Chapter 3

In this line of work, reputation is king. Word of mouth spreads like wildfire. If you do a solid job, you'll always have folks lining up to find you.

I looked straight at Cole, determination in my eyes. "I want every dollar I spend on you to be money I earned myself. I don't want to cut corners or take the easy way out. You're worth that much to me."

I had taken a gamble by saying that. I was putting my faith in Cole that he would not just stand by and let them keep giving me a hard time.

The air went still for a moment.

Cole tapped his fingers on the table. "If my girlfriend needs money, that's on me to take care of. Why are you all sticking your noses in?"

I could read Cole like a book. He just loved having someone who truly appreciated him and would be willing to go all in for his sake. Or maybe he just wanted to see me squirm, and now that he's satisfied, he's decided to let me go.

The bubble tea on the table was still untouched. As I spoke, I reached out for it. "You deserve better than this. I'll get you something way better."

I had learned my lesson from the sandwich. The bubble tea would be wasted if I just left it with him.

"Since you went through all that trouble to buy it, I guess I can at least give it a shot," Cole said.

After he finished speaking, he took a sip. Instantly, his face scrunched up. "What is this? It tastes awful."

Of course he would think it tasted terrible. I picked the flavor I liked. It just wasn't his thing.

"You can finish the rest," Cole said casually, like he was doing me a favor. "You only bought one cup, huh? Trying to score an indirect kiss with me? Seems like it's your lucky day."

It took every ounce of self-control I had not to slap him right then and there.

Money's tough to earn, and honestly, every cent Tessa gives me feels like hazard pay for all the crap I have to deal with.

"I'm definitely keeping this straw you used. Anyway, I really have to go now. Don't drink too much," I said.

Cole stared at me for a few seconds, then waved me off.

Once I stepped out of the private room, as much as it felt like a waste, I just chucked the bubble tea in the trash like it was nothing.

God knows what kind of weird germs Cole's got. Who am I even supposed to complain to if I end up catching something from him?

After reporting to Tessa and helping out with homework, I finally dragged myself home, totally wiped, and it was almost ten by the time I walked through the door.

Scrolling through my feed, I spotted a post from Cole in his Instagram story, and my heart clenched.

[Someone made 30 dollars in two hours and spent ten dollars on a bubble tea for me. Honestly, it tasted like crap.], the post read.

I quickly dropped a message to Tessa to clear things up before she got the wrong idea.

Tessa sent me a voice message, and I could hear all the laughter and chaos in the background.

"I'm not stressing about it. Cole's got eyes, and he's not clueless. Just keep tabs on him for me, and you'll get your money," Tessa said.

Honestly, I felt more bitter than upset about their insults. To them, I was born a level beneath them, and that was all I'd ever be.

It was normal that they looked down on me now, but there's no way I'm letting that last forever.

After finishing my homework and finally flopping into bed, my phone buzzed with a message from Cole.

It read, [Nicole, did you see my story?]

Putting on a front all the time is exhausting. I really don't want to waste any more emotional labor on him.

Just as I was about to turn off my phone, I received a notification of a money transfer from Cole. Before I could register it, I clicked on the notification and sent an in-app reaction.

[Seriously? You've got time to react to my money transfer, but you can't even like my story?], a message came in from Cole.

What a nutcase. I hope he ends up single for life.

Getting on his bad side right now wouldn't do me any favors, so with a heavy sigh, I transferred the money back to him.

[I was active on the app because I wanted to send you 240 dollars. It is my wish that we could be together forever.], I replied.

With these 200 dollars and the 300 dollars Cole had sent me earlier, I had already made some profit today, and every little bit counts.

For a moment, the chat went quiet.

[Nicole, who said I'm dating you? I was trying to save you from looking stupid. But you just had to take it for granted. I am way too out of your league for you to call yourself my girlfriend.], the reply from Cole read.

Well, isn't that just great? Cole doesn't think I'm good enough for him. Luckily for me, the feeling's mutual.

Repeating to myself that I was only in this for the money, I replied, [I know you're amazing, and of course I'm not good enough for you. I just wanted a chance to be close to you.]

[Nicole, bet you're loving the attention now that I put you in my story, huh?], the response from Cole read.

Cole was so used to being worshipped that he had never once had to stoop to anyone's level. It was honestly pretty entertaining to have him as the subject of my lies.

To adequately play the role of the simp, I liked his story and commented, [Next time, I'll spend all 30 dollars on you.]

Cole replied, [Who cares about your measly cash?]

Everyone who knows me says I'm all about the cash, and those who don't just assume I must've come from a broken home.

Up until I was twelve, my world was filled with love. Even in the final seconds before the car crash, my parents were holding me tight.

That incident taught me that death doesn't wait for you to get old. It can snatch people away whenever it wants.

All these years, my relatives just bounced me around from one house to another, like I was some soccer ball nobody wanted to keep.

I didn't dwell on it, though. I just focused on truly living my life. Carrying my parents' hopes with me, I was determined to make something of myself.

I chose this private high school because my grades allowed me to study here for free. The scholarship money for being first in the cohort was also too good to pass up.

I could play the games of these rich kids for a while, but chasing my own goals is what really matters to me.

After that little episode, Cole's attitude toward me shifted. It was just a bit, but it was enough to notice.