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Chapter 3

Autor: Penny Paws
I clenched my fists.

These people used to be my classmates.

This was the normal world I'd tried so hard to fit into after I turned ten.

What a joke.

I took a breath.

"I'm not taking it off. And I don't need your charity. If I'm ruining the vibe, I'll leave."

I stood and headed for the door.

"Stop." Dylan grabbed my arm. "Who do you think you're fooling with that attitude? You think you're still some spoiled heiress?

"You're a delivery driver now. When I tell you to do something, you do it."

The look in his eyes made my skin crawl.

He didn't want to help me.

He wanted control.

A voice came from the corner.

"Dylan, stop. You're hurting Willow."

Sherry Parker.

She'd been my best friend in high school.

I'd even secretly paid her college tuition with my saved birthday money.

She walked over and pulled Dylan's hand off me. "Willow, don't be mad. He's just trying to help."

Then she hooked her arm through mine. "Seeing how hard your life is now breaks my heart.

"Everyone, stop picking on her. She has her reasons."

I stared at her. "My reasons? What reasons?"

Sherry sighed. "You don't have to hide it anymore. I saw you at Monarch Lounge last week."

My frown deepened.

Monarch Lounge belonged to Evermont Resources.

I'd gone there last week to audit the books.

What did that have to do with anything?

"You were wearing this super short skirt and went into a private room with some rich businessman..." She lowered her voice, but made sure everyone heard. "I know you need money, but you shouldn't have to do... that."

She took my hand, her eyes turning red.

"If things are really that bad, you could've told me. My husband only gives me ten grand a month, but I could still loan you a few hundred."

Everyone stared at me in shock and disgust.

"No way."

"Willow's seriously selling herself at a place like that?"

"No wonder she got weird when we mentioned honest money."

"So the delivery job's just a cover. She's actually an escort."

"That's disgusting. I can't believe I'm in the same room as her."

Mandy took two dramatic steps back. "Oh my God, Willow. Do you have no shame? What would your parents think? What about the rest of us?"

I stared at the girl I'd once called my best friend, shaking with anger.

"Sherry, do you even hear yourself? I went to Monarch Lounge because—"

"Because that guy paid well?" she cut in. "Willow, stop lying. I saw him with my own eyes. His arm was around your waist."

She pulled out her phone and held it up.

The picture was blurry.

All it showed was the back of a woman in a short skirt standing beside some potbellied guy.

She did look a little like me.

Sherry raised her voice.

"I didn't want to say anything, but everyone keeps judging Willow, and I couldn't take it anymore. Life pushed her into this. Please, stop pressuring her. Just let her leave."

"Sherry Parker, that's complete bullshit!"

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  • My Reunion Needed a Reality Check   Chapter 10

    I nodded, impressed by Alex's efficiency."Nice work, Mr. Golding.""It's my honor, Ms. Whitford."I picked up the diamond fountain pen and rolled it between my fingers.Then I glanced at the classmates still huddled in the corner."Dinner's on me tonight. Enjoy the rest of it."I gave them one last look."I won't be joining you."Then I headed for the door.Four bodyguards in black led the way, with Rudy and Alex right behind me.The door shut.Muffled sobs echoed from inside.I walked out of the hotel.The cool night air hit my face, clearing away the toxic crap from inside.A stretched Rolls-Royce Phantom waited at the bottom of the steps.The driver opened the door.I slid inside.City lights drifted past my window as I let out a long breath.For years, I'd hidden who I was to stay safe.Cheap clothes. Bland boxed meals. Endless insults.I thought if I kept my head down, I could live in peace.Tonight proved me wrong.In this world, being weak makes you a targ

  • My Reunion Needed a Reality Check   Chapter 9

    The private room finally went quiet.The classmates left behind barely dared to breathe.They watched me nervously, terrified they were next.I swept my gaze over them and scoffed."Relax. Spineless followers like you aren't worth my time."The whole room visibly loosened up. Everyone lowered their heads."You're right. We just went along with everyone else. We had no idea who we were messing with.""Ms. Whitford, please don't waste your time on people like us."I was done listening to them suck up to me.Just then, Dylan broke free from the bodyguards outside and charged back into the room.His face was streaked with blood and tears. He looked pathetic."Willow! Willow, I was wrong!"He dropped to his knees in front of me."Mandy and that bitch Sherry got in my head! I've always loved you!"He looked up at me, desperate and half-crazed. "I really liked you in high school. I was just too insecure to admit it."His voice grew frantic. "Please, give me another chance. I sw

  • My Reunion Needed a Reality Check   Chapter 8

    Mandy stared at Logan's unconscious body, then up at me.I could tell she finally realized she was done.She'd lost the rich fiancé funding her lifestyle.And now, she was probably buried in debt too.She sank to the floor, eyes blank.I ignored her and turned to the last one left.Sherry.Ever since Dylan got dragged out, Sherry had been hiding in the corner, hoping everyone forgot about her.Bad luck.I wasn't letting her off."Sherry. Let's talk."I walked over and looked down at her.She shook all over, then forced a smile that looked worse than crying."Willow... we were best friends."She reached for my clothes.I stepped back."Best friends?" I laughed coldly. "What kind of best friend spreads a disgusting rumor about me and uses a fake photo to make everyone think I'm an escort?"Sherry went pale and shook her head like crazy."No! Willow, let me explain. I really thought that woman was you. I was worried you were making a huge mistake—""Enough." I cut off t

  • My Reunion Needed a Reality Check   Chapter 7

    With Dylan handled, I turned to Mandy.She was huddled in the corner, shaking.She'd been the loudest one all night.The second I looked at her, she went stiff. Tears filled her eyes."Willow—no, Ms. Whitford!" Her voice cracked. "I'm sorry! I was jealous because you're prettier than me, so I ran my mouth. Please, just let it go."I pulled out a chair and sat. "Mandy, didn't you say your fiancé works in building materials?"She froze at the random question, then nodded. "Y-Yeah... His name's Logan Pratt. He owns a building materials company...""Oh." I nodded. "Logan Pratt."I turned to Alex.He got it instantly and checked his tablet."Ms. Whitford, Logan Pratt's company is a second-tier supplier for Evermont's real estate projects. Eighty percent of its business comes from us."I nodded, a faint smile on my lips. "What a coincidence. Your fiancé's entire livelihood depends on me."Mandy went white.She knew it.One word from me, and his company was done.Right then, th

  • My Reunion Needed a Reality Check   Chapter 6

    Rudy's words hit the room like a bomb.Dylan's legs gave out. He dropped into his chair, his face ghost-white and sweat pouring down his forehead."T-The chairwoman of Evermont Resources? The owner of the Celestine Grand?"He stared at me in disbelief.Mandy slapped a hand over her mouth, shaking.The same classmates who'd mocked me minutes ago now huddled in the corners, dead silent."Mr. Walker." I gave Rudy a calm look. "It's fine. You didn't know I was coming. I'm just here for a class reunion. I wasn't trying to make a whole thing out of it.""Of course, Ms. Whitford. Thank you for understanding!"Rudy wiped his forehead, quickly straightened, and stood respectfully off to the side.I turned to Dylan, still slumped in his chair."Dylan, you said you were a regional director at Stellar Tech?"He flinched and looked away."Y-Yeah...""Mr. Golding."I snapped my fingers."Yes, ma'am."Alex stepped forward."Check Stellar Tech."He pulled out his tablet and tapped th

  • My Reunion Needed a Reality Check   Chapter 5

    His voice rang through the room, loud and respectful.Dead silence.Everyone stared at the stranger.He opened his briefcase and handed me a document, along with a custom diamond-covered fountain pen."Ms. Whitford, please accept full ownership of Evermont Resources before nine tonight. You can't keep pretending to be broke anymore."Please sign."Every face in the room froze.Dylan's fist still hung in the air, his jaw practically on the floor.Mandy dropped her compact. It shattered.Sherry looked like she'd seen a ghost.I shoved Dylan's arm aside and smoothed my delivery jacket.Then I took the heavy fountain pen."Mr. Golding, wasn't that entrance a little dramatic?"Alex Golding, Evermont's general counsel, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses with a faint smile."Your father told me to make an entrance. He didn't want anyone bullying you.""I wasn't bullied. I just watched a bunch of clowns perform."I carried the papers to the table and dropped them beside the steam

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