we

I had been stalk

s. Ig

. Blo

ents. Ca

company? Laughed at by a secretary in Valen

smiling with the kind of politeness that meant

onths?"

all it pro

oken a heel in the elevator,

owntown Chicago Barth Innovations. Sleek, cold, intimidating. Mu

ked like a teena

ss on a

th a Rolex flashing

del with cheekbones that look

orse? He poste

o busy for the 'Gram.

dry cereal out of a mug and aggressively refreshing

morrow. Invite-only. N

he story read: See

dropped

was

oing to

ing to crash

billionaire gala in your Target sandals and ask fo

to get on th

r I called either

g to sell NFTs of himself shirtless. And

y to give

elope slid under my apar

e. Just one emboss

nked

ank? Mafia ba

ened it, my h

ed to the Bart

e Orchid Roo

e:

ode: "W

lly what it s

itation, then down

had a ward

owned clothes labeled "wealthy." Her closet had more shimmer than

asked for help. "You're finally taking

mped

l. He's rich now. T

girl-low cut, high slit, tight in all the wrong places. The kind of dre

ir curled, makeup like war paint, st

elong?" I asked, st

u married rich an

e en

d Room wa

owns, tuxedos, diamonds, and egos. I'd never seen so many designer names in one place

shoulders back, eyes forward

en I s

y Ca

college

the gala

cou

t punishing me. He was

d me before

with a glass of champagne in one hand and a fa

said, match

here. Dress code said 'w

Still got that mean

of us don't peak in

aned in, vo

re for

art t

t good luck. You're about number twen

ted off like a smug

I tried to find him, to blend in, to look casual and expensiv

long here.

gh the night,

check, heels in hand,

ri

urn

here

an B

er, a thousan

ble to ruin lives. He wore his suit like it was custom-

allo

ure whether to hug hi

lting. "Didn't expe

g my chin, "I go where

e held up his glass. "Tas

u

poet," I

provoked,"

t each othe

first to

oice dropping. "Why

gaze. "You

uble. Daddy's drinking. Stepbrother's a walking disaster. And now, after ten

tha

year on my birthday," he said

lin

p me," I said quietly.

s drink. "Ma

rked in

o favors, Eric

se, his breath b

help, you'll p

ke that, th