Chapter Six

Ashley POV

The moment I saw Tyson pulling into the campus parking lot that morning, I knew it was time.

Leaning against the entrance, I pretended to scroll through my phone as he parked his bike near the usual spot.

He swung his leg over, adjusted his leather jacket and ran a hand through his hair before heading toward the main building—completely oblivious to what I had planned.

I waited until the coast was clear.

With a quick glance around, I casually made my way to the parking lot, my heart pounding with excitement.

A few students were nearby, but no one was paying attention to me. Perfect.

Reaching Tyson’s bike, I pulled my bag around and retrieved the supplies—two full rolls of industrial-strength plastic wrap and a giant container of glitter.

Working fast, I looped the plastic wrap around the bike, layering it over the handlebars, seat and wheels until the entire thing was trapped like a wrapped-up sandwich.

Then came the best part.

I popped open the container and showered the bike in a thick coat of fine, shimmering glitter. It clung to the plastic, the metal, even the tires—ensuring that no matter how much he tried to clean it, he’d be finding glitter for weeks.

For the final touch, I pulled out a small sticky note and pressed it onto the windshield.

"Good luck getting the glitter off."

Just as I stepped back to a distance, I heard the first wave of gasps.

A few students had started gathering, whispering and pointing, some already pulling out their phones.

A grin tugged at my lips.

Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I turned and strolled away before anyone could tie me to the scene.

Within minutes, laughter and murmurs spread across campus like wildfire as the crowd around the lot grew.

Then came the moment I had been waiting for.

"WHO THE HELL DID THIS?!"

I turned slightly, just enough to see Tyson standing in the middle of the lot, his fists clenched, his glare slicing through the crowd.

His bike—now completely wrapped and sparkling like a disco ball—stood like a masterpiece of revenge in the center of it all.

I leaned casually against a tree in the distance, arms crossed as I watched Tyson fume. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, jaw tight as he scanned the students around him.

But before he could catch me smirking, I pushed off the tree and disappeared into the halls, blending in with the students heading to class.

By the time I arrived home in the late afternoon, the soft sound of piano music drifted through the mansion. Low and melodic, it echoed through the high ceilings, a sure sign that Charlotte was dining alone in the formal dining room.

As I stepped inside, I spotted Gracie dusting near the foyer. She turned at the sound of my footsteps, offering a small smile before speaking.

"Mrs. Charlotte requested that you join her for dinner if you arrived before she finished eating."

I rolled my eyes, shifting my bag higher on my shoulder. "Of course, she did."

Gracie said nothing, only gave me a knowing look before returning to her dusting.

I continued toward the stairs, more than ready to lock myself in my room for the rest of the evening—but then I froze.

My father’s words echoed in my mind.

"Do it for me, please."

I let out a loud groan, earning an amused glance from Gracie.

I turned sharply on my heel and made my way to the dining room, already regretting my decision.

Charlotte sat at the head of the long table, her posture perfect as always, a half-finished glass of wine beside her plate. A single meal sat covered at the other end, clearly meant for me.

She glanced up as I entered, setting her fork down. "Good evening, Ashley."

"Charlotte." I greeted flatly, walking over to my seat and dropping my bag beside it. I pulled out the chair, sat down and uncovered the meal.

Charlotte watched me with a neutral expression, her sharp eyes studying my every move.

I picked up my fork, stabbing a piece of vegetable before raising a brow at her. "You’re not trying to poison me, right?"

Her eyes widened and she gasped, tossing her napkin onto the table. "Ashley, don’t be absurd!"

I hummed in response, picking up my glass and eyeing it suspiciously before smirking. "Relax. I was just kidding."

Though, honestly, I wasn’t.

Charlotte sighed, shaking her head as she took another sip of wine.

Silence settled between us as I started eating. The food, I had to admit, was good. Probably one of the few perks of eating at this table.

I was the one to finally break the silence. "So, my dad’s working late again?"

Charlotte nodded, cutting into her salmon. "He had a last-minute meeting."

I poked at my food, debating if I should keep the conversation going or leave it at that, but she beat me to it.

"Gracie told me you braided your own hair." She remarked, eyeing my double cornrow braids.

I glanced up briefly before nodding. "Yeah."

She took a sip of her wine. "It suits you. You’ve always had nice hair."

I blinked, caught off guard by the rare compliment. "Uh…thanks."

Charlotte hummed in response and for the first time in forever, the tension between us wasn’t suffocating.

A few minutes later, I finished most of my meal, then stood with my plate. "I’m gonna take the rest to my room."

Charlotte gave a small nod. "Alright."

I hesitated for a fraction of a second before grabbing my bag from the floor and adding, "Goodnight."

She tilted her head slightly, as if surprised, then nodded again. "Goodnight, Ashley."

With that, I turned and left, carrying my plate upstairs, relieved that the night hadn’t been a complete disaster.