Chapter 2

"Foster, did Brooks agree?"

"Why wouldn't he? That idiot spent a whole month’s food money just to buy me a gift. I told him if he listens to me and plays along with Christy, I'll give him a shot."

"Ugh, a girl like you is way out of his league. He's getting a steal!"

"A steal? Once Christy is ruined, he's next..."

I hid in the bathroom stall for twenty minutes.

After Foster left with her friends, I picked a gemstone necklace out of the trash bin.

Foster thought it was a cheap fake.

But I remembered working at the mall before the school year started. Brooks, who had just returned from studying abroad, walked in once, and the shop owners treated him like royalty.

"Tell everyone I'm just a poor student on financial aid. Nobody reveals my identity."

"If Foster is as shallow as they say, I won't force myself into this arranged marriage just for old times' sake..."

He was a great actor.

Foster hired bullies to mess with him at his part-time job, even slapping him hard.

Yet, he took it, apologizing with lowered eyes, looking humiliated and desperate.

I stepped in to defend him.

Foster's lackey gave a signal, and the bully grabbed me, his foul-smelling face leaning in:

"Oh, you feel bad for him? If you want me to let him go, how about you hang out with me and have a few drinks?"

His hand grabbed my waist, sliding upward.

This was not in the plan. I froze, my mind going blank, panic setting in.

Suddenly, Brooks pulled me behind him, shielding me, coughing heavily.

The restaurant staff quickly appeared and restrained the bully. Brooks pulled me outside.

"Why did you help me?"

I had my lines ready: "I couldn't just stand by and watch someone get bullied."

Foster told me poor, delusional guys fall hard for the "damsel in distress" savior trope.

Brooks smiled. "Thank you. Can I have your Snapchat?"

"Everyone else looks down on me. They just want to see me fail. You’re the only one who helped."

Then he offered to walk me home.

I figured Foster gave him that line.

But I didn't get it. Brooks knew what Foster was like. Why was he playing along?

I got my answer soon enough.

I didn't go inside when we reached my house. I hid and watched. A private driver pulled up to pick Brooks up.

The driver asked him: "Sir, Foster treats you like dirt. Why do you still bother?"

Brooks smirked. "She has no morals, but she has ambition."

"If she can use this game to ruin Christy's image in front of her parents and take the entire inheritance..."

"I might actually give her a business partnership."

"As for Christy, she walked right into the trap without a clue. She's stupid but kind of entertaining. Since I'm on break, I might as well play along."

I scoffed silently. None of them were good people.