The sun was just beginning to rise when I arrived at school the next day, my mind buzzing with a plan. I was the first to enter the classroom, a rarity among my peers who typically arrived early only when they felt the weight of their potential inheritance pressing down on them. For me, grades had always been mediocre, but now they had to absolutely soar to extraordinary heights. Thankfully, I had a remarkable memory, having taken this class before, so that shouldn't be too difficult.
But as I settled into my seat, the looming issue of Eli crept back into my thoughts. Avoiding him at school would be nearly impossible, so I needed a way to ensure that he would be too scared to approach me. That was where one person came into play: Damien Anderson.
In my past life, Damien had been the only one to recognize my talents for business time and time again. He was a miles ahead of me in life, but we shared a few work functions, where he had flirted with me relentlessly. However, I hadn't reciprocated—Eli was always in the picture, Damien was married himself, and that made things impossible for me.
Damien was a thug from a long line of thugs, even if his family business had gone legitimate in the seventies. The fear he inspired was reasonably terrifying; people whispered about him, though he was genuinely a nice guy. The real challenge was approaching him while we were still in high school. We didn't yet know of each other's existence, but I had enough information about him to catch his attention.
During lunch, I knew he would be sequestered away, likely alone with two muscle-bound flunkies guarding him. I needed to find him quickly. When the bell rang, I sprinted out of the classroom, ignoring Eli's calls for me to join him for lunch. I would rather be shot anyway.
After weaving through the crowd and successfully losing Eli, I finally spotted two towering figures stationed at the entrance to the rooftop staircase. This had to be it.
I walked up to them, and they glared down at me, assessing my audacity. "I'm Jack Spencer. I want to talk to Damien."
"Make an appointment then," one of them scoffed.
"Tell him I need five minutes. If I don't interest him by then, I'll compensate him handsomely." The two continued to stare me down, seemingly trying to telepathically convince me to leave, but I stood my ground. This was all so dramatic, but I had a purpose to fulfill. "Hurry up and tell him! If I wanted to stare at decorations, I'd buy a Christmas tree!"
"Send him up!" a voice called from the top of the stairs. I pushed past the guards, climbing the steps two at a time.
There, sitting cross-legged on the floor, was Damien Anderson. He had shoulder-length black hair that framed his face and intense dark eyes that seemed to pierce through me. A scar ran from his lip to his eye, adding an air of mystery to his striking features as he casually munched on his lunch from a brown paper bag that said Cole Norman on it.
"You begged me for five minutes, it'd better be worth it. I don't think you can afford compensating me either way," he said, exuding an aura of malice that should have been intimidating, but I brushed it off. I got used to this in our last life already.
"Nice to meet you too. I came to make a proposal. It'll only take five minutes."
"Sorry, but I already have too much on my plate. I don't think there's anything I want from a Spencer rat," Damien said with an arrogant smirk.
"Shut up and listen, kid," I rolled my eyes, taking out my binder and laying out the real reason for my early arrival at school. "Here's the deal. I've managed to compile a comprehensive set of resources—tests, quizzes, homework assignments, you name it. It's an extensive database, meticulously organized and readily accessible."
Damien leaned in, feigning interest. "Go on."
"What I'm offering is a premium service. For a reasonable fee, other students can gain access to these materials. It's all about making it look like they've been enhancing their study experience, providing them with the tools they need to make it look like they're succeeding. And, of course, it would be distributed discreetly."
"So, you're saying we could make some serious cash off this?" he asked, a smirk creeping onto his lips.
"Exactly. There's a substantial demand for academic assistance. We'd be meeting that demand efficiently and professionally, especially for the young heirs who need to impress their parents. Students get what they need, we get a steady revenue stream, and we hold something over their heads until they graduate. Win-win."
Damien seemed to perk up at the thought. "And you've got all the materials for every grade?"
I smiled confidently, knowing I had already succeeded. "Every single one. I've been meticulous in gathering everything. It's a foolproof system. With your... influence, we can ensure the word gets out effectively and stays silent."
"Alright, Jack. You've got yourself a partner. Let's get this business rolling," he said, extending his hand.
"Thanks, but I'm not looking for a partnership in business. What I actually need right now is a boyfriend," I stated, surprising even myself with my boldness.
"You want me to be some piece of arm candy?" Damien dropped his hand and glared at me, confusion evident in his features. "This would be more profitable with your sister if thats all you would need in return."
"That's not true. I've convinced my sister to give up being an heir, and my dad made me the sole heir. All I have to do is be top of the class this year, and I can earn my first bit of power from my dad. I also desperately want to detach myself from a certain someone, but he seems to be a lot more clingy than I remember."
"I see. You need a shield from an annoying bug," Damien chuckled.
"Exactly. We don't have to do anything significant—just play knight in shining armor when it's needed until I can escape for college. If you agree, you can have full ownership of this venture. I'll get everything at the start of next year, too. If you pass it on, it can be a profitable side hustle for years after graduation."
Damien's expression shifted, a playful smirk dancing across his lips. "Maybe I don't feel like being a shield. I could just beat you up—"
"You're also looking for an excuse not to deal with some of the girls around here since you can't stand the sight of one, right? Especially Rose Jiang," I interrupted.
He glanced around, ensuring no one heard me. "You looked me up?"
"You think I'm stupid enough to come here without a plan from A to Z? I'm a Spencer, not an amateur. Use me to reject those rich girls; they have no choice but to bow down to a Spencer in this state. I won't ask for anything more, and you won't have any obligation to me aside from playing Prince Charming when it actually counts," I smiled back at him, hoping to seal the deal.
"Don't hold back your cards when negotiating with me. I'm assuming a lot of risk here, so put everything on the table," Damien replied, his eyes narrowing.
"If possible, try to make it look real. I don't know if you can even act," I crossed my arms, a challenge lingering in the air.
Damien chuckled, a shiver of excitement running through him. "You've got guts, Jack. It's a shame for you that I don't play pretend because I can't act."
"What?" My confusion deepened as I attempted to read his intentions.
"A poor imitation is worse than nothing at all," he said, suddenly sliding closer to me, his arm snaking around my shoulder. "As long as you hold the title of Damien Anderson's boyfriend, you'll need to act the part genuinely. Can you handle that? If not, run away now."
I could feel my heart racing, a strange rush of fear and excitement coursing through me. "Sure, whatever."
"Relax. You look like prey that's about to be eaten. Not attractive," he said, his teasing tone cutting through my nervousness.
"Good thing you don't scare me," I shot back, trying to maintain my composure.
"What if I get caught?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"There's always a scapegoat planned in advance," I replied confidently.
"And if that fails?" he pressed.
"I'm a Spencer. I'll just buy your innocence, duh," I rolled my eyes. "Any more stupid questions, or are we in business?"
Damien blushed slightly, a reaction I hadn't expected. "You've definitely got balls. I'll be down to join you later then."
"Ugh, whatever," I muttered, standing up to leave. "You better play your part or I'm taking these plans back. Good luck proving they came from me."
"Will do, baby," he winked, a playful glint in his eyes.
What a draining guy, but at least my mission was accomplished. I had secured someone who could deter Eli, who seemed hell-bent on speaking with me. In my last life, Eli had envied Damien so much that he'd actively avoided him at every work function. It was a pathetic sight looking back.
As I walked away, my heart pounded in my chest. Maybe I was more nervous than I thought, but I couldn't afford to show it. This was just the beginning of my new life, and I was determined to make it work.