"What are you doing here?" the principal asked as he approached them. Grace looked down nervously.
"Shouldn't you be in class?" He asked, and she stared at him, "Me?"
"You all go to class now, and since you missed classes yesterday, shouldn't you be catching up?"
Grace nodded happily. "That's true."
"You announced yesterday that she was expelled." Nora reminded the principal, who glared at her, "Do you give the orders around here? You all hurry to class."
A smile curled on Grace's lips, as she turned to Steph and said, "Let's go." Steph clung to her arm as they both walked past Nora.
"How?" Nora asked in disbelief.
"How could she be back?"
*
After classes, Steph didn't leave early. She held Grace's hand as they went out of school. "We are friends, but you don't tell me anything."
"I will wait here and see who picks you up." Steph was damn serious; she folded her arm and waited.
"Do you want to know everything?" Grace asked; she could only tell her the truth, so there was no need to hide it.
"Yes, everything"
Mr. Li pulled the car in front of Grace, and he pulled the door open for her. "Miss Chen?"
Steph had a shocked look. She scanned the car and even went around it. "Steph, come." Grace pulled Steph as they got into the car.
"What the fuck is happening, Grace?"
"You can't be a slut to some rich man, so what is it? Did your mom come back? Is she now married to a billionaire? Or did you discover that your mom had a son who is rich?"
"Yes, it must be it."
She was deep in thought. Mr. Li couldn't hold onto his laughter as he burst out in laughter with Grace.
"Miss Chen, I am sorry, but I can't take you back to the mansion with your friend."
"Why?" Grace frowned at the driver, who was just following orders.
"Did Mr. Xu say that? Steph is my sister; why can't she come to the mansion?"
"He is just trying to protect you."
"Who is Mr. Xu?" Steph asked anxiously; she couldn't understand anything.
"He said the apartment is mine and you are my driver, so why will he give such rules?" Grace frowned, then she took out her phone and sent a message to Raymond.
[The driver refuses to take my friend to the mansion; why?]
Seconds later, Mr. Li received a call, and he said a few words before he drove away.
Grace smiled before she turned to Steph. "I stay in a big mansion, you know? There is a butler, and the maids there cook the best meal."
"Grace," Steph called, and she stared at her.
"Did you sell your kidney?"
This made Grace burst into laughter; she used the entire ride to explain to Steph how she met with Raymond and the contract he offered her.
Finally, the car arrived at the mansion, and they got down. Steph stood there, shocked.
"Grace, is this a prank? A wealthy man suddenly saw you and fell in love with you."
"Yes, he was smitten by my beauty." Grace lied so abruptly.
"Is he married?"
"Of course not, and he is into finance."
"Finance men are very rich," Steph said.
"Come," they both walked inside.
Steph was shocked by everything that was before her; she was still in a maze.
Then her eyes widened in shock, and she turned to Grace. "Did you give it to him?"
"Give what?"
She stomped her legs angrily. "I am nineteen; Grace, I was supposed to go first. Why did you do it before me?"
"Do what?"
"I think she means sex." They heard a man's voice, and both turned only to find Seb there.
He smiled at them; he was holding an ice cream cone. "Wow!" Steph exclaimed.
"Is this Mr. Xu?"
"Did you mean sex?" Grace questioned instead. "Hello, Seb, I am not Mr. Xu. Can't you see I am smiling?" He extended his hand for a handshake, and Steph quickly accepted it.
"Steph, so if you aren't Mr. Xu, then are you single? Do you need a contract girlfriend? I am available, and could you get me a Ferrari instead?"
Grace nudged at her when Seb laughed, then he shoved the ice cream cone at her. "I don't deal with kids," he said, and walked past them.
Her eyes widened in shock, then her gaze moved to Grace, who laughed.
"Did he just call me a kid? Is it because of my bossom? Is it that flat?" Steph pouted as Grace kept laughing.
*
They sat at the dinner table and ate the delicious meal served by the maids. Steph kept stealing glances from Seb, who ate quietly.
"Uhm, why are you here instead?" Grace asked.
"To pick you up."
"Pick me up." She asked, confused.
"Hm, for dinner with Mr. Xu."
"Oh," she said, having forgotten about it.
Then she pushed her food away, saying, "I shouldn't eat much then."
"No, in fact, you should eat a lot."
*
After their meal, the maids helped Grace get dressed in a long, tight-fitting red gown and also curled her hair.
Since she was unable to walk perfectly with heels, they had to give her low sandals.
"You look beautiful, friend," Steph giggled.
"Pose for the camera."
Grace smiled as Steph clicked several pictures of her before Mr. Li approached Steph and said, "I will drop you off."
"Tell me everything tomorrow, okay?" she whispered to Grace before she left with the driver.
Grace got into Seb's car before he took off. "Uhm, will Mr. Xu meet us there?"
"Hm"
"Seb, are you just a driver?" She asked curiously because he had a rolex and dressed so wealthy.
"No, in fact, I am not a driver."
She raised a brow, confused. "Really?"
"Hm"
"You know, you shouldn't be curious about what I do or what Mr. Xu does; just live a good life," he gave her advice, and she pouted.
Then she sighed and stayed quiet till they arrived at a mansion on the outskirts of town.
The door pulled open, and before her stood Raymond, who was dressed in a black shirt and jeans.
She walked down, and he held her hand. "Don't talk to anyone," he muttered.
Her gaze swept over the place, and she found guards patrolling around. "Why is there so much security?"
"Is your friend a soldier?" she whispered.
"He is an ass," he answered, and she laughed.
"Today at school, the principal was kind to me. Did you beg him to let me get back to school?"
"Something like that."
"And…"
"Stop talking"
As they got to the sitting room, there was a man in his fifties who stood there with his daughter, who was in her twenties.
They stared at Grace like they had seen a ghost. Raymond raised his lips before he encircled his hand around her waist.
This made her jolt, but she didn't do anything. The man walked closer to them and stood before Grace.
"Grace Chen in my home," he muttered, and Grace got confused. She stared at Raymond, whose gaze was on the man.
"Macho, meet Grace, my woman."
"Your woman?" He asked, shocked. He clenched his fist and stared at his daughter, who had walked to them.
"Let's have dinner then."
"How are you doing, Raymond Xu?" she asked, and he nodded as he stared at them with mocking gazes.