11
When Mr. Lane pulled me away, I expected to
get cursed out again.
But he didn’t say anything.
“We’re stuck here, but even with a bad
position, we still need to work, understand?”
I looked at the fancy suite and Mr. Lane. “Uh-
huh.”
“I have some new requirements for this case.
Revise the contract.”
“Okay.”
I looked at his new requirements. “Mr. Lane,
is this too high? Won’t the client get pissed?”
“They’re free to say no. But if he doesn’t want
this, go find someone else. But this lawsuit is
so freaking hard, no one can help him.”
“…“Self–aware.
<
“Riley freaking Jones, remember, when you
have enough power, the world will adjust to you.”
“‘ … Uh–huh.”
“If you’re weak, you’re just awkward and stupid. If you don’t argue, you’re just a
coward. If you’re friendly, you’re just a kiss– ass…”
“I know!”
“Tsk. If you’re pissy, you just have no people skills.”
12
The suite had a free freaking hot spring.
Mr. Lane said we should use it.
I ran into Brittany.
She wasn’t there to relax, she was just there
to see me.
“Riley, can we talk?”
She was wearing the same look she had when
<
She was going to Slap me in the pALK. I
looked at her: “What do you want?”
“Are you mad at me? Because I fell? Reynolds
got angry and blamed you.”
“I forgot all about that.”
“Really?”
She smiled: “Do you still like Liam?”
I didn’t know before.
But now that Liam was back, I had an answer. “So you want to steal him? We’re freaking
sisters. It’s not cool to steal your best friend’s freaking boyfriend.”
“You can’t beat me. We’ve been together for years, and we’re getting freaking engaged. You were just the freaking maid’s freaking daughter. Her mom didn’t like you, that’s why
they kicked you out.”
“They kicked my mom out?“I interrupted.
“How did you know?”
She smiled.
She looked around. Then she pretended to
trip.
As she fell, she grabbed my arm.
I rolled my freaking eyes.
He was probably close.
I wasn’t wrong. She yelled for Liam.
Liam saw me standing there and Brittany in
the water.
He jumped in and lifted her up.
They were wearing very little, and now they
were soaked.
They were clinging to each other.
And Liam was too focused on her to care. He glared at me:“Riley freaking Jones! I thought you were freaking accidental! But you’re evil! Why are you doing this to
Brittany? You’re being freaking childish!”
“Reynolds, no! I fell!”
“Don’t cover for her. She stood there and
didn’t say anything. She changed!”
<
“Tsk.”
I walked to them.
“You’re right. I pushed her.
Mr. Lane said to be freaking quick, freaking
hard, and freaking clean.
“Liam.”
I kicked Liam. He slid into the water.
Brittany gasped.
“Now it’s freaking clear. That’s me.”
Everyone ran over.
“Why is there a guy over here?”
“What a freaking circus.”
He looked horrified. He had never been so
embarrassed.
“Riley freaking Jones!”
“What, are you trying to call your freaking daddy?”
Everyone should lose it sometimes.
I finally understood Mr. Lane.
Insulting the world was probably freaking
cool.
13
I didn’t know how Mr. Lane knew.
On the way back down, he praised me for the
first time.
“I didn’t know I could save you, but I was
wrong. Well done.”
I was so pissed that I lost it.
But I looked at Mr. Lane, and I was afraid.
He was giving me a prize.
“No need.”
“I’m giving you a prize for working late! Get to
work!”
Thank you, Mr. Lane.
“What, are you unhappy? I’ll work late, are
you unhappy?”
“You’re working late for yourself, but I’m
working for you. It’s freaking different.”
“Got it. What’s mine is yours.”
“…“Selective.
14
I thought that Liam would be pissed.
A week later, I saw him near the office.
“Riley.”
I saw the scarf.
I frowned.
Too freaking familiar.
“I need to talk to you.”
I looked at him: “Why, is your freaking
girlfriend mad at me? Because you won’t apologize.”
“…She’s not my freaking girlfriend. She never
was.”
I stared at him, trying to figure out his angles.
“I’m sorry. I was wrong about you. She
jumped.”
He handed me the scarf.
“This is yours. I’ve kept it.”
“I didn’t give it to you.”
“You were going to give it to me.”
I frowned.
Then, a slow, boiling rage.
“You knew?”
He looked guilty, then tried to defend himself.
“I saw it in your desk. You left. Then I saw it
in the desk in front of mine…”
“Stop it.”
I was still.
Liam frowned.
“Was it a freaking birthday gift? Why didn’t
you give it to me that night?”
“Why do you think?”
“Did you think I was with Brittany?”
I tried to stop my face from freaking
twitching.
“Why did you leave me? I don’t know why
people said that, but I’ve always freaking liked
you…”
“Enough.”
He looked at me.
I smiled: “You can’t act like you’re a victim. Everyone was yelling about you and Brittany,
did you know? You got people so freaking
hot, you just shrugged.”
“I didn’t know.”
“You were kidding around… So when
everyone called me your freak, you thought it
was a joke, so you laughed.”
Liam turned white:“It’s not like that…”
“It’s not like that. That’s the problem.”
Mr. Lane said.
I turned.
Mr. Lane smiled: “We’re five minutes late. No
bonus.”
I rolled my freaking eyes and faced him.
Liam looked at the floor. “I’ll pay you your
bonus.”
“Does she need you?”
Mr. Lane looked at Liam: “This crap won’t
work on me.”
Liam frowned: “This is freaking personal.”
“What? You’re cracking? So you’re afraid of the truth? I’m freaking scared?”
I tugged on Mr. Lane’s arm.
He brushed me off.
“You freaking believe him. You freaking don’t
see she’s a snake?”
“He knew. He still acted like he didn’t.”
“He liked you all worshiping him and he liked being praised by the cheerleaders.”
“The snake tried to hurt you so many times,
but he couldn’t tell the difference. You can’t
do that. You should dump him.”
“I know.”
“You’re not going to listen to my advice.”
“I’m freaking done, what do you want me to
say?”
“Talk.”
“Okay, I have to go. My freaking boss is
waiting.”
“…” It was like he was saying something freaking important.
15
Mr. Lane was gone, and Liam went back to
himself.
He looked at me.“It’s not what he thinks. I didn’t know. I was with Brittany because she was your freaking friend. You were the reason I became friends with her.”
“Gotta go.”
… The last time, I thought she hurt you, but I
was mad, so I couldn’t hear her.”
“Yeah. You’re freaking flawless.”
“I…”
“You’re freaking wrong. You don’t have to get mad because I liked you.”
“Riley…”
He was freaking glowing. Then I went ice-
cold: “Liam, I used to like you. But I don’t
anymore. I hope we can stop doing this.”
