down the street, a deliberate calm in her stride. It was

en lit up with a name that made her stom

nd

ing, carefully pitching her voice to sound

" she

th a practiced, synthetic concern. "I heard about what happe

... he was being aggressive, Candice. He trie

built on a ke

be so dramatic sometimes. He's a great guy, from a good family. You can't

lecture identical to the one she'd receiv

real reason

w. Colon and I were talking, and you know how much we love your apartment. Since you're having such a hard ti

t was.

ability to pressure her into selling for a fraction of its w

hone. "I... I don't know, Candice. It was my

ed, her voice syrupy sweet. "We're your best friends, A

ghting back a wave of nausea. Be

k about it," she whisp

a business school networking event. She gave him clear instructions: list her apartment for an emergen

ey would be

our later, her

on her doorstep, their faces alight with poorly concealed

and her eyes well up with fake tears. She composed

nd pulling Aleen into a hug that felt like a cage. Her eyes, ho

ze started cataloging the fixtures, the hardwood floors,

ng Aleen's arm. "We're so worried about you. About

of mail. A single envelope fluttered to the floor, landing face up. It was a fake co

up. He saw the red letters, his eyes widening slig

s confirmed. Sh

ne. "Aleen, we want to help you. We can offer you two hundr

artment, in the current market,

evastating blow. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

aking them wait, making them b

a choked sob

e whispere

re sharp enough to draw bloo

d to find Candice and Colon already there, tapping their feet impatiently. They had co

said, her smile stretched th

perwork, the notary confirmed their identities. It all

the final step:

the payment, Aleen spoke up, h

ai

Colon's finger hovered

inely distressed, her eyes wide with panic. "Two hundred thousan

furious in a heartbeat. "What are

thunderous. "Don't play

the market value last night. This place is worth at least forty-five, maybe eve

hands, her shoulders shak

lebratory stories on social media about their "new chapter." To back out now would be a publ

orry. Unless... unless you can do f

u insane?" Colon exploded. "We

ek. She looked at them, her expression a

ng me. Both your parents gave you money for a down p

bragged about it to her months ago. Combined, their family fund

hem. Candice shot daggers at Aleen, while Colon

iven her, and waited. She held all the cards. The greed for the apar

desire to win, to possess the apartment

her jaw tight, her eyes

ssed. "Four hu

ts, transfers between accounts, and even a quickly approved high-inte

otifications pop up

50,

25,

00,

25

account was just over fou

signed. The notary declare

years. Their faces were pale, their bodies slump

ading across her face. It was the first real smile t

she said, her voice cheerful. "I hop

ment, Candice's e

every last dollar from them-was nothing like the weak, helpless Al

was tired, her mind playing tricks on her. The person standin

convinced herself that what had just happened was not

thout looking back, leaving them to stew i