“You really thought a girl like me would end up with a scholarship peasant?”The question cut through the loud music of the VIP lounge, hitting Leo harder than the dirty water soaking into his shoes. He didn't look up. He couldn't. He kept his head down, his knuckles white as he gripped the handle of a rough scrub brush. His knees ached against the hard floor. Around him, the Northwood Elite laughed, their expensive glasses clinking as the heavy bass made the tables shake.“Look at him,” Brad sneered. The varsity captain stood over Leo, his leather boots were inches from Leo’s face. Brad was the golden boy of the university, the son of a man who owned half the city’s skyline. He looked down at Leo like he was a bug waiting to be crushed. “He’s still scrubbing. Hey, janitor! I think you missed a spot. My boots look a little dusty.”Brad kicked the plastic bucket next to Leo. It tipped over instantly. A wave of grey, soapy water rushed across the carpet, drenching Leo’s only pair of sne

“You think a phone call is going to save you, rat?” Robert barked. He shoved the black card deep into his pocket and signaled his two thugs. “Throw his junk into the mud. I want him out before the rain stops.”Leo watched as one of the thugs grabbed his old, beaten-up laptop...the one he had worked three part-time jobs to buy. The man didn't just carry it out; he threw it into the hallway. It hit the floor and slid toward the stairs, the plastic casing cracking with a sickening snap. Next came the textbooks. These were the only things Leo truly valued, the heavy volumes that were supposed to be his ticket out of this life. Robert picked up a thick stack of them and tossed them out the open window.Leo heard them hit the ground four floors below. Thud. Thud.“You’re making a mistake, Robert,” Leo said. He didn't move. He stood in the center of the cramped room, his arms were hanging at his sides. He looked at the landlord, and for the first time, he didn't see a giant. He saw a small,

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

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 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