Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Fiona couldn’t help but chuckle. “If you’re so worried, why don’t you just drop me off?”

Macy was not amused. “Nice try, Fiona. But no can do. Alexa is my baby girl, and I’m not gonna-”

Fiona had been up late working, and her phone died before she could hook it up to the charger. Macy’s voice cut out as the phone went dead.

On the other end, Macy went ballistic, thinking Fiona had hung up on her. How could her daughter be so rude? She decided then and there to keep Fiona’s lineage under wraps.

Fiona at her dead phone and sighed. She’d missed a golden chance to clap back at Macy! Once her phone was juiced up again, she snatched Dexter’s credit cards and hit the town. Dexter was so tight fisted, she figured she better use the money before it slipped through her fingers.

Loaded down with shopping bags and feeling good about her heavy wallet, Fiona returned home. After dropping off haul, sipping some coffee, and soaking in a hot bath, she felt refreshed. Still drying her hair with a towel, Fiona answered her ringing phone without who it was.

Dexter’s angry voice bellowed from the other . “Fiona, what’s with the spending spree? Millions in one day? Do you think we’re made of money? And ignoring my calls too. I’m telling you, I am this close to cutting off your credit!”

Fiona was unfazed. “You gave me that money to use, right? Guess you were just pretending to be generous. If you’re having second thoughts, go , cancel them. I really don’t care,” she said and ended the call with a click. She’d left her phone at home today and now saw Dexter had called her nine times–once for every swipe of the card. Fiona patted herself on the back for thinking ahead. Good thing she pulled out the cash while she could. Ready to snooze on the couch, the doorbell jolted her up. Outside stood a delivery guy. “Package for Ms. Fiona Harrell Figuring they got the wrong, Fiona raised an eyebrow.

“No mistake, this is for you. It’s a back–to–school gift. Just need your signature and, if you don’t mind, a five star rating ”

Suspicious but curious, Fiona signed, took the package, and unwrapped it to pink backpack with a blue cartoon cat. Weird since she’d just moved hardly anyone knew her new address. As she pondered over who sent it, a ping from her phone grabbed her attention. It was a WhatsApp

cation

Mr. Moneybags: Did you get the goodies?] Then came the text with a ping, followed by a Venmo notification: “You received 2.5 million dollars.” Fiona couldn’t believe her eyes as she saw the insane amount in Venmo account. She was so stoked she was practically shaking. A bit later, she rang up

Sebastian,

“Hey, did you get the stuff?” he asked.

“Mr. Quinn, why’d you send all this cash? It’s too much!” she blurted .

“Too much?” He sounded like he was talking about pocket change, not a fortune.

Fiona’s head was spinning. “I can’t just keep this for nothing”

He chuckled. “Don’t you want it?”

“I mean, yeah, it’s awesome, but it feels kinda wrong, I’m feeling all guilty over here.” Honestly, she loved cash more than anything. If anyone else had sent it, she wouldn’t even think of giving it back. But it was from Sebastian. She was conflicted, feeling the sting of giving up such a .

“It’s a back–to–

present,” Sebastian explained, “Y’know, it’s not cool to say no to gifts from someone cares for you.”

So what’s that backpack?” she retorted in her heart. But since Sebastian said so, there was no reason for Fiona no. “Aww, thanks, sir. I’ll study hard, promise!” Fiona oozed gratitude. She , thinking of her mean Dexter. “Mr. Quinn, I were my dad. Life would so much cooler.”

He zero Interest in being her dad. Sebastian’s , smooth and enticing, teased her imagination. “Mrs. Quinn sure live a cool life–getting to

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Chapter 12

chill and spend all the cash she wants.” After the call, Sebastian sat deep in thought.Luther Hill, his childhood buddy, sauntered in with a smirk, “C’mon, give up the dirt or else.”

With a glare, Sebastian nudged him away, all serious. “Do I look like an old guy to ”

Luther was taken aback, shook his head, and then his curiosity kicked back in. “Someone calls you old? Was it that girl you had dinner with?”

Luther Sebastian, plus their other pal Adrien, were tight like brothers. Luther’s family had roots in Paellen but was big shots back in Jerraloth. The restaurant Sebastian took Fiona to was Luther’s place. Luther heard how Sebastian had brought in some young girl and popped open his special wine stash, which made him curious. But Sebastian just brushed it off. Luther and Adrien couldn’t stop chatting about it, and when word spread, Luther decided to pop in on Sebastian to get the fowdown.

Sebastian gave Luther a straight look. Annoyed, he wasn’t up for any jokes today. Luther got the hint quick–Sebastian was stressed. “Dude, you’ve been this zen loner forever. Don’t tell me those crazy rumors got to you? Rumor has it that we’re some huge drama, and I’m the… well, the last pick. I’ve always been a ladies‘ man! Now my folks are freaking, barely letting me chill with you. They think I’ll get dragged into your mess, and then poof, no more family legacyl

“You just came here to rant?”

Luther quirked an eyebrow, his face lighting up, “Not really. So, Blueden Girl’s School’s Principal Harris called my granddad and invited me to the school’s big event. I’m caught up in this match–making show–oh, and Adrien’s rolling in too. Evelina to teach his so he’s gotta show.”

Sebastian twirled his turquoise bracelet, eyes looking far away. “Count me in.”

Back at Fiona’s place, she was still sitting on the floor, mind blown by the massive money drop on Venmo. The cash was sweet, but Sebastian’s last words kept playing on a loop in her head. Marrying him would be like winning the jackpot: loads of cash, big props from Alexa, and high–fives all around from Macy. A real–life fairy tale. She wouldn’t even have to play the full–on wife role and could help Sebastian dodge the nasty rumors. But thoughts of taking his help had her all twisted inside. Fiona tossed and turned, wrestling with the idea until sleep finally zonked her out around midnight.

Come morning. Fiona was dressed and ready by 8:30. She hesitated but then slung Sebastian’s gifted backpack over her shoulder. Ignoring a present just

intong somehow.

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