Chapter 3
"Claire, you need to break up with Luke. Right now." Wendy burst into my apartment, not even bothering to take off her shoes. She flopped down on the couch, hands on her hips, glaring at me with gritted teeth.
"I told you not to date a broke guy, but you never listen," she snapped.
She said, "A guy who can't even take you out for a decent meal without using a coupon? Seriously, what are you still doing with him?
"Come on, can't you date someone nice for once?"
Her random outburst totally ruined my vibe.
I frowned, not hiding my annoyance.
"Wendy, come on, you know it was Ryan's fault yesterday," I said.
"He knows we're just regular folks with day jobs. Why did he have to order such expensive wine?
"When someone's treating you, anyone with manners would never pick out the priciest thing on the menu.
"That's just basic etiquette."
Normally, when we were guests, we would order something modest and let the host take the lead.
But Ryan just went for the most expensive stuff, not caring if we could even afford it.
Wendy kept scoffing, rolling her eyes at me.
"Claire, seriously, what are you getting at?" she snapped.
"Ryan was just trying to help. He figured you country bumpkins wouldn't know how to order at a fancy place, so he did it for you.
"And instead of thanking him, you throw it back in his face. Guess being broke makes you small-minded, too."
I was sick of her always throwing the word "poor" at me.
So, what if we were not loaded? We hustled for what we had, no stealing or cheating.
Even if we were broke, we never mooched off anyone.
She used to be different.
Wendy and I go way back. We grew up together, always in the same class since kindergarten.
We were in the same class all through middle school and high school.
We only split up when we went to college.
Back then, my folks were always busy with work, sometimes not home till six or seven.
Wendy would call me over for dinner and split her secret stash of snacks with me.
She used to be so warm, kind, and always stood up for me.
Since when did she become like this?
"Alright, alright, who are you trying to impress with that gloomy look?" Wendy snapped.
"Break up with Luke right now. I've already got your next boyfriend lined up.
"He's Ryan's friend, a billionaire.
"Go get changed, you're having lunch with him at noon."
I let out a laugh, half pissed, half amused.
Just as I was about to clap back, the door swung open, and Ryan strolled in, shooting Wendy a look like she was wasting his time.
"Wendy, why are you so slow?" he snapped.
"Mr. Lewis is coming at eleven. Don't make him wait.
Wendy instantly put on a sweet, flirty smile.
"Ryan, what brings you here?" she asked.
"We'll be ready in a sec." Then she shot me a glare. "Go change already.
"Just put on that white dress you wore for your birthday. It looked amazing on you."
Seriously, I couldn't even with her right at that moment.
And why would Wendy even give Ryan my address?
Giving Ryan a frosty stare, I basically kicked them both out.
"I'm not feeling well. You guys should go," I said.
Ryan looked taken aback, his face darkening.
"Wendy, I'm only giving her this shot because of you," he said.
He added, "Someone like Mr. Lewis? Even minor celebrities would kill for a chance to have dinner with him."
I looked at him, feeling all kinds of things.
He used to just seem like a bragger, but I realized he was a total fraud.
He was just a married guy with ten million in debt.
With that label hanging over his head, who did he think he was, coming to my place and bossing me around?
I made sure to remind myself to seriously warn Wendy not to get played by him.
Wendy, totally losing it, dragged me aside and started poking my head with her expensive-looking nails.
"Claire, are you out of your mind?" she snapped.
"Do you have any idea how much of a catch Ryan's friend is?" Wendy snapped.
She asked, "Do you even know Ryan's real identity?"
Yeah, I knew. He was a married guy drowning in debt, a total liar and scumbag.
"Let me spell it out for you, so listen up," Wendy said, her voice dripping with excitement.
She said, "Ryan is the long-lost heir of Joseph Harrison. He's about to go back and claim his fortune."
"Billionaire? Joseph? What are you even talking about?" I asked, confused.
Wendy, exasperated, shoved her phone right in my face.
"You seriously haven't seen the news? It's everywhere," she said.
Everywhere I looked, the top trending news was about Joseph searching for his missing son.
Turns out, Joseph really did have a son who went missing when he was just a kid.
Joseph's father was dying of cancer and wanted to find his grandson before it was too late.
So, the Harrison family put out a nationwide call for tips.
If one could help them find the missing son, he or she would get a cool three million.
Even if one just provided a useful lead, he or she could score anywhere from thirty grand to three hundred thousand.
Everyone was jumping on the bandwagon, spamming "Dad" in the comments section.
[Damn those kidnappers. Dad, I swear I'm your long-lost son.]
[Dad, I know I'm a girl, but I'm actually your son. The kidnappers forced me to get a sex change.]
[Dad, Dad, look at me.]
Wendy wasn't exactly keeping her voice down, and Ryan stood there with his arms crossed, giving me a sly, almost wicked grin.
Ryan's smirk practically screamed, "Go ahead, be stunned, be jealous, you peasants."
I shot Wendy a look, honestly wondering if her brain was just mush and wishing I could peek inside her head to check.
"Seriously, you buy that whole 'I'm Joseph's son' story?" I asked, my disbelief obvious.
Wendy shook her head.
"Claire, don't pretend you're not jealous," Wendy said.
She said, "You just don't get it. Some people are born lucky, like fate just loves them.
"Ryan's adoptive parents are already loaded, and now his real parents are billionaires.
"Stop being so petty. Jealousy won't help you at all. You should be thinking about how to get in Ryan's good graces."