The Young Student Trillionaire

Chance stood outside his girlfriend, Vinita Iron’s, front door, heart pounding like a bass drum. The flowers in his left hand had begun to droop slightly because of the summer heat, and the box of gourmet chocolates in his right hand was slick with sweat. He tried to talk himself out of being nervous, but his sweaty palms wouldn't let up.

He had spent every last cent of his savings—five thousand dollars scraped together from his three part-time jobs—for this moment. It was her birthday eve, and he wanted to do something unforgettable for her. He'd been planning this for months. The sleepless nights spent scrubbing restaurant floors or catching up with schoolwork in the library—they were finally going to pay off.

He hadn’t told her he was coming. He couldn't wait to see the look on her face. There was no way she would be expecting this caliber of gifts from him.

She had warned him before about surprises like this. Their relationship was a secret, and according to Vinita, it was imperative to her survival in the school that nobody knew about their relationship. He'd done his best to be careful. He knew that Vinita liked surprises, just not the kind that messed with her image. And he could understand that. At Elite Society University, everything was about reputation.

In a school where everyone was of the elite class and from families who had a net worth of nothing less than $1 billion, your reputation was everything. The kids at ESU took snobbishness to a whole new level. If it was even rumored that you weren’t from a rich family or didn’t have millions in your account, it was over for you. And as someone who had been found out by these spoiled rich brats and humiliated and scorned at every turn, he knew it was something he didn't want the girl he loved to go through.

Vinita was kind of like him—from a humble family but talented and smart enough to gain a scholarship to ESU. Vinita was so beautiful. She was one of the popular ‘baddies’ in the school. An upcoming model and social media influencer. And she’d been very discreet about her background, so to these kids, Vinita belonged with them. She didn’t have to suffer the taunts and humiliation that people like Chance did. In ESU it was either get humiliated or become a dedicated worshipper of your bullies.

He was proud of her for distinguishing herself like she had, but Vinita didn't see it that way. She was always on high alert for anything that could possibly expose her, and these days it was like Chance topped that list.

But Chance was in love—deep, stupid, hopeful love—and he believed that this gesture, this act of romantic spontaneity, would touch her heart even if she had guests she didn't want to see him.

He knocked.

When the door swung open, the expression on Vinita’s face was anything but touched. Except maybe touched with rabid annoyance.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, voice sharp.

“H–hi,” Chance stammered, offering a shaky smile and the flowers. “I wanted to surprise you.”

From behind her, a girl with long, dark curls and designer sunglasses perched atop her head stepped into view, peeking over Vinita’s shoulders. She was about two inches taller than Vinita.

Courtney Wiley.

The name alone could buy a wing of their college. She was rich, bold, and ESU elite royalty—and Vinita’s new best friend.

Chance’s stomach dropped. He could already feel the trouble that was to come with her presence.

“Oh my God,” Courtney gasped with a twisted grin. “This is your boyfriend?”

Vinita’s face turned pale, then red. “No, he’s not. Not anymore.”

Chance blinked, his mouth going dry. “Nita?”

She stepped out, pushed him backward, and snatched the flowers and chocolates from his hands, then tossed them into the trash can beside the door with such vigorous hatred that Chance stumbled backward.

“This. Is. Trash!” She spat out as she pushed them further into the bin angrily.

“Th–that cost five thousand dollars,” he whispered.

“And yet it looks so cheap,” Courtney smirked from inside the doorway.

Then, with cruelty only the rich can afford, Courtney pulled a thick wad of bills from her Prada purse—ten grand at least—and hurled it at his chest. “Here, go buy yourself some self-respect.”

The money hit him and fluttered to the floor.

Witnessing treatment like this, no one would believe he and Courtney were the same age.

“You’re so embarrassing,” Vinita hissed, vibrating with what looked like anger but what he was sure was shame. He'd fucked up again. This is what she'd warned him about severally.

She pushed him further back and leaned in out of Courtney's earshot. He had to bend his 6’2 frame to her 5’6 height so as not to appear nonchalant, as she’d once accused him of.

“Do you know what this could do to my chances with the elite circle? What Courtney must think of me now?” she whispered ferociously at him, her eyes blazing.

“I just wanted to—”

“You wanted to ruin my life!” she snapped. “Get lost, Chance. I can't even look at you right now.”

“B– but—”

She turned around and stomped inside. Courtney smirked, then slowly raised her middle finger. Chance’s face turned red, and she cackled breathily as she turned to go inside, slamming the door shut in his face.

He stood there for a long minute, winded. Then turned and began walking. There was an ache in his chest as he thought about not just Vinita’s treatment of him but the money that’d practically just been thrown away.

Behind the closed door, Courtney pulled out her phone, thumbed a quick message to Roy Brown.

[News for you on our boy. Costs twenty grand. You in?]

Seconds later, her phone pinged with a reply:

[Send account details.]

A credit alert followed. Twenty thousand dollars. Courtney smiled and typed her final message:

[Chance has a girlfriend. It's Vinita.]