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Notproblem

But it is my solution to find

Matteo ca his family’s business public

With the help of a few friends, his product will be dragged through the mud

A thought that makes me smile

“You look way too happy”

“Just thinking of all the money I am about to make”

“There is more to life than money, Trent”

“Says the banker”

He shrugs

I laugh

Fae

That is all I care about

Nothing more

16

Payton

I’m back in the same classroom where all of this started

Heather isn’t here yet, but as soon as my butt makes contact with my usual chair, I hear her speak from behind me “You’re alive after a weekend with Mr McHottie”

“Barely,” I ad overhiht now”

“So, you really ith him! What happened?” Her nose is scrunched as she moves to take the seat next to me

“Basically, in a nutshell, he’s black me”

She lifts her hand, offering me the half-drunk coffee in it “White chocolate drizzled mocha latte You need this ht? He’s not really blackht?”

“No, not really More like extortion”

Her s open

“Close your“The truth is, he’s actually bartering with me”

I think

I’m not absolutely sure why he wants me under his roof, but I’m convinced it’s a power play Soive up on the twenty-two mil

I’ve thought about it since Iitself is worth way more He doesn’t need it His family doesn’t need it He wants me under his thumb, miserable, the only relic of his father wilted because of Trent’s power

I won’t give him the satisfaction

“It’s your ives me a small measure of comfort At least one person is on my side “How is he even able to do this? We need to call a lawyer This isn’t legal”