Chapter 6
Serena finally showed up, clearly clueless about the situation.
Someone immediately asked her, “Hey Serena, what’s going on between you and Corbin?”
“Didn’t you say you were dating him? Was that for real?”
I had my back to her, so she didn’t see me.
Honestly, I wasn’t even planning to come to this graduation party-it was a last-minute decision. Corbin never told Serena I’d be here.
So she answered with full confidence, “Yeah, we’re together. Corbin’s my boyfriend-”
Corbin suddenly panicked. He spun around and snapped, “Serena!”
She jumped at the sharp tone and complained, “Jeez, Corbin, what’s with you yelling at me like that?”
But Corbin knew I was standing right there.
He didn’t dare flat-out tell Serena to shut up or deny her, so he pivoted fast and said, “Actually, I wanted to introduce you-this is my girlfriend, Elara.”
Serena wasn’t dumb.
She caught on quick and forced a bright, fake smile.
“Oh, Elara’s here too? This is just a misunderstanding. Corbin and I are just friends.”
“All that rumor stuff? Total nonsense.”
“Just friends messing around. Elara, you’re not taking that seriously, are you?”
She tried to save face, but everyone at this party already had suspicions.
Some were even sure something was going on.
I didn’t even turn around. I just said lazily,
“I only stress over multi-million-dollar deals.”
“Petty gossip like this? Not worth my time.”
“But thanks, everyone, for looking out for Corbin in school.
He’s not exactly the brightest bulb-needed my help to even get a job.
Guess he’s probably been a handful for you all too, huh?”
I was purposely throwing shade, and Corbin knew it.
His face turned red with embarrassment.
He wanted to clap back but clearly had no idea how to respond.
After holding it in forever, he finally managed,
“Elara Vaughn, this is a college reunion-can we not do this here?”
I smiled and let it go.
That’s the thing with Corbin-he only throws tantrums in private.
In front of a crowd, he shrinks.
The rest of his classmates laughed awkwardly, pretending nothing was weird.
Chapter 6
After the party ended, Corbin stormed up to my car, fuming.
“What the hell was that, Elara? You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
1 blinked at him, innocent as ever.
“What? I was just stating facts.”
“You failed a bunch of classes, didn’t get into grad school, and barely qualified for an entry-level job.
We both know you couldn’t get hired at our firm without me.”
“I even stuck you in a chill department-barely any work, just sip coffee all day.
Once your probation’s up, I’ll promote you to department manager.”
That last part got him. His eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
I could see the greed in them.
“Alright,” he said, practically licking his lips,
‘In two weeks, I’m officially in. You’ll make me manager of the finance team, right?”
‘I mean-you’re my girlfriend. You’ve got my back.”
I gave him my most reassuring smile.
‘Of course, babe.”
‘Once you’re in, I’ll make you the finance department manager.”
