CHAPTER 5

The words hit Teal like a slap. She stumbled back but caught herself. Face pale. She didn't react. 

She blinked hard replaying the words in her head. She was Dacio's fiancee. She had to be strong. For herself. For Tamsin.

She straightened up, masked the sadness, and walked back inside.

Tamsin was still at the table, scrolling, cereal in spoon.

Teal sat across from her. "Baby aren't you going to hurry up? Hugo's leaving."

Tamsin shrugged. "That jerk can't leave without me."

"VROOM!"

Tires screeched. The gate was closing.

Tamsin's head snapped up. "What the---"

She dropped her spoon, grabbed her bag, kissed Teal. "Mom I'm off. Love you."

She bolted outside but the gates were already closing. Hugo's car tore out, not slowing. Not stopping.

Tamsin stopped dead. Face twisted. 

"THAT JERK REALLY LEFT ME BEHIND!"

She stomped. Once, twice.

"Ugh I hate him. I hate him so much!"

Her voice cracked. From humiliation.

She checked her phone. No nearby taxi.

She wanted to scream. Instead she fixed her cardigan and shades.

She turned to a maid. "Call Dacio Bruno's personal driver."

"Already done, Miss. Five minutes away."

Five minutes.

She couldn't be late. But she had no choice.

"Good," she said tightly. "Then I have five minutes to think of ten new ways to ruin his life."

The wind picked up. Fall had come to Madrid.

She wrapped her arms around herself.

"Hugo Dacio Bruno," she whispered it like a curse. 

This was war.

                                    ★

The black boat tail slowed at the gates of IE university and rolled through like it owned the place. Dacio Bruno's personal driver was behind the wheel.

In the backseat, Tamsin fixed her hair and makeup. She was late, and it was all Hugo's fault. By the time she was ready, the driver was already waiting.

The car pulled to a stop. First came the heels--- sleek, black, lethal. Then the legs. The whole courtyard stopped. Phones went up. Whispers spread.

Tamsin shut the door with a soft click. She adjusted her shades and lifted her chin.

Confidence. Aura.

Across the courtyard, one girl glared at her with pure venom. Tamsin didn't flinch. She stared back and started walking. Heels clinking. Head high.

From another corner, a different girl watched with awe and excitement.

                                       ★

Tamsin pushed through the main doors and paused, removing her shades.

Floor-to- ceiling glass. Sunlight bouncing off marble floors so bright she had to squint. Three story lobby. Escalators and curved white stairs that students called "the runway" because everyone walked it like they were being watched.

The moment she stepped in, whispers started.

Girl 1: "who's that?"

Girl 2: "Must be new. Look at her. She's stunning."

Girl 3: "Her bag. Her shoes.... She's not from here."

Girl 2: "She might even be prettier than the VASA girls."

Girl 3: "Girl don't let them hear you. You know what they can do."

Random girl: "Ahh the VASA girls are here!"

The air changed. Conversations stopped. Everyone knew who they were before a name was said.

They owned IE.

(V) Valentina: If money had a favourite daughter, it was her.

She didn't walk into a room. She owned it.

Today: head to toe crimson. Floor length silk gown with a high slit, low back, clinging to her waist and hips. Red Louboutins. Matching red bag worth more than a semester's tuition. Blood red lips, sharp liner, diamond choker. Red fiery hair.

Valentina was a "Daddy's girl." Her father did everything she asked for. She knew it. She used it.  Ruthless. She could snap her fingers and have anything delivered. 

She walked in front, letting the red of her dress paint the hall. She didn't look at anyone. They were supposed to look at her.

(A) Aitana: If Valentina was queen, Aitana was chaos.

Black bodycon mini dress with cutouts. White faux fur jacket. Full glam, glitter under eyes, big hoop earrings. Phone in hand, tripod attached. Already live.

Classes were optional to her. Her dad's donations covered exams. Her I*******m mattered more than grades. She was loud, reckless, fun in a dangerous way. Violence was entertaining to her.

Right now she filmed everything. "Tag us. We don't do boring."

(S) Sofia: The one you underestimated.

White mini dress with tiny crossed straps. Knee high boots. Small gold hoops. Hair in a ponytail. Light makeup. She looked like art. 

Sofia was calm but toxic. Computer science genius. She coded better than the professors. No one knew she also played football on the side. Too "unbranded" for the VASA girls title.

She didn't yell like Valentina. She'd remember everything and use it later. 

"Morning," she said softly to a group of boys. They straightened instantly, smiling. She didn't smile back.

(A) Ariadna: Black shorts, tiny white cropped top, jean jacket. Thick boots. Two high ponytails. Black lipstick. She looked young. Harmless.

That was the trap.

 Ariadna was quiet, but the most dangerous. She watched. She noted. And when she moved, it hurt more than shouting. Students whispered she was worst than Valentina because she hid behind sweetness.

Today she walked with a Popsicle in her mouth, eyes scanning like she was taking notes.

                                       ★

Tamsin was still taking in the grandeur of the school.

"This place is beautiful," she whispered clutching her shades tighter.

She was so distracted she bumped into someone.

"Sorry!" Tamsin stepped back.

Ariadna. One of the VASA girls.

Ariadna looked at her and smirked. "Ohh who do we have here. A nobody, I guess." 

Tamsin frowned. "Excuse me?"

She tried walking past, but a hand shot out yanking her back. 

"Didi I say you could leave?" Ariadna tilted her head. "Apologize. On your knees. And maybe I might forgive you."

 "I'm not doing that." Tamsin frowned, voice cold.

Valentina moved. She grabbed Tamsin's hair and shoved.

Tamsin twisted free. Valentina stumbled.

The hall went silent. Then Valentina charged.

SLAP!

Her palm hit Tamsin's cheek. Pain shot through Tamsin. Her eyes watered.

Then something snapped in her.

SMACK! SMACK!

Tamsin hit back. Twice.

Valentina stumbled, bleeding from her nose.

Aitana's phone was already filming. 

"Watch what happens when a nobody messes with the VASA girls," she said into the camera, posting it before turning around.

Valentina on the floor, bleeding.

"What did you do to her?" Aitana yelled.

"Who do you think you are?" Tamsin yelled breathing hard. "Telling me to kneel and apologize. Do you even know who I am?"

Sofia cracked her knuckles.

Ariadna crushed her Popsicle under her boot, eyes dark.

Valentina pulled out her phone with shaky hands. "You're soo done. I'm calling my dad."

But Tamsin didn't back down. Cheek stinging. Fists clenched. "I'm not scared of any of you?"

The crowd froze, waiting for blood.

Then a voice came. Dark. Cold. Furious.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Tamsin's head snapped up. The moment she saw who it was, her face twisted in irritation.

Valentina turned too.

And everything about her changed.

The rage vanished. Her bleeding nose  forgotten. Her phone lowered.

Her lips curved into a soft, eager smile. Her eyes went wild and bright, like she'd been waiting forever.

"Hugo!"