Chapter 4

It was already the end of the school day. Finally, I could get some much-deserved rest. My body ached from yesterday's practice, a result of my progress.

“Practice from here, El?” Paisley asked as we stepped outside the lecture hall, headed toward my car.

“I don’t know,” I shrugged at her. “I already practiced on my own last night,” I admitted to her, but held off on the real reason. I had other plans today.

“Oh… really now. Do I really want to know why?” she said with her arms crossed. I already knew why she said what she said, and the implications of her words made me irritated, changing from my previous emotions.

“No, it’s not because—”

“Elara!” I heard my name being called, cutting off what I wanted to say. One thing I hated the most was being interrupted.

I turned to see Lila Ashworth stomping toward me. What does she want?

“What do you want, country bumpkin?” I asked as she got within earshot. I saw her face grow redder with anger.

“Elara Voss, I heard about you slapping Rozetta!” she shrieked, hands on her hips. “Who the hell do you think you are? Bullying her because you can.”

“You are a clear sign that money doesn’t buy class,” I tsked at her. I wouldn’t be caught dead associating with riff-raff like her. “Tell your charity pauper bestie to stay away from me.”

“Elara, I am also from a wealthy family like you!” she bellowed, her shrill voice already grating on my nerves. “I am tired of you treating everybody else like we are beneath you.”

“Oh no, I forgot,” I feigned surprise before bursting into a fit of laughter. “I am very aware of your family’s circumstances — wealth bestowed on unfortunate people,” I whispered-yelled with a flip of my hair. Which was the truth — poor people who got the unfortunate luck of getting wealthy.

Moving closer toward her, I lowered my voice. “I treat you like you are beneath me because you are beneath me. You think suddenly having money would make a girl from a run-down town stand on the same social level as me? As I said, money doesn’t buy you class nor power.” I signaled to Paisley that we should leave.

A pain exploded in my ankle. That hillbilly tripped me. I lost my balance and fell face first. I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact, but it never came. Instead, I opened my eyes and was met with the most beautiful pair of forest green eyes I had ever seen. Attached was the face of the most beautiful man — clear as day troublemaker and heartbreaker written all over him. Miles ahead of Damon in looks.

I could stare at him forever. Who am I not to appreciate true beauty?

But the coldness in those eyes brought me back to reality. What the hell am I gawking at this stranger for?

I literally swore off men, especially pretty boys.

His mouth opened. “You don’t need to perform this stunt for my attention,” I heard the words leave his mouth. His voice was deep and husky. Wait, did he just say what I think he said? That I, Elara, would orchestrate a fall for his attention? I must be hearing wrong.

“Excuse me?” I asked again. I was too focused on his face to fully process the bullshit that had just left it.

“I said you don’t need to get yourself hurt for my attention,” he replied. Who the hell did he think he was?

“You think you are hot shit that I would need to risk harming my face for a glance from an obnoxious piece of shit like you?” I shot back. I pushed myself up and dusted myself before walking off to my car after saying those words. I could hear the guys around him snickering.

The nerve of this man. Just when I thought he was… forget it, Elara. Learn — you can’t trust men.

I needed to get my plans in motion. And for that, I needed to know more about Rozetta.

Pulling out my phone, I sent a text to Dante before I started the car. I looked outside and shot Lila a poisonous glare before driving away.

I dropped Paisley off at the rink. I didn’t stick around to hear what she had to say.

I got inside my room and locked the door, not to be disturbed. I would not let them get to me. I took a nice relaxing shower to calm my nerves, got dressed, and opened the file Dante had already sent.

I needed to know more about Rozetta Pierrepont and why she hated me so much.

After reading for what felt like hours, the document was filled with nonsensical details. “Ugh, this is useless.” I lay down and scrolled further. “What’s that?” I couldn’t believe it. I read it again.

“No wonder her name sounded so familiar,” I whispered to myself in shock. “She is the disgraced coach’s daughter Dad had arrested for selling and prescribing enhancements.” So that’s why she hated me so much, huh? A wicked grin formed on my face.

This was going to be fun.