked , stepping inside . Emma shared her place with two other girls who usually lounged around the common area . " Jess is at her boyfriend's , and Mia's visiting her parents . " Emma poured me a generous glass of red wine . " Which means we can talk freely . " I sank into her couch , kicking off my shoes . " Talk freely about what ?! " About how we're going to get you fifteen grand in less than a month . " She clinked her glass against mine . " I've been thinking . " " That's dangerous , " I mumbled into my wine . " Hear me out . What about Michael ? " I nearly choked . " Michael ? As in our friend Michael ? CEO Michael ? " " Yes , that Michael . The one who just bought a second vacation home and drives a car that costs more than our combined lifetime eamings . " I shook my head vigorously . " Absolutely not . " " Why not ? " Emma pressed , refilling my glass before I'd even taken a proper sip . " He's loaded , Hannah . Like , stupid loaded . " " That's exactly why not . " I slumped deeper into the couch . " Michael's our friend . You don't ask friends for fifteen thousand dollars ." Emma rolled her eyes . " Friends help each other out . " " There's helping out , and then there's asking someone to pay off your loan shark . " I took a can't pay him back ? Our friendship would be ruined . " ok a large gulp of wine . " Besides , what happens w when I And there was the other thing . The thing I wasn't about to tell Emma , even after three glasses of wine . Every time Michael smiled at me with those perfect teeth or rolled up his sleeves , revealing those forearms , my stomach did this annoying flippy thing . The last thing I needed was to mix money into whatever this stupid crush was . " Fine ," Emma said , interrupting my thoughts . " Keep Michael in your back pocket . A last resort . " I nodded , relieved she'd dropped it . " Last resort . Got it . " Chapter 4 Emma topped off our glasses again and tucked her feet under her . " So , I have another idea . " " Please tell me it doesn't involve selling organs on the black market . " " Nothing that dramatic . She grinned mischievously . " Have you ever heard of sugar dating ? " I nearly spat out my wine . " Sugar dating ? Like being some rich guy's … whatever ? " His sugar baby , " Emma supplied helpfully . " And yes ." " That's basically prostitution ! " " It is not , " Emma insisted . " It's an arrangement . My roommate Jess has been doing it for months . "