Chapter 2

When the second semester started, I arrived at school, lugging a bunch of bags. Lily spotted me at the gate and hurried over to help carry my things. Right behind her was an elegantly dressed woman, clearly someone of status.

"Hello, I'm Lily's mom," she greeted me, her voice warm and confident.

I turned to see a woman in a well-tailored suit, radiating elegance and poise.

She smiled politely and extended her hand. "Lily talks about you all the time. Thank you for being so dedicated with her tutoring. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. If it's within my power, I'll make it happen."

Lily, standing right there, immediately hooked her arm through her mom's and gave it a playful shake, her tone teasing. "Mom, relax. I'm really fine now. There's nothing for you to do here, so you can head back, okay?"

Mrs Lane shook her head and tapped Lily's nose, her eyes soft with affection. Then she turned to me with a warm smile. "This girl, she's such a little handful."

She paused, then looked at me seriously. "If you ever run into any trouble at school, or need anything at all, reach out to me. Don't be a stranger, alright?"

I followed Lily into the school, and she was practically bouncing with excitement. "You have no idea how happy my parents are, especially at all those family gatherings."

I didn't really get it. "Why?"

"Let me tell you, in a big family like mine, there are only two ways for kids to go to college," Lily said, counting on her fingers with a serious look. "One is to get into a good university on your own, that's a huge honor for the whole family, and everyone gets to brag about it. The other is for the family to throw money at it and send you overseas."

She rolled her eyes, sounding totally sure of herself. "If you can get in on your own, why waste all that money? That's the most important thing, isn't it."

I listened to Lily, still not really getting it. Maybe it's just that when kids do well, their parents get to feel proud and show off a little.

When I got to class, the teacher praised me in front of everyone for being last semester's top student and handed me some award money. The prizes at this elite school were seriously generous.

I took the money and went out to deposit it into my account.

Word got around that I was tutoring Lily, and after her grades shot up, some classmates started coming to me, asking me to tutor them too.

I started organizing my schedule, secretly thrilled. This was easy cash, and the best part was, none of these kids were short on money.

"I'm Ethan. Can you tutor me on Monday afternoon?" he said. I pulled out my phone, and Ethan proactively transferred the money to me.

Then a gentle voice chimed in, "I'm Oliver. I'll take Tuesday then."

I jotted down their names and kicked off my tutoring hustle. Staring at the money they'd sent, I hugged my phone and gave it a little kiss.

Lily, sitting nearby with her chin on the desk, squinted at me, watching as I grinned at my phone, totally starry-eyed over all that cash.

She couldn't help poking my arm, her voice full of mock warning: "Even if you're rolling in cash, don't forget our tutoring time, okay?"

I nodded eagerly, spinning my pen between my fingers, my eyes shining even brighter.

I leaned in and whispered, "Don't worry. But Lily, if you ever find some easy money-making hack, you better let me in on it right away."

Lily's eyes sparkled, like she'd just remembered something big. She slapped the desk and leaned over, lowering her voice. "Hey. Perfect timing. I heard the James are throwing a party next week and they're desperate for extra hands. But Mrs. James is super picky. She won't tolerate even the tiniest mistake." She paused for dramatic effect, then grinned. "But the pay is off the charts, one grand for just one night."

One grand?

My eyes lit up and I practically shot out of my seat, the chair screeching across the floor, but I didn't even care.

I practically dashed over to Ethan's desk, barely able to contain my eagerness. "Ethan. I heard your family's party needs extra hands? I can do anything. Mopping floors, wiping tables, carrying plates, whatever you need. I'm quick and won't cause any trouble, I promise."

Ethan looked up, his icy gaze sweeping over me. He barely showed any emotion, said coolly, "I can mention it to my mom. But in return, you'll have to tutor me for an extra hour every week."

I nodded so fast I thought my head might spin off, terrified he'd change his mind. "Absolutely. I'm in. And that extra hour, it comes with extra pay, right?"

As long as the money's right, I could handle an extra hour, heck, even two, bring it on, I'd be bursting with energy if the cash keeps rolling in.

He nodded, a hint of pride in his voice. "Trust me, the James family isn't going to pinch pennies over tutoring."

The party was set for the weekend, and I showed up at the James family's place at the time Ethan gave me for my interview. Mrs. James didn't say much. She led me through the ornate hallway and straight into the almost-finished banquet hall.

She gave me a quick tour, the expensive floral arrangements perfectly placed. Then she turned to me, her gaze sharp. "What do you think is still missing?"

I instantly realized she was testing me. "Mrs. James, I think it would be a good idea to have some spare dresses on hand for the guests. Accidents happen at parties, and having a few options ready could really save the day. Since everyone here is someone important, it shows the James family's thoughtfulness."

I kept going, "And maybe we should have some professional medical staff on standby. With so many guests and a wide variety of dishes, there's always a risk someone might have an allergic reaction. Having them ready ahead of time will let everyone relax and enjoy themselves."

Mrs. James's eyes lit up with approval as she looked at me, clearly pleased that I handled myself right, polite but confident.

"Alright, Claire," she said, sounding sure of herself. "You're in. Don't be late."

I bowed a little and said sincerely, "Thank you, Mrs. James."