Chapter 2

Frowning, I picked up the money and tossed it back at Huxley.

"Save it. Guess you two and I are not the same kind of people, so there's nothing left for us to say to each other."

I grabbed my bag and left. As it happened, the two of them wanted to head somewhere else for dinner, so they came out as well.

Huxley called after me, "How are you getting home? Want me to give you a ride?"

He jingled his car keys, the Mercedes-Benz logo gleaming in the center.

I had no interest in talking to either of them anymore. I simply unlocked a nearby bike-share bicycle and got on.

We were in downtown Graybourne, and I lived in one of the luxury apartments just around the corner. It would only take me five minutes on the bicycle to get home.

Everything I needed, from retail outlets to restaurants, supermarkets, and bars, was within walking distance. I'd long since gotten into the habit of walking or cycling whenever I went out. It was convenient, and it was good to get a little more exercise in.

The moment Huxley saw me on the bicycle, a look of exaggerated astonishment spread across his face.

"Oh, my God. You're a grown man, and you're still riding a bike-share like a college student? You're practically a beggar, man!"

He stepped in front of the bicycle, blocking my way. Left with no choice, I said curtly, "My place is just nearby. It's a five-minute ride, so this is a more convenient option for me."

"Nearby?" His eyebrows shot up. "You mean you live right here in downtown Graybourne? Honestly, man, you should at least try to make your lies believable."

While touching up her lipstick, Madison chimed in, "You're pretty crafty with your words. When you say nearby, do you mean one of those old tenement buildings in that run-down neighbourhood next to the business district?"

She turned to Huxley to fill him in. "There are quite a few apartment blocks from the '80s and '90s around here. Lots of country bumpkins and out-of-towners who work menial jobs stay there. It's all partitioned apartments packed with people. An 800-square-foot apartment gets chopped up just to fit up to 20 tenants!"

Then she looked back at me, her makeup immaculate but her expression scornful. It was as if I were a piece of lint that got stuck to her expensive dress.

"That place you're living in is just a glorified stack of bricks held together by a bunch of housing code violations. You'd better watch out. The inspectors might show up one day and kick you out."

I had just about had it with the two of them, so I couldn't resist clarifying, "I grew up in this city, and I own my place."

"You grew up here? You're saying you're a Graybourne local?" Huxley's eyes widened dramatically, and his tone couldn't be more theatrical. "Hear that, Madison? There's no end to his lies."

Madison remarked coldly, "The real locals have all moved to the suburbs. And even if they didn't, they'd rent out their old downtown apartments. Who still crams an entire family into a run-down apartment in the middle of the city? It's disgusting to see what a compulsive liar you are."

By now, I had no interest in arguing with them anymore. I turned the handlebars to ride around Huxley and leave. But he seemed determined to use me as a foil to highlight his own masculine appeal. He clung to me like a piece of gum that I couldn't get rid of.

Having discovered just how "pathetic" I supposedly was, he was positively beaming. He pointed at the Mercedes-Benz S400 nearby.

"See that? That's my car. Bet you've never ridden in one before. Since fate has brought us together, I'll let you have the experience of your life today."

"But we're supposed to be heading off for dinner. Why do you want to bring him along?" Madison asked in displeasure.

Huxley grinned. "Well, Madison, aren't you curious to see how people of his social class live?"

Madison looked uninterested, but Huxley insisted on driving me home, saying he'd take me all the way to my building.

I had no choice but to say, "Security at my apartment is pretty strict. Unregistered vehicles aren't allowed in, so there's really no need."

Huxley laughed so hard that it sounded like he was about to blow out his lungs. "You're telling me that some shabby tenement building from the '80s has tight security? I swear, broke-ass beggars like you who go this far to act like you're rich really crack me up."

Madison chimed in icily, "Do you really think everyone is as ignorant as you? There are only two residential complexes around here with tight security. Do you even know what kind of people live in those places?

"They're full of celebrities and business elites. Even the security guards there make more money than you do."

"That's right. I live in one of those two complexes," I replied honestly.

The disgust in Madison's eyes was practically overflowing.

"Don't think that I don't know anything about you. I've already looked into you. I give a rating to every single guy I meet. Don't you already know that? You think I'd be interested in you just because you're pretending to be rich? Well, here's a news flash for you—that's impossible."