Chapter 2

I didn't care about Carter's passive-aggressive summons.

I slowly walked to the convenience store, bought an iced water, and took my sweet time heading to the dining hall.

On my way, my dad texted me: "Hey, sweetie! How much did you make today? I'm visiting your campus dining hall in a few days. You better treat your dad to a nice dinner!"

I rolled my eyes.

My dad was a total capitalist.

He literally owned the entire dining services company that contracted with the university, yet he made his own daughter work as a delivery girl for pocket change.

I texted back: "Food, food, food, that’s all you think about! Exploiting your own daughter—worst dad ever!"

By the time I reached the delivery office, the tension inside was thick.

Seeing me walk in while still scrolling on my phone, Carter let out a cold snort.

Lily immediately stood up and said sneeringly, "Oh, look who decided to show up. Our resident princess, Chloe. Last in deliveries, and last to the meeting!"

I wasn't about to let her slide. Ignoring the warning looks from the other students,

I replied, "Oh, absolutely. No one can compete with you, Lily. You're number one in deliveries, and number one at kissing ass."

Lily's face fell instantly. Before she could snap back,

Carter lost his temper.

He slammed his fist on the desk, knocking his cup of loose-leaf tea right onto the floor.

"Chloe Vance! Have I been too nice to you? Don't think I won't fire you just because you're a girl! All you do is bring drama and toxicity to this department!"

Me? Toxic?

What a joke.

He was still holding a grudge because I had rejected his "suggestion" to buy him a free steak dinner last week.

Seeing the smug look return to Lily's face,

I pretended to look panicked and bent down to help clean up the spilled tea.

"Oh, Carter, I'm so sorry! Please don't be mad. And definitely don't ruin this expensive tea!"

"Lily spent a fortune buying this high-end blend just for you. She's standing right here—it'd be a shame to waste her little tribute, right?"

Boom. I exposed her little bribe right in front of everyone.

Carter's face turned beet red, his fists clenching.

Lily panicked and quickly tried to explain, "Chloe, stop lying! Carter didn't ask me to buy him anything. I just saw how hard he works assigning us orders, and I wanted to show my appreciation!"

I nodded, making a mocking face.

"Right, right. Carter sits in his air-conditioned office all day, drinking Starbucks that students buy him. Truly backbreaking labor. He definitely needs some premium tea to digest all that brown-nosing."

A few delivery kids in the back couldn't help but snicker.

Looking at Carter and Lily’s furious, red faces, I actually wondered if I was being too mean.

After all, they technically worked for my dad.