Chapter 4

My emotions were all over the place.

I was over the moon for Luke Sinclair.

At the same time, I was thrilled at the thought of pocketing that huge bounty.

But I was also worried about Wendy. She actually fell for such a scammer.

Thinking about how she always looked out for me when we were kids, I still felt warm inside.

I sighed and took Wendy's hand.

"This isn't the time to talk. You guys should go," I said.

I had to talk to Wendy about Ryan being a scammer when we were alone.

After all, I didn't have any proof at that moment, and Wendy wouldn't believe me anyway.

Every time she got into a relationship, she'd put all her faith in her boyfriend, no matter what.

"Why should we go?" Wendy snapped, yanking her hand away from me.

Her voice got even sharper, practically screeching.

"Claire, why can't you get it through your head?

"This dinner is super important. If you still see me as your friend, then you'd better come with me, right now."

Ryan, arms crossed, had been enjoying the drama from the sidelines. He finally spoke up, his voice cold.

"Wendy, you're always bending over backwards for her.

"But honestly, she doesn't even care about you as a friend.

"Forget it, let's just go. Stop wasting your time on someone who couldn't care less."

Wendy's eyes welled up, torn between anger and heartbreak.

"Is that really what you think of me, Claire?" Wendy's voice shook.

I was just so done.

Ryan was pulling the oldest trick in the book, and Wendy fell for it instantly.

But why was he so desperate for me to go to that dinner?

I wasn't buying that whole "introduce you to a rich boyfriend" story. There was no such thing as a free lunch.

Come on, did billionaires really have trouble finding girlfriends?

Something was definitely fishy here.

Maybe this lunch was the perfect chance to blow Ryan's cover in front of Wendy.

"Fine, I'll go, okay?" I finally gave in.

Just to be safe, I slipped some pepper spray into my bag and texted Luke just in case.

The restaurant Ryan picked was seriously upscale.

It was one of those exclusive private clubs, the kind everyone in Riverdale knew about.

Wendy was on my case, nagging me like a broken record.

"You're seriously driving me nuts.

"I told you we're meeting a billionaire today, and you show up in freaking jeans?

"They say loving someone is like tending a garden. If you don't break up with Luke soon, he'll turn you into a weed instead of a flower.

"Just listen to me, okay? I'm only trying to help. Go home and break up with Luke today."

My head was spinning. She was like a hundred ducks quacking nonstop right next to me.

Ryan exclaimed, "Oh, Mr. Lewis, you're here so early."

Ryan pushed open the private room door, flashing a fawning grin.

Inside the private room sat a middle-aged man with a huge belly, practically parked in his seat.

He was balding, with glasses perched on his nose. His shirt was stretched so tight across his gut it looked ready to pop open.

I could see a few faint words floating above his head: [A Sinister and Cunning Scammer].

When he spotted me, his eyes lit up.

"You must be Ms. Goodman. Wow, you're even prettier than Ryan said," he exclaimed.

This dinner was pure torture. I couldn't sit still for a second.

Max kept giving me sleazy, hungry looks the whole time, like he was sizing me up for a meal.

Ryan was busy buttering him up, bragging about how loaded his family was.

Then, out of nowhere, he suddenly suggested we all go on a trip together.

Wendy's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"I've always wanted to go on a trip," she squealed.

Ryan wasn't just drowning in debt. He was also buddy-buddy with a scammer.

He was even plotting to scam both Wendy and me into going to that scam base.

Seeing Wendy grinning from ear to ear, I was so anxious my palms were slick with cold sweat.

Suddenly, it hit me. This special ability of mine wasn't perfect after all.

People were way more complicated than they seemed.

For example, a murderer could also be a cheater, a drug dealer, a gangster, a deadbeat son, and a total perv, all rolled into one.

But this power only ever showed one or two sides of a person, tops.

After drowning in debt, Ryan hooked up with a fraud ring and started posing as a wealthy heir just to scam women.

Wendy and I were exactly who he was after this time.

I couldn't even call the cops, no proof, nothing.

"Mr. Lewis has a five-star restaurant opening up in Yorishland, so he's gotta go cut the ribbon at the grand opening.

"After the ceremony's over, we'll hop a flight straight to the destination."

Wendy nodded so hard I thought her neck might snap, shooting Max a look like he was some kind of celebrity.

"Mr. Lewis, you're seriously impressive.

"It's such an honor to meet you.

"Come on, let's toast to you."

With that, she filled my glass to the brim with red wine.

I stared at the swirling red liquid in my glass, a dull ache spreading through my chest.

I was a total lightweight. Just one beer and I was out cold.

Wendy knew that better than anyone, but she still filled my glass to the brim.

What was she trying to pull?

"Why are you just sitting there? Did you get so happy you spaced out? Hurry up and toast Mr. Lewis," Wendy urged, kicking my foot under the table.

I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up abruptly, pushing my chair back hard.

"I'm not feeling well. I'm heading home," I said, my voice steady but firm.

With two sketchy guys at the table, I had to put my own safety first.

Wendy would have to wait. I'd talk some sense into her tomorrow.

Wendy froze for a second, then her face turned bright red. She shouted and grabbed my wrist.

"Claire, what do you mean by this?

"I've always had your back, and this is how you treat me? You're such an ungrateful friend."

Ryan narrowed his eyes, staring at me coldly.

"Ms. Goodman, don't refuse a toast and end up with a punishment.

"Meeting you is a courtesy you don't often get."

My heart skipped a beat. Seriously? Were they really going to try to keep me here in broad daylight?

Max's face twisted in a venomous scowl, his eyes locked on me like a snake sizing up its prey.

"Ms. Goodman, nobody in Riverdale, cops or crooks, would ever dare disrespect me like this.

"If you want to leave, you finish this bottle. Or else, don't blame me for what happens next."

If I drank that whole bottle, there was no way I'd get out of here.

Yorishland was just a five or six-hour drive from Riverdale.

They could get me drunk and shove me into a car.

The moment that terrifying thought hit me, I didn't hesitate. I sprinted straight for the door.