“What the hell is all this?” Pearl asked, forgetting the threat that had got her into this room in the first place for a moment.

“This is all my equipment for a business I’m starting. I’ll tell you all about it really soon, but first I wanted to ask you about how you think you did in your exams.”

Pearl eyed Allen suspiciously and said a non-committal “Fine…”

“Really? You know, I don’t have time for bullshit, Pearl. Especially not from you, not anymore.”

Pearl’s jaw dropped, no boy ever talked to her like this. Not her classmates, her male teachers or even her step father.

“What do you mean?”...