To Remain On Top

Chapter 1

To remain on top. You have to be smart and wicked. If you're born heartless, do not give a f**k about someone else's feeling then it's a plus point. The people who belongs on high society, especially those who are ruling on top are like that. My father is like that and so is my Mother.

I guess being wicked and learning how to use people around me for my own benefit is something I inherited from both of my parents. Sooner, I can feel it coming out of me. Probably when my desperation to remain on top is over-flowing and already drowning me. The so called talent will come out.

I'll see about it when the time comes.

Dad getting arrested is all over the news later that night and even the following morning. It was on my option not to go to university the following day but when I come to think of it. Students of Starlington University will probably just talk a lot about me if I did that.

I had to take the last and cheapest car we have at home to be in Starlington. It's not even tinted and the seats are not leatherize. This car is used when our house helpers are running errands and I just can't believe that my precious skin is touching this awful car.

Upon seeing Solace and Zoe beside their Tesla and Benz. I alredy regret deciding to be in school today.

I could feel it in my heart. They're waiting for me.

My hands holding the steering wheel began to tremble in nervous as Zoe and I's eyes collided. Obviously, she doesn't look happy and I swear to God. Hanging myself when I get home is the new idea that I have to save myself from this unbelievable situation.

"At least you're still wearing designers." Zoe chuckled and wink at me playfully. I mindlessly look down and waited for them to leave yet when they see me frozen in my spot. Their faces heads back to my direction.

"Poppy? What are you waiting for? We can't be late to our classes," Zoe while giving me her resting b***h face. My lips form a circle. Am I understanding it right?

I clutch on my chest lightly. Still shock at my late realizations.

They aren't here because they wanted to see me struggling. They're here because they are waiting for me.

"You still..." I couldn't finish what I wanted to say.

"Duh." It's Solace with her favorite expression. "But I'm poor."

"Yes you're." My hope began to fade again until. "But that doesn't mean anything to us. You can be poor or even the poorest of the poor and we will remain bestfriends, Pop." That's probably the nicest thing I've heard my entire life. Something I never expected to hear from the high-maintainanced lady like Zoe and Solace.

"Did you get an invitation for his party, Poppy?" Solace whispered in the middle of our history class. My forehead furrowed. I don't have a single idea about what Solace is talking about.

Who's he and what party.

"It's Clyde Argus 21st birthday next week. I heard everyone from high society are invited." Solace tore her eyes off me from a moment. Before I can go listening back to our lecturing professor. She showed me her phone where a virtual invitation for the said party is flashing. Basing on it. I think it's not a formal party. Looks like it'll be hold in a high-end bar or something.

"Go on check your email. I'm sure you're invited too," Solace convince me. Before we got caught red handed for using our phones during lectures which is forbidden. Solace and I stop talking. I shrugs my shoulder and didn't expect to receive an invitation anymore.

Everyone in Starlington City knows that we're going bankrupt. Surviving a week with the kind of lifestyle that Amanda and I grew up with is hell impossible.

When the lunch time came. I know I have to make an excuse. I can't afford to do lunch out like we used to, not even the food in the university's cafeteria.

"I'm craving for sushi." Zoe stop from walking to face Solace and I. "Do you mind if we eat lunch at my favorite japanese restaurant?" she said with her sweet voice.

Solace agreed quickly. "Sounds like a plan." The two of them look at me. Probably waiting for response. It's my cue. This is the moment where I'm gonna tell them the lie I made.

"You're not coming?" Zoe sounds bothered. I put on a smile on my lips and slowly shake my head to response. "I'll pay for your lunch," Solace offered.

I could just say yes to that and everything will be over but my pride didn't allow me too.

"I have a scheduled meeting with a talent scout this lunch time. She's waiting. I have to go." Meeting someone scouting me to become a model or even an actress is not a new thing for them. I'm positive they'll buy that story.

Zoe move her head in contentment. My chest feels lighter. "Alright. We'll see you in our next class then." Solace and Zoe finally heads to the parking lot to leave while I stride to the place in this university where student rarely spend their time especially during lunch. The library.

The perfect spot and well-hidden face of library is on the section where history books are stored and displayed.

I sighed heavily before I sat down on the manimbian marmol floor. My eyes roam to secure my surrounding and when I finally see no one in the vicinity. I take out a piece of sandwich that Amanda made.

This all I'm having for lunch.

Before I can take my first bite. "Haven't you seen that sign? Food and drinks are not allowed in the library." My heart skips a beat. I immediately keep my sandwich back on my bag and stand up like nothing happened.

The stranger with a slid back hair and thin-rimmed eyeglasses and maroon sweater chuckled at my reaction. If I was in my right mind. I will surely leave this place, run even.

I don't know what happened.

I just stand up behind the bookshelves and curiously watch him sat on the floor next to my spot earlier.

My lips started to round up when I saw him take a bento box out of his bag. What surprise me more is that he has a liter box of fruit juice too. The stranger casually starts eating as if the university's library is his own picnic ground.

"One thing I like about rules?" he said before he takes a spoon full of his mouth-watering and appetizing food. "They're satisfying to break," he mumbled and feed himself again.

The stranger whom I guess is a bit older than me. Maybe a year or two tap the vacant space beside him before his eyes crawl up on me, sparkling with hospitality. Like this is his personal space and he's inviting me whole-heartedly.

"The librarian will be back." He steal a glimpse from his rolex. "After twenty minutes. By then, she'll make her round in this place. If she caught you munching your lunch here. You'll probably spend two hours or more in detention," he informed me. So he know how things work here.

My eyebrows met. He's covered with high-end products from head to toe. Why is he eating here like an outcast? Doesn't he have friends? I'm sure there will be someone who will to become his buddy, even boyfriend. He may look like a nerd because of that eyeglass and his outdated outfit but that doesn't making him less handsome.

"What are you doing here?"

He smiled at me. He's now done with his food and is opening that big box of juice.

"Same question Poppy Arganza. What are you doing here? You know." His body face me and I was caught off-guard by the way his face towers mine. "You should be enjoying your lunch with your other it girl friends but here you are. Eating a sandwich in the corner of the library with an anybody," he began commenting and it looks to me that he just couldn't stop and so I regret asking him first. I should have eat this damn sandwich as fast as I could and leave.

I looked away and bite on my sandwich silently. The silence is defeaning and honestly. I can't stand it.

"You're done? Why are you still here?"

"I'm waiting for you. It's saddening to eat here all by yourself. I know what it feels like." He pause and give himself some time while he's closing his box of juice. He stare intently straight through my eyes.

"I don't want you to feel that." He give me a carefree grin. Playful but not in the way the other boys I know grin.

While he waits for me to finish my piece of sandwich. He scrolled on his phone. I don't know what exactly he's doing but I'm sure I saw Clyde Argus name flashing on the screen for a phone call.

The stranger look around before he press the answer button.

"Yeah?"  he stands up. While doing it. He asked if I'm fine all alone here through hand gestures. I give him a thumbs up.

A small smile curve on his lip before he grab his Gucci bag from the floor and walks away still talking to his phone.

I was left to wonder. That Clyde Argus, is he the same Clyde Argus that Solace is talking about? The same man who trended on twitter?

"I come up with a plan, Poppy." It's my Mommy's welcoming remark. With the laptop on her hand. She pulled me to our sofa and show me a candid shot of a unfamiliar man.

I remove the strap of my bag from my shoulder and give her a glare. "Plan?" she moves her head eagerly.

"This is Clyde Argus Montreal. He's an illegitimate child of Gaisano Montreal but that doesn't matter. The important thing is that he's the one and only heir of the Montreal. This young man is filthy rich." Mommy explained it to me carefully.

For the second time. I glare at her. Looks like I know where this conversation is heading and I swear. I don't like it. I'm against it.

I won't do the same thing she does nineteen years ago.

"No," I said. Mommy shrugs her shoulder then continue scroll her laptop. Unlike the first one. I see no picture.

"How about Alasthoire Lancaster? Lancasters are richer than Montreals because of their mining and renewable energy business. This Alas who's studying in Europe, they said is three years older than you." I just couldn't stand this conversation anymore.

Mommy is making me feel cheap. How the hell she comes up with a plan like this? She's basically selling me, her own daughter in exchange for a fine and luxurious life.

"Mommy---"

"If he's not your type then maybe you'll like Xavier Santiago. He's an heir to Santiago Shipping Lines and Cruise Ship. Also, he's a model and a band vocalist."

"Oh My God. You're unbelievable and plain stupid. How could you say this to me? How could you plan my life like that. You're not planning to do the same thing to Amanda, right?" I couldn't help but yell.

Mommy place her laptop above the center table. "This is the only choice we have to remain on top. You'll sound like a complete hypocrite if you tell me you can continue living without all these fine things you had while growing. You can't even drink a water that's not distilled, Poppy!" Mommy sighed. She looks guilty but at the same time doesn't want to admit that her forsaken plan is awful.

I took my bag from the couch and heads upstair.

"We don't even have enough money to pay for your tuition for the next semester. Did you hear me? You can barely survive this school year!"