Chapter 9: The View from the Throne
514 Words
Sophie’s POV
I watched them from the second-floor balcony of the student lounge, my fingers tightening around my iced matcha until the plastic crinkled.
Below, in the courtyard, Liam was opening the car door for Megan. He said something that made her laugh, and for a fleeting second, his expression wasn't the bored, icy mask he usually wore. It was soft.
"They’re still at it," a voice drawled behind me.
I didn't turn around. I knew the bored, nasal tone of Chloe Vance anywhere. Chloe was my right hand, mostly because her family owned half the textile mills in the state and she knew how to keep a secret.
Beside her stood Jax, a varsity swimmer who functioned as the school’s walking, talking megaphone for gossip.
"It’s a phase, Sophie," Chloe said, joining me at the railing. She adjusted her designer headband, her eyes tracking Megan.
"Liam is just trying to piss off his father. Or maybe he’s doing some weird charity project. 'Save the Scholarship Student,' or something."
"He’s not that creative," I muttered, my eyes narrowing. "And he doesn't do charity."
"I don't know," Jax chimed in, leaning back against a pillar. "He looked pretty intense when he backed Daniel Cole off her this morning. The 'Tea Gallery' is blowing up. People are calling them 'Ligan.' Or 'Meam.' Personally, I think it’s a PR stunt for the Carters."
Ligan? I felt a surge of pure, cold bile.
"She’s a cockroach," I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. "You step on her, you ruin her reputation, you take away her future, and she still finds a way to crawl into the light."
"So, what’s the plan?" Chloe asked, her eyes glittering with anticipation. She lived for the drama I created; it was her favorite spectator sport.
"The Mid-Autumn Gala is Friday. If they show up together, it’s official in the eyes of the Board."
I finally turned around, a slow, perfect smile spreading across my face. "Megan Foster thinks a pearl necklace and a rich boyfriend make her one of us. She’s forgotten her place. I think it’s time we reminded her that St. Vivienne doesn't just give out scholarships; it can take them back, too."
"Ooh, I love it when you get that look," Jax chuckled. "Who are we using? The teachers? The Dean?"
"No," I said, walking toward the lounge exit, my heels clicking sharply against the marble.
"We’re going to use her own 'brilliance' against her. Chloe, find out who’s proctoring the advanced Chemistry lab tomorrow. Jax, I need you to make sure Daniel Cole is in the right place at the right time. If Megan wants to play the lead role in a romance, she needs to learn that every story has a villain."
I looked back one last time at the courtyard. Liam was pulling away, and Megan was standing there, looking like she actually belonged.
Enjoy your little fairy tale, Megan. I’m about to turn it into a horror story.
- Writer
