Piss Off, This Is My Money

10

At the same time, Lila ripped away from Jace’s side and sped across the room.

A loud SMACK echoed—everyone flinched.

Obviously, it wasn’t from Maverick’s men charging at Jace. Jace was still standing there, cool as hell.

Maverick clutched his face. His girlfriend had slapped him.

“For what the hell do you bring them here to beat him up?” she snapped.

“I… I’m only trying to save you—”

“Oh, Maverick. You’re the one who needs saving. A guy just asked me for one night’s date and I said yes. And you? You bring a damn army over to beat him up?!”

Laughter erupted from all corners of the hall.

“Babe, you can’t do this! We’ve been—”

“I was never your girlfriend, and you know it,” she snapped, venom dripping from every word.

“I was… just in need of someone to read with, and you came in handy. Right now, Jace Prescott is my boyfriend!” she announced, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Jace laughed to himself. Boyfriend? Fucking sick people. But he didn’t refute her. Instead, he gave the men who were supposed to beat him a cold once-over, then strode over to Lila.

He shot Maverick a look that could’ve frozen fire for a few seconds, then held out his hand for Lila to take.

Maverick stormed out, rage practically steaming off him. Jace had crossed the ultimate line.

Lila blushed as Jace held her hand. He lifted it high for everyone to see.

“Here’s my date for tonight,” he announced, voice dripping with that chaotic charm.

“Anyone else who wants to be my date will have to sign some damn contract—‘cause I don’t do babies’ exes without brains disturbing me.”

The girls in the room stared in admiration. None of them knew where he got all that money or his new-found courage, but claiming a date with the second richest girl in college? That was no small flex.

Most of them turned to check on their own boyfriends, realizing the world had just shifted around Jace Prescott.

“I’d prefer a mysterious guy like him,” one whispered to her friends.

“He looks so hot with her.”

“The two of them are perfect together.”

“He’s so bold.”

Maya stood at the far end of the room, her boyfriend fidgeting beside her, trying everything to get her attention. But her eyes were glued to Jace. He couldn’t have moved on this fast—he had to be hiding something.

Delusional fool.

A few minutes later, the song ended, and everyone sat down. Maya caught sight of Jace whispering something to Lila. She nodded, and he walked out.

“Give me a few seconds,” Maya whispered to her circle—basically the college’s millionaires’ kids, plus a few outsiders who had come for this party.

“You’re going after Jace?” one girl asked.

All eyes snapped to her. Maya smiled.

“I’m coming after him,” one of the girls stood up.

“Same here,” Maya’s boyfriend added.

And just like that, the rest of the circle rose, ready to follow.

“We’re all in support of you. I can’t stand some bastard doing shit to my girl,” one of the females said.

Maya smiled, gratitude flashing across her face. They shot a few lingering looks and left the hall. Most of the partygoers, though? Already in their own cliques, too drunk, too busy with some messed-up truth-or-dare, or wrapped up in their own drama to care.

Maya spotted Jace a few feet away. He was on a call.

She crept closer. She knew Jace well enough—he had some issues with his ears and can only hear when you're talking loudly. Too broke to have checked himself into hospital. So right now, she could hear the person he was on the call with cause of the loud speaker.

“That same girl who did this to you, Jace, our company has a problem with her family. They’re that PR firm you know, right? The kind the government calls at 2 a.m. to bury scandals,” the person on the other end said.

“What the fuck does that have to do with me?” Jace snapped. One of the things Maya always found amusing about him—he had beef with everyone.

“So, Jace… now that you’re the CEO, if you can solve this problem—”

“Why the fuck should I?” Jace snapped.

“I mean, Jace… you’re the CEO now. I could die anytime soon!” the man at the other end stammered, shocked. “I might… really die soon,” he added, voice trembling.

“Go to hell, uncle. I didn’t ask you to hand me any fucking money anyway,” Jace spat.

Maya’s brain started clicking into place. She motioned to her crew, signaling them not to alert Jace to their presence.

“Jace, please, calm the fuck down. Listen to me,” he said softly. “You are the CEO now, and this issue could ruin the company. I get that you can’t apologize to Maya Callister, but… maybe you could find a middle ground with her family—”

“Piss off,” Jace cut his ‘uncle’ off, and hung up.

He slowly turned. Right there—in front of Maya. Of course, he knew she was there. There's a way you'll love someone and you'll just be able to tell they're around. Their scents and shit. Damn. He really used to love this girl!!

And that was why he’d played that shit with his “uncle,” saying all that nonsense without meaning a single word.

“Hi, Jace,” Maya said, smiling, hand waving slightly.