Chapter 4: The Price of Luxury

"Get in. Quickly," Adrian commanded, throwing open the door to a massive, pristine black town car that smelled heavily of expensive leather and new money.

Sissy and I didn't need to be told twice. We dove into the backseat like we were escaping a zombie apocalypse, tumbling over each other in a messy pile of limbs and rumpled clothing. Adrian stepped in gracefully behind us, shutting the door just as a very angry, very out-of-breath French guy in a leather jacket rounded the street corner.

Through the tinted windows, I watched the loan shark scan the sidewalk, completely oblivious to the fact that his fifty-thousand-euro target was sitting three feet away in a luxury vehicle.

The car smoothly pulled away from the curb.

"Whew! Talk about a close shave!" Sissy gasped, sitting up and instantly adjusting her hair in the reflection of the car's sleek interior monitor. "Though, I must say, the adrenaline really brings out the natural flush in my cheeks. Toby, don't I look absolutely radiant?"

I was currently face-down on the plush floorboards. "Sissy, my soul just left my body. Please give me a minute."

Adrian let out a soft, amused chuckle from the plush leather seat opposite us. He crossed one leg over the other, leaning his chin on his hand. "You two are certainly... loud. I hope you can control that energy at the gala, Maya."

Sissy’s playful expression instantly vanished, replaced by a sharp, business-like squint. "Don't worry about me, Adrian. When the curtains rise, the amazing sparkle of Sissy always delivers. But let’s clarify the terms of this little arrangement. You said fake fiancée."

"Correct," Adrian said, pulling a sleek tablet from his briefcase and tapping the screen. "A temporary, strictly professional contract. My grandfather, the Chairman of Vance Corp, is obsessed with traditional family values. He thinks I’m too cold and unapproachable to lead the company. He wants me to find a partner who is vibrant, unpredictable, and capable of charming the international press."

He looked up, his gray eyes locking onto Sissy. "You are definitely unpredictable. And your 'glitter stunt' at the art gala last year actually made our stock prices jump by two percent because the media loved the chaos. Grandfather has been bringing you up ever since."

"Naturally. I am a muse to the masses," Sissy boasted, flipping her hair.

"So, here is the deal," Adrian continued, sliding the tablet across the console toward her. "You will accompany me to three high-society events this month. You will act deeply, madly in love with me in front of my grandfather and the cameras. In exchange, my legal team will absorb your French debt under our marketing budget, and you'll receive a generous monthly stipend."

I peered over the seat, looking at the number displayed at the bottom of the digital contract. My eyes nearly popped out of my skull. The stipend alone was enough to pay for my college tuition three times over.

"Wait a second," I interrupted, pointing at the screen. "What about me? If Sissy is playing high-society dress-up, where do I go? I'm kind of an accessory to her crimes at this point."

Adrian’s gaze shifted to me, his expression softening just a fraction. "Toby, right? You wear the uniform of the St. Jude Elite Academy satellite campus. Which means you're smart, but your family couldn't afford the main branch."

I flinched slightly. He wasn't wrong.

"As part of the package, you will be transferred to the main campus tomorrow," Adrian said casually, as if he were ordering a coffee. "You’ll need to keep an eye on your sister anyway to ensure she doesn't accidentally burn down the ballroom. Consider it your payment for being my accomplice."

My jaw dropped. The main campus of St. Jude was where all the future politicians, CEOs, and heirs went to school. It was an impossible dream for a kid like me.

Sissy looked at me, her dramatic, goofy persona completely melting away for a split second. A look of fierce, protective pride shone in her eyes. She grabbed the stylus and signed her name on the tablet with a grand, looping flourish.

"Deal," Sissy said, flashing Adrian a sharp, dazzling smile that felt less like a cartoon and more like a challenge. "But fair warning, Vance. You wanted a sparkling fiancée... make sure you don't get blinded."

Adrian’s smirk widened into a genuine, dangerous smile. "I'll take my chances."

The car glided down the highway, carrying us away from our normal life and straight into the lion's den.

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