Novels by NotYourTypicalWriter

“You didn’t come to the cafe for breakfast,” Elena said. Her voice was a small, soft thing in a morning that felt like it was made of jagged glass.Leo looked up from the weathered stone bench. He was tucked away in a corner of the Northwood quad where the grass was patchy and the rich kids didn't bother to go. He wore his old, grey hoodie. The cuffs were frayed, and the fabric was thin, making him look like just another scholarship kid trying to disappear.Elena sat down beside him. She was wearing a simple cotton dress, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. She looked tired, her eyes a bit red, but when she looked at Leo, she gave him a small, genuine smile.“I wasn’t hungry,” Leo replied. He kept his voice flat.“You’re a bad liar, Leo,” Elena murmured. She reached into a crinkled brown paper bag and pulled out a large, homemade sandwich. She carefully tore the bread in half, the crust making a soft, crunching sound.She pushed the bigger half toward him. “My mom sent this. She says

“Did you rent a tux to hide the smell of the locker room, Leo?”The sneer in Sarah’s voice carried over the clicking shutters of a dozen cameras. She stood by the gold-trimmed pillars of the Vanguard Auction house, her hand locked around Brad’s arm. The red carpet was a sea of flashing lights, but as Leo followed Maya out of the Ferrari, the paparazzi didn't just snap photos...they started whispering."Who is that with the Sterling heiress?" a reporter muttered.Leo didn't turn his head. He felt the midnight-black suit move with his stride...a second skin that felt more like armor than silk.An elder statesman of the fashion world, a man who usually ignored the Sterlings, stopped dead in his tracks. He adjusted his heavy glasses, his eyes widening as he stared at the back of Leo’s jacket.“My god,” the old man whispered to his assistant. “Look at that weave. That’s the Blackwood Weave. Only three people in the world are allowed to wear that.”The old man bowed deeply to Leo’s retreati

Victor reached for the phone on the stone counter, his thumb hovering over the emergency button. His face was twisted, his lip curling as if Leo was a stain that wouldn't come out."I’m calling them," Victor snapped, his voice sharp. "You’re polluting the air in here, kid. This shop is for people who matter. Every second you stand there, you’re ruining the experience for my real clients."The two junior workers behind him snickered. One of them, a guy with bleached hair, kicked a nearby trash can toward Leo’s feet. "Here," he laughed. "Go stand by your family. Maybe they have a suit in your size."Leo didn't move. He stood there in his damp hoodie and ruined sneakers, his hands deep in his pockets. He looked calm, almost bored, while the others were losing their minds."Victor, stop," a soft voice said.A girl stepped out from the back. She was younger than the others, wearing a simple black dress and a sewing kit around her waist. Her name tag said Nina. Unlike the others, she didn't

“You’re a terrible liar, Leo,” Maya said, her voice sounded through the wind as the Ferrari slammed into gear. The tires screamed, tearing away from the university quad. The engine roared, a deep, angry sound that made the entire car shake.Leo sat back in the leather seat, his eyes fixed on the speedometer as it climbed. Trees and campus buildings became a blur of green and grey. Maya didn't look at him. Her jaw was tight, her grip on the steering wheel so hard her knuckles were white. She took a sharp corner on two wheels, weaving through traffic like she owned the road.“A lucky night at the casino?” she continued. “Nobody wins exactly a hundred thousand dollars in cash and walks away with a printed receipt like that. You looked like a deer in headlights.”Leo adjusted his waiter’s vest, feeling the cheap fabric itch against his skin. “I didn't ask for your help, Maya. Why did you tell them you gave me that money? Now the whole school thinks I’m your... whatever you want them to th

The Northwood University quad was a sea of expensive silk and designer watches. The annual campus fundraiser was the one day of the year the elite felt truly untouchable.Leo stood near a buffet table, wearing a waiter’s vest that felt like a straightjacket. He held a tray of empty champagne flutes, his eyes scanning the crowd. He watched as Brad’s father stood on the main stage next to the Dean, soaking in the silent praise of the room.“Ladies and gentlemen,” the Dean announced, his voice booming over the speakers. “I have incredible news. An anonymous donor has just wired ten million dollars to Northwood. The university is officially debt-free!”The crowd erupted in a standing ovation. Every head turned toward Brad’s father. The man didn't say a word, but he adjusted his gold watch and offered a smug, practiced nod. He was happy to let the world believe the lie.Enjoy the spotlight while it lasts, Leo thought, his grip tightening on the tray. I bought that stage. You’re just standi

Leo tightened the laces on his ruined sneakers. They were still damp, smelling of the grey, soapy water from the night before. Sebastian had offered him a fleet of SUVs and a fresh suit, but Leo refused. He wanted to feel the grit one last time. He wanted to look exactly like the "scholarship peasant" they all expected to see.The walk was three miles. By the time the massive iron gates of Northwood University came into view, Leo’s feet were numb. He intentionally "missed" the campus bus, letting the exhaust fumes hit his face as it roared past. He looked exhausted. His old hoodie was damp, and his hair was a mess.He looked like a man who had lost everything. In reality, he was a man who had just gained the world.He made his way to the back of the campus library, his usual hiding spot. He sat at a scarred wooden desk in the corner, far away from the light. He needed to prepare for the gala, but first, he had business to attend to.He pulled out the encrypted phone. His fingers moved