Amira's POV
I sat cross-legged on Summer's bed, watching as she paced back and forth across the room. Her words poured out in a relentless stream, her frustration bubbling to the surface like water about to boil over. It was hard to tell whose room we were in at this point—mine or hers—since Summer practically lived in mine whenever she was upset
"She thinks she's better than everyone else!" Summer fumed, throwing her arms in the air dramatically. "Like she's some kind of queen walking around, acting all perfect! But I know the truth, Amira. I know what she did to you!"
I exhaled slowly, gripping the edge of one of the pillows on her bed. "Summer, you don't have to—"
"She sabotaged you!" she interrupted, spinning around to face me. Her expression was fierce, her eyes burning with anger. "You were the perfect candidate for that job, Amira. The perfect one! And then she had to go whispering in Aiden's ear like the manipulative little—"
"Summer," I said gently, cutting her off this time. "We don't even know if Mariah said anything about me. Maybe Aiden just decided I wasn't the right fit."
Summer snorted, her hands landing on her hips. "Please. You think it's a coincidence that she talks to him and suddenly he's not interested in hiring you? She's playing the long game, Amira. She wants to keep you out because she knows you're better than her."
" We never knew if he was planning to in the first place."
Summer groaned and flopped onto the bed beside me, throwing her arm dramatically over her eyes. "You're too nice, Amira. That's your problem. You always try to see the good in people, even when they don't deserve it."
I gave her a small smile. "And you always assume the worst."
"Because I'm usually right!" she shot back, sitting up abruptly. "Mariah is ruining everything, and it's not just about you not getting the job. She's not good enough for Aiden, and she's definitely not good enough to be part of our family."
"Don't even get me started on how she keeps trying to act like she's better for Aiden. Newsflash, Mariah: just because you're married to him doesn't mean you're a perfect fit. She doesn't even get him, Amira! Not like I do." she said, jumping off the bed.
Here she goes again. I raised an eyebrow at that but decided to let it slide. "Summer, maybe she—"
"She hates me!" Summer interrupted, throwing herself onto the bed beside me and letting out a dramatic groan. "I can feel it. Every time I try to help Aiden, she's there, shutting me down. And you know what the worst part is? Aiden listens to her! Like she's some kind of authority on everything.
I felt a bitter smile tug at my lips. "It's funny, isn't it? How does someone like her always manage to land on her feet no matter who she steps on to get there?"
Summer stopped pacing, turning to look at me with wide eyes. "Exactly! She steps on people like you and me—people who actually work hard—and then dares to act like she's earned her place. She's fake, Amira. Every word out of her mouth is fake."
I nodded slowly, my resentment bubbling to the surface. "I tried to play fair, you know? I thought if I worked hard, I'd get what I deserved. But then she swoops in all smiles and charm, and suddenly, my hard work doesn't matter. Aiden doesn't even give me a second glance."
Summer's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a scowl. "That's because she's poisoned him against you. She's probably whispered all kinds of things in his ear, making him think you're not good enough for the job. But we both know the truth. You're more than good enough. You're better than her."
The bitterness in my chest burned hotter, and I found myself nodding again. "She's always had this way of making people see her as innocent. Like she's this perfect little angel who can do no wrong. But we both know better, don't we?"
Summer flopped onto the bed beside me, throwing an arm dramatically over her face. "You're too nice, Amira. That's your problem. You always try to see the good in people, even when they're as rotten as Mariah."
I let out a humorless laugh. "Maybe I'm done being nice. Maybe it's time for people like Mariah to learn that actions have consequences."
Summer peeked out from under her arm, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "Now you're speaking my language."
I leaned back against the headboard, my mind racing with possibilities. "She wants to act like she's untouchable, like she's better than everyone else. But she's not. She's just good at hiding the cracks in her perfect little facade. Maybe it's time someone exposed them."
Summer sat up, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "And who is better than us? We know her better than anyone. We know her weaknesses."
I hesitated for a moment, a small part of me wondering if this was the right path to take. But then I thought about all the times I'd been overlooked, all the opportunities I'd lost because of people like Mariah. And just like that, my hesitation vanished.
"You're right," I said, my voice steady and firm. "She's not as perfect as she wants everyone to think. And if Aiden won't see it on his own, then maybe we need to help him."
Summer's grin widened, and she reached over to squeeze my hand. "This is why we're best friends, Amira. We get each other. And don't worry—I've already started laying the groundwork. My dad said he'd help me get a job at Aiden's company. Once I'm in, I'll have a front-row seat to everything. We'll take her down together."
A spark of determination lit in my chest. "It's about time someone showed Mariah she's not as untouchable as she thinks."
As Summer launched into her next plan, I felt the weight of my resentment shift into something else entirely—purpose. Mariah may have thought she'd won, but this was far from over.