Chapter 1

Elena Carlson went dead silent for three seconds.

"Ms. Arnault, don't you have anything better to do at college?"

I cleared my throat. "Just check!"

She sighed. "Fine. I'll look into it. Give me three days."

Satisfied, I hung up and congratulated myself on some top-tier risk management.

As for Peggy stealing my photos for online dating?

If she wasn't worried, why should I be?

Just then, Peggy walked in.

She grabbed her phone, instantly on edge. "Aria, you didn't go through my phone, did you?"

I waved her off. "Why would I? Got some big secret on there?"

She relaxed and gave me a smug look.

"Fine, I'll tell you. My boyfriend is the Arnault heir.

"You know Arnault Corp in Rivera, right? And don't even think about going after him.

"He only loves me. He's way out of your league."

I smiled.

I'd already wondered if something was off with her boyfriend.

Now I was pretty sure he was just some bargain-bin romance scammer.

I copied one of his favorite lines. "Right, right. He'd pick you over anyone. Even his own mom."

Peggy snorted. "Glad you get it."

Then she walked out.

I flopped onto my bed, weirdly emotional.

Two months of following her relationship drama, and somehow I was part of it.

Still, watching Peggy put on a show every day was honestly better than bingeing a series.

By that afternoon, she'd completely dropped the act.

She might as well've had "Mrs. Arnault" stamped across her forehead.

I was heading out for my tutoring job while she lounged in the dorm eating chips.

"Going to wait tables again? My boyfriend says even the janitors at Arnault Corp make four grand a month.

"You should apply after graduation. Since we're roommates, maybe I'll put in a good word."

I tied my shoes without looking at her. "I'm good."

She scoffed. "Why are you so stuck-up? A small-town nobody who can't even recognize a designer logo would need insane luck just to get anywhere near the Arnault family."

I didn't bother answering.

'Guess I was born insanely lucky.'

The custom cashmere coat my mom had sent from Milan last week alone could've paid for a lifetime of snacks.

But Peggy had no clue.

She only recognized flashy logos, and everything in my closet was custom-made.

The next night was even better.

When I got back, Peggy had her boyfriend on speaker.

"Baby, I got you that limited-edition Hermès bag you wanted!

"I even checked with the sales associate. It'll be delivered to your school next week!"

Peggy practically squealed and shoved her phone in my face. "Hear that? Limited-edition Hermès. You've probably never even seen one, huh?"

"I haven't."

My mom hated their designs, so we never bought Hermès.

Peggy put her hands on her hips. "A broke loser like you will never even step inside Hermès!

"Once I marry into the Arnault family, I'll wear each bag once and toss it. Maybe I'll let you dig through my trash."

Okay, now she was getting annoying.

I turned to grab some water, but she kept going.

"What's with the attitude? I'm being generous, and you can't even say thanks?"

She grabbed my sleeve. "Be honest. You're jealous, aren't you?"

I frowned. "Jealous of what?"

"My rich boyfriend! I'm gonna be Mrs. Arnault!" she said like it was obvious. "You bust your ass for a thousand bucks a month.

"One of my boyfriend's belts costs more than six months of your pay!"

I wasn't wasting energy arguing.

"Yeah. Sure."

All I cared about was the report Elena was bringing me tomorrow.