Chapter 2
I met up with my bestie, the one who’s been my ride–or–die since we were in diapers.
Her family’s filthy rich, total old money vibes.
When my family tanked and the rest of my so–called friends ghosted me, she stuck around like nothing changed.
“No way. You’re telling me someone actually fell for that?”
She looked at me like I just told her I robbed a bank.
“You played her like that? Aren’t you scared she’ll come after you?”
“Amanda, c’mon. I didn’t ‘play‘ anyone,” I shrugged.
left
‘I just… left Declan. That’s all.”
I sipped my coffee, chill as hell.
‘I just moved faster than the gossip mill.”
‘If she’d waited two more hours, she’d have heard I dumped his ass from someone else anyway.”
It wasn’t manipulation. It was strategy.
‘But hey, if she really does come for me, promise you’ll bail me out?”
grabbed Amanda’s arm, pretending to cry into her shoulder.
‘I’m just a poor little heiress trying to survive, help me, sugar mama!”
She rolled her eyes.
Oh please. I got your back, obviously.”
So… what did Declan say about the breakup?”
snorted.
‘What do you think? Dude probably popped a bottle the second I was out the door.”
‘Less drama for him, more space for his ego.”
‘He threw a party? Then you throw one too! You can’t let him win!”
Chapter 2
“Amanda, babe, my family’s broke. Like, borderline foreclosure.”
“You want me to throw a party for that?”
She waved me off.
“It’s not totally over yet.
I heard your dad’s trying to land a deal with Veridian Tech. Worst case? I’ll cover the party.”
I’d heard whispers of that too, but come on.
Veridian’s massive. That deal’s a long shot.
Still, I didn’t throw a party–but somehow, I ended up at a bar that night anyway.
Thanks to Amanda dragging me out.
And guess who I ran into?
Yep. Declan.
I was sipping tequila at the bar when I saw his smug ass walk in.
Instant migraine.
I got up to leave–last thing I wanted was a run–in–but of course, he had to open his damn mouth.
“Elara Vaughn?”
Oh God, here we go.
“What are you doing here?”
I didn’t even look at him.
“Pretty sure your mom told you–we’re done.”
Declan looked like he had somewhere else to be. Preferably anywhere I wasn’t.
God, he was always so painfully average… and yet somehow so smug.
“I didn’t come looking for you,” I said flatly.
“You walked up to me, remember? I haven’t moved an inch.”
He crossed his arms.
Chapter 2
“This place isn’t safe for a girl like you. Go home.”
“Excuse me? If you can be here, I can be here. I’m waiting for someone, actually.”
“Who?”
He didn’t buy it for a second.
“A hot college boy.”
His jaw twitched.
Broke or not, I still had taste. And standards.
And apparently, enough cash to entertain the idea of a boy toy.
“Speak of the devil,” I said as I spotted a very pretty boy walk in. “There he is.”
And just like that, I strutted off.
“Hey, baby,” I said sweetly, leaning on the bar next to him. “Wanna grab a drink?”
He smiled like he’d been waiting for that all night. “Sure thing. My treat?”
He ordered us both drinks, cool as hell, but shot a glance at Declan behind me.
“That guy staring at you… friend of yours?”
“Nope,” I said. “Probably a problem, though.”
“….A problem?” he blinked. “Am I about to get punched?”
I grinned. “Eh, maybe. You scared?”
He laughed, but I could tell he was still unsure.
Then I dropped it.
“You need cash?”
He blinked.
“Yeah… kinda. Why?”
I smiled.
“I’ll be real. What if I… sponsored you?”
Chapter 2
He stared at me like he wasn’t sure if I was serious.
I was. Too many shots deep and pissed off at the world.
And honestly? He was way too hot to ignore.
“Sure,” he said with a lazy grin.
“You offering room and board? Health insurance, maybe?”
I almost choked on my drink. “Sure. Full package.”
Even I couldn’t believe I said that out loud.
He just smiled wider.
God, his smile should be illegal.
And Declan?
He stormed out the second I leaned closer.
Bye–bye, Mr. Ex.
Hello, arm candy.
