Chapter 3

Saturday night, Peggy skipped her usual call.

Instead, she pulled two wrinkled fifties from her wallet and slapped them on my desk.

"Take it. Go to the water park tomorrow. A hundred bucks should cover the whole day."

No one had ever thrown money at me before, so I just stared at it.

Then she got bossy.

"My boyfriend's coming tomorrow. Don't even think about hanging around campus trying to steal him.

"And don't come back before nine, or I'm posting those pictures!"

So she was paying me a hundred bucks to disappear for the day and keep my face from blowing up her whole lie.

'Looks like the real show starts tomorrow.'

Sunday morning, Peggy got up early and spent two whole hours getting ready.

Rented designer clothes, cheap perfume, and enough foundation to frost a cake.

As I headed out, she glared at me through the mirror. "Nine o'clock. Don't come back early!"

"Got it."

I snapped a pic outside the water park and sent it to her.

Then I went straight back to campus.

Their date was at West Gate Café.

I pulled on a hat and grabbed a corner seat with a perfect view.

At exactly eleven, Peggy's online boyfriend, Zayn Arnault, walked in.

He was shorter, heavier, and way less polished than his pics. His clothes looked worn out from too many washes.

So much for the rich, hot boyfriend she'd been bragging about.

Peggy didn't seem to care. She was too busy picturing herself as 'Mrs. Arnault.'

Zayn sat down, stared at her for three seconds, then checked his phone.

Probably comparing her to the photos.

'One scammer meeting another. This should be fun.'

As I watched, a hot guy slid into the seat beside me.

White shirt, black slacks. Maybe two or three years older than me.

"Ms. Arnault." He nodded toward the window. "How far along are they?"

I was caught off guard but didn't show it.

'So this is Carl McCoy. The big-shot lawyer who's somehow friends with my CEO dad.'

"They just got started."

He showed me his phone. The surveillance feed was being transcribed live.

Zayn's voice came through loud and clear.

"Baby, you're even prettier in person than in your pictures..."

My mouth twitched. I glanced at Carl. "Is this even legal?"

"It's authorized." He nodded. "Your roommate owes ten grand in online loans. Her payments are about to come due."

A little later, Zayn's face changed.

He turned his phone toward Peggy.

Her smile instantly froze.

Carl clicked his tongue. "He figured out she used your photos. Now he's blackmailing her."

"Perfect match. They both love blackmailing people with pictures."

I glanced over.

Peggy had gone pale and looked seriously wronged.

Zayn sat there with his legs crossed, still talking like nothing happened.

Their voices came through clearly.

"Zayn, I was just insecure..." Peggy said softly. "I was scared I wasn't good enough for you.

"But I really do love you! I have a bag worth six or seven grand!

"I'll sell it and give you the money. Give me a few more days, and I can get another five thousand!"

Zayn sounded heartbroken.

"Baby, since you love me that much, I'll forgive you.

"Just send me the money ASAP. Once my company gets through this cash crunch, we'll get married!"

The bag I'd lent her had magically become hers.

'She's on financial aid and already drowning in online loans. Where's she gonna get another five grand?'

I was about to look away when Peggy suddenly turned.

She froze.

Two glass windows separated us, but she spotted me instantly.

Shock. Panic. Then pure rage.

"Aria!" She stormed upstairs, shrieking. "Aren't you supposed to be at the water park? You lied to me?!"

"It wasn't fun."

"You followed me?!" She was shaking now.

Then she saw Carl.

Her eyes went wide. "And you brought someone?!"

"We were just passing by."

"Bullshit!"

Peggy lunged for a cup, but Carl blocked her.

That just pissed her off more.

"You knew Zayn was coming today! You came here on purpose to mess this up!"

Carl held up his phone.

The recording screen was still running, red light on.

I glanced at him and nodded.

Then I grabbed my bag, dodged Peggy's hand, and headed for the door.

"Aria Arnault! Stop right there!"

I looked back.

"Peggy, someone's picking up that bag tomorrow. Make sure it's clean."

She froze.

Then came the screaming.

"You're gonna regret this!"