Chapter 1
The year-end reunion was in full swing when the campus belle, Amelia Harper, made her grand entrance, fashionably late in that globally limited-edition "Starry Night" gown.
She dangled a Porsche key in her hand, casually announcing, "This one's on me, everyone. Order whatever you like. After all, I'm the long-lost daughter of the Harper Group, recently welcomed back into the fold."
A frenzy of flattery erupted around her. Only I, sitting in the corner, offered a cold smirk.
Because that gown? It was an old piece I'd discarded at the dry cleaner's.
That car key? A lighter model.
And me? The real long-lost daughter of the Harper Group, currently enjoying my Spare Ribs in the corner.
When the bill arrived, Amelia's face turned ashen. She excused herself to the restroom and didn't return for half an hour.
A server, a burly man nearly six feet tall, blocked the exit. My classmates then pointed at me. "Susanna Grace, you were closest to Amelia back then. This meal is fifteen thousand dollars. You cover it for her, and she'll surely get you a cushy executive position later."
I wiped my lips. "Sure. But she has to come beg me herself."
*****
The waiter slammed down the 15-thousand-dollar bill.
The whole private room went dead silent.
My classmates, once laughing and clinking glasses, hunched their shoulders and avoided eye contact.
Michael Johnson, the boastful class president, wiped cold sweat from his brow.
Everyone looked at the door where Amelia left.
Thirty minutes ago, she said she would touch up her makeup.
Now, she was nowhere to be seen.
The 6-foot waiter stood at the door, arms crossed, expressionless.
"So, who's paying?" he asked.
Michael cleared his throat and looked at me.
His beady little eyes lit up.
"Susanna," he called out.
Michael called out my name.
I kept holding a half-eaten spare rib without looking up.
The braised food at Regent Grand was flavorful.
Michael walked over, tapping his fingers sharply on the table.
"We're old classmates. This is your chance to shine," he said.
I spat out a rib bone and wiped my hands with a napkin.
"Shine how?" I asked.
He said, "Amelia's busy with something important. You two were best friends in college. Why not cover for her now?"
Stacy Brown, who always hated me, sidled over.
She'd been sucking up to Amelia, almost ready to grovel and kiss her shoes.
Now, she crossed her arms and looked down at me.
"Susanna, haven't you been delivering food? I heard it pays well, and you must be rich now."
I slowly sipped my wine.
"Sure, delivering food pays, but it's hard-earned cash," I responded.
I looked around at the crowd.
These 'old friends' had just devoured the priciest dishes, White Truffle Pasta, Caviar, and more.
Now that the bill arrived, everyone fell silent.
Stacy scoffed and grabbed my bag.
"Stop acting broke. Amelia is the Harper Group heiress. She's rich and won't miss a few bucks. Bail her out now, and she'll owe you a lot of time. Later, even her change could feed you for life," she sneered.
I pulled my bag away before she could grab it.
"If it's a sweet deal, why don't you cover it?" I shot back.
Stacy froze.
"I can't withdraw any money right now; it's all in investments and funds," she stammered.
"Oh, me too. My cash is stuck in the bank," I replied, repeating her excuse.
Michael slammed his hand on the table angrily.
"Susanna! Pay up today, no excuses!" he barked.
He signaled to a few nearby men.
They immediately boxed me in.
Do they really want to start something?
I leaned back, eyeing Michael's greasy face.
"Planning to rob me now?" I shot back.