Piss Off, This Is My Money

19

A loud gasp tore through the whole place.

“Am I the only one who heard that?” someone whispered into a damn livestream.

Maya tried to smile, trying to drag back a scene she’d already lost.

“Jace,” she laughed weakly, “you didn’t have to say that just because I’m not wearing the one you bought me last night.”

Jace took off his shades slowly—deliberately—just so she could see the disgust in his eyes.

“Did you hit your head on something?” he asked, a scowl carved across his face. God, she was disgusting to him now. Evil girls always had the prettiest faces; that was the trap. He should have known.

“Are you still mad about yesterday?” she asked, voice tiny but loud enough for every fucking livestream mic to catch it.

“Get out of my way before I lose it,” Jace snapped.

“I didn’t know your brother didn’t tell you,” Maya rushed out, desperation shaking her words. “He said your mom had been arrested and needed bail money. I didn’t know he hadn’t told you.”

Jace’s heart did a goddamn somersault. He could feel it in his throat. He looked around—phones everywhere, cameras everywhere—then back at Maya.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

Maya leaned in, like she wanted to hug him. “The video of your brother taking money from me… it’s everywhere right now. Jace, the only way you can save yourself is to come with me quietly and just play along.”

Everyone held their breath, thinking she was hugging him, thinking he’d finally break and hug her back. It would be a tragedy—for them—if they suddenly made up. Too many people were ready to blow up online off the money they’d make from recording Jace.

Jace stepped back slowly, confusion and anger twisting inside him. What the hell was she even saying…? His brain couldn’t catch it. It all sounded fucked.

“Guys,” Maya turned to the crowd with a practiced smile. “Jace and I have reconciled. He’s now my boyfriend. I’ll appreciate it—”

“Is this how much you lie?” a voice cut through the silence from somewhere in the crowd.

They all shifted aside, forming a clean passage like royalty was arriving.

A girl—luxurious dress, stupidly expensive accessories, beauty that didn’t even try—walked forward with the kind of confidence money couldn’t fake. She stopped in front of Maya, folded her arms, and looked her up and down with pure contempt.

The entire place froze.

Even the livestream comment section suddenly acted like their fingers stopped working.

Every eye locked on the moment.

The girl was a third-year law student. Her dad owned a law firm with a 0.9% lose rate—basically unbeatable—and she was loaded. Rich. Crazy rich. Rich in a way that made Maya’s wealth look like pocket change.

“Hi,” Maya said with that fake-ass smile. “Em… what did you say?”

The girl arched a brow. “Jace is your boyfriend? How?” She dragged her gaze over Maya again, slower this time. “Last time I checked, you have an ongoing court case with him. Best case scenario? You serve a few months if Jace decides to be nice. Worst case? You’re doing years. And then you come out an ex-convict.”

The crowd exploded.

“Maya’s got a competent lawyer too!”

“If Jace pushes it, he has things to lose! Don’t play!”

“Bro, don’t interfere in lovers’ drama!”

Maya kept smiling like she wasn’t drowning. “Well… I’ll have to invite you to lunch today. I was planning to eat with a few friends. What do you think?”

She thought money could buy this girl’s attention, maybe get her to back off, maybe stop her from even thinking of helping Jace.

“Well…” the girl said, glancing at her nails. “I don’t know. I was supposed to go on a date with Jace today.”

The crowd ROARED.

“With who??”

“He’s a freshman and you’re in third year!!”

“What the hell is Jace’s charm??”

“You people are not normal!”

Maya turned desperately to Jace. “Well, I can’t say for a fact what you’re implying is true. Because Jace and I already made up. His brother even came yesterday to ask me for help. That’s how close we are now.”

Jace stared at her like he was trying to burn straight through her skull.

The fact that she really—really—thought she could use his brother against him?

Insane.

Fucking insane.

He didn’t even know the full details yet, but one thing was clear: Maya had lost her damn mind.

“Let’s go, Jace,” Maya said quickly, scrambling to rewrite the scene. “I have something to show you. Remember the necklace you got me yesterday?”

She tried to lace her voice with romance, as if that could save the mess she was drowning in.

Jace looked at her for one more second.

Then he turned away—completely ignoring her existence—and walked straight to the third-year girl.

With his seven-foot frame, she barely reached his shoulder.

He towered over her, leaned in…

…and kissed her.

Right there.

In front of everyone.

In front of the livestream.

In front of Maya.

She froze at first, shocked out of her mind.

Then she kissed him back, instantly done for—falling for him right on the fucking spot.

The crowd lost their minds.

Phones in the air. Screams. Shouts.

People running around like chickens without a head.

Jace pulled away from her smoothly, grabbed her hand, and walked off with her like Maya had never existed in the first place.

Some people stayed behind to record Maya’s face—because views.

Others chased after Jace, shoving questions at him:

“Is Maya lying?!”

“Are y’all actually done?!”

“Is this the end of your relationship?!”

Maya tried to keep her smile steady, but shame was clawing at her throat.

Third time.

In less than twenty-four hours.

Jace had publicly humiliated her again.

“Hey, Maya,” a guy called, strolling toward her.

Tattoos covered both his arms, and he didn’t bother hiding them with sleeves.

He flashed a smirk—the type that promised violence.

“Should we deal with him?”

For the first time since the humiliation started, something flickered back into Maya’s chest.

Hope.