Rebirth: Flirting with a Dangerous Billionaire

Romance and Revenge

I could see the early signs of chaos. We had a game coming up, and I had made it clear that attending the training was mandatory. No one wanted to risk their position, and so far, things had been going well, yet today our numbers seemed diminished. I had not seen Cain since he had run out and Sam had arrived late, missing the first half of training. His girlfriend seemed clingier than usual and was reluctant to release him. Despite the declining temperature, she had stuck around and kept watchful eye meters from him in the bleachers. Cain had likely caught on by now that I had lied. If Sam suspected anything, he was giving no indication.

It was funny that once we were friends, this was when I was young and didn't know better. When my father was alive, and we had moved into a wealthy district. I had been encouraged to network, which is vital in this world. Though I miss having a genuine connection, a friendship free of expectation and favours.

Newly rich and unsure of how to conduct ourselves, my sister Kendis and I were drawn to the brightest light. Sam is charismatic, and at face value, he offers something for everyone. Unfortunately, he seemed to come as a package deal with Cain, who seemed equally impressive but unapproachable. We hung out casually for a while. I regret this now. Sam and Kendis may not have met if it wasn't for me.

Unlike Kendis, who initially was overly interested in Cain, I was older and inherently suspicious. It took mere months for it to become apparent there was something very wrong with Cain and Sam. We were young, and it was manifesting as bullying, yet each was sadistic in their way. Both of them like animals. Sam was becoming a slave to his desires, committing thoughtless acts on a whim. Taking or doing what he wanted and paying off any dissenters. Cain was simply aggressive. We all hung out at his house until his father remarried, and Cain started cancelling plans to spend time with his family.

Sam took some offence to this, and eventually, they stopped speaking openly, though they still often exchange knowing looks. Naive as I was remained by Sam's side a while longer, but my disquiet around him prevented me from forming real bonds with anyone around us. As I got older, I began to see that this was unhealthy. I distanced myself and encouraged my sister to do the same. Cain had never shown interest in his admirers, disinterest which had only gotten worse once Mara moved in.

Kendis was young and vulnerable. In her rejection, she and her friends turned their attention to Sam. Still, I wasn't stupid. I kept an eye on her. But, as much as I knew, I didn't know enough. Sometimes I wonder how I didn't see it coming. Back then, I thought out of the two of them, Cain was the one I needed to worry about. Besides, as flawed as they both are, we were once sort of friends, and I truly believed they would not betray me.

To fail in this judgment was to fail my sister. The worst part was that it was meaningless. This wasn't an isolated incident. She was just one of many. They met in secret, tricked her only to eat her alive, spit her back out, and abandon her. Leaving her hollow, her reputation in ruins. This had such a negative impact that she ended up in the hospital, and the thing is, I still don't know the whole story.

I still don't know what was done to her, but it cost her her sanity. It's been a year since then, a year I've spent waiting for answers that would never come. Whatever happened to her, she's locked it deep inside, and a part of me is locked away with it.

We visit her often, and in most visits, she sits in silence, staring off into space. I want to ask them directly what they did to her. What, according to my observations, they have done to the others. You hear whispers. Those who get in deep with Sam don't survive intact, apart from one.

My heart rate monitor starts beeping, and I realize that I had been so lost in thought that I had neglected the team. Most of them are doubled over with exhaustion. Some have tried to endure, waiting for my signal to stop running. This was meant to be a warm-up. Having given up entirely, Sam held court at the other end of the pitch. I avoided eye contact and felt shame blossom in my chest. Coach trusted me with this task because he thought I was the most mature, yet I was letting everyone down.

I rallied the team and resumed our regular schedule, focusing on the task. However, I could sense the resentment building. Not only was I expecting everyone to turn up every day, but I had also pushed them beyond their limits.

To make matters worse, some members don't Look to me as an authority. Sam would have been their chosen captain if there had been a vote. He was popular and had a prevailing authority about him. The only reason I was chosen was that he prioritizes partying above all else. It irks me that my leadership is fragile despite me working hard to earn their respect.

He has taken so much from me it might well be paranoia, but I get the impression that they tolerate me because Sam allows it. If he decided he wanted to be captain one day, we could have a mutiny. Sam seems to view the position and me as below him. Nevertheless, he does take direction, even if it is begrudgingly. I decide to finish practice early. We are a man down, and due to my error, any energy people did have on arrival had quickly evaporated before we could achieve anything. As I made my way home, I felt familiar darkness closing in.

The need for revenge dominates me. Mara claims to have forgotten, but she's all I have. She's surprisingly resilient to withstand both Sam and Cain. I need to at least speak to her. She and Kendis, what had they experienced to become so damaged. So damaged you have to forget, so damaged you can't talk.

I had no real plan. I didn't know enough. Whatever I faced, Mara would become a useful if reluctant ally. But, unfortunately, I didn't know much about Mara. She was shy and quite honestly a bit weird. All anyone knows about her is that she and Sam's current girlfriend Akari spent most of their first year chasing after Sam.

She got close, too close. The next thing I heard, Sam was with Akari, a blatantly political move, and Mara was being framed as an obsessive stalker. Her brother, who had always been protective, seemed to abandon her right when she needed him most, and then there was the accident.

I wouldn't take any of this as fact. As mentioned, Sam gets a sick satisfaction out of ruining the lives of those around him. My sister is also considered an obsessed thirsty stalker. Still, unlike Cain, I silenced the rumours fast and would never let her return to such a toxic environment.

Before this, Mara was barely noticeable. She was considered pretty distinctly lacking in any individuality or personality. Even though she had achieved her alleged goal of infamy, the rumours about her were unflattering, and most people loathed her. She would be isolated and need a friend, so it would be easy to get close to her and find out what she knows. Cain was a fly in the ointment. He had suddenly resumed his protective brother act. Perhaps almost losing her had provided the sense he needed.

Unfortunately, I have yet to meet the returning Mara. I had lucked out and shared most of my classes with her, but there had been no reply every time they called her name. The first few times I anxiously scanned the room, she might have felt awkward. The pressure on her would be immense. She was once someone that could quickly melt into the background, but now all eyes were on her. People seem to be queuing up for the opportunity to bully her, hoping this would win favour with Sam. I didn't want any part of the bullying, I just wanted it all to stop, and we probably have that in common.

She was so prolific that she couldn't move without someone noticing, and it didn't take long for the rumour to spread that she had been seen leaving campus. I had cut my losses for the day but soon found myself alone with Cain and couldn't resist the opportunity to poke the hornet's nest. A bit of drama couldn't hurt. My chances fared better if I could distract him and Sam. I knew this would take me directly into their line of sight, meaning my days of silent observation would be over. That was unavoidable. It was time to reveal myself. I couldn't get close to Mara without them noticing. Overall, it probably wasn't my finest hour. But, as immature as it was, it helped me release my earlier frustration and distracted me from the dark thoughts that plagued me. The sacrifices weigh heavy on my conscience.

I was implicating Mara further in this, and that could damage her. If I was using her, in the end, was I any different from Sam? No. I wouldn't be as cruel as Sam, and I wouldn't become as obsessive as Cain. If anything, this could be a mutually beneficial relationship. I was offering her an invaluable chance at revenge. Does it matter how our relationship starts? I know I'm making excuses. I hate what I've become. I have to face the inescapable fact that I'm exploiting her vulnerabilities.