The ride after school in the back of the driver's car was filled with tension so thick it felt suffocating. I had talked a big game earlier, but I hadn't anticipated meeting Damien's dad so soon. I had to make this go well—there was no room for failure. No, it would go well! I just needed to get his father's attention, just like I had caught Damien's.
From the front seat, the driver, Harry, kept sneaking glances at me in the rearview mirror. To entertain myself, I started flipping him off every time he peeked like the idiot he was.
"Stop it," Damien ordered, shooting me a frustrated look.
"Fuck you. You're not my boss. Tell him to stop looking at me," I shot back, my irritation bubbling up.
"You're an antagonizer."
"I'm just done being antagonized," I retorted.
Damien turned to the driver. "Just stop looking at him, Chief."
"Yes, sir," Chief replied, sounding more subdued.
"Happy now?" Damien scoffed.
"Shove it."
"Listen here—"
"Oh, look! We're at a house now." I ignored him, my eyes drawn to the impressive entrance. We drove through a grand gate, and my mouth dropped open as we passed manicured lawns and extravagant landscaping, the mansion looming ahead, a testament to wealth. A fountain splashed in front, and an older servant stood waiting, ready to receive us.
We exited the car, and as I stepped inside, I took in the opulence surrounding me. The interior was a showcase of luxury—polished marble floors, intricately designed chandeliers, and lavish decorations adorned every corner. As we made our way down the hall, the grandiose decor felt almost intimidating.
Finally, we reached the drawing room where two older people sat. The woman had curly brown hair, and the signs of good extensive plastic surgery were evident. She looked polished and intimidating. Next to her sat a man who bore an uncanny resemblance to Damien, complete with multiple scars etched across his face. It was clear where Damien got his looks from; there was no denying paternity here.
"Hey, I'm dating this guy," Damien said, breaking the silence.
"What about that Jiang girl?" his dad asked, his voice deep and authoritative.
"Ask this one." Damien pointed at me, and suddenly all attention turned to me. I felt their scrutinizing gazes like a spotlight, but I remained unflinching as I took a seat.
"My name is Jack Spencer. I'm currently the only heir to the Spencer fortune," I introduced myself confidently.
"Who cares about that? Why'd you run that nice girl off?" the woman, who I assumed was Mrs. Anderson, asked, her tone sharp.
"Because I'm better than her," I replied, meeting her gaze without flinching. "I just need five minutes of your time. If you aren't convinced, I'll compensate you handsomely."
They exchanged silent glances, contemplating my words. Mrs. Anderson nodded after a moment, and Mr. Anderson turned to Damien, who stood awkwardly beside me. "It's worth hearing him for out a bit," he said.
"Fine."
I leaned forward, my confidence surging. "Mr. Anderson, I appreciate you taking the time to hear me out. There's this plot of land that's been floating on the market for quite some time now, purposely left there to drive the price down because the land is actually very good. It might not look like much, but I believe it has the potential to become one of the most profitable shopping centers in the state."
Mr. Anderson raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on, Jack. I know which one you mean, and I had my suspicions it was left there on purpose but I could never figure out why so I avoided it. Why this particular piece of land?"
"The location is key. It's situated near several growing residential areas, with easy access to major highways. Despite its current unattractive appearance, the surrounding development is increasing rapidly. The potential for a high-traffic shopping center is enormous," I explained.
Mr. Anderson's interest seemed to deepen. "But Jack, we've seen that land. It doesn't seem like a promising investment. What makes you so sure?"
In my previous life, Eli's family had bought that land and thrived off of my suggestion. Of course, I was reborn after I'd told Eli about it, and he used it to gain favor with his family. He had advised them to wait a year to buy it when it hit its lowest price. But the Anderson's buying the land six months earlier shouldn't be a problem.
"That's where the interesting part comes in. I recently came across some highly confidential development plans. It turns out there are big plans for that area. New roads, schools, and community facilities are going to be built, all of which will drive up the value and demand for a lucrative shopping center."
Mrs. Anderson interjected, her curiosity piqued. "How did you get this information?"
Mr. Anderson regarded me with a skeptical look. "Yes, Jack. Why should we trust you on this?"
I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. "Because I have proof. I stole all the development plans from someone else." I had Erwin get the scoop from a few maids he knew from the Roth home. "Here, take a look."
I pulled out my phone and showed them screenshots of the detailed development plans. I let Mr. and Mrs. Anderson scroll through, giving them a moment to assess for themselves.
Mr. Anderson's eyes widened as he studied the phone, then looked up at me. "These plans... they look legitimate. But how can we be sure they're accurate?"
I leaned in, my voice low and serious. "Trust me, Anderson. I wouldn't bring this to you if I wasn't absolutely certain. These plans are from a reliable source—the Roth family, known for their successful development careers. If you act quickly, you can secure the land before anyone else realizes its true potential and get ahead of them all."
Mrs. Anderson glanced at her husband with a smile. "The Roth family? This could be a huge opportunity, dear."
"If you beat the Roths to this, you'll definitely prosper," I assured them, my heart racing.
Mr. Anderson nodded slowly. "Alright, Jack. I'm willing to take a chance on this. But if this goes south, there will be consequences. Understood?"
"Wait, Jack, why would you steal these plans from them, especially when I hear the Spencer and the Roth families have a history of being friends?" Mrs. Anderson asked, her expression cautious.
I laughed coldly. "Mrs. Anderson, I understand your concern. But Eli made an enemy of me, regardless of our families' past friendship. The Spencer family will break away from them as soon as they get the chance. This isn't about history; it's about seizing an opportunity."
Damien looked at me, confusion etched on his face. "What did they do to you, Jack?"
"Let's just say their son Eli crossed a line he shouldn't have and I'm sick of him. This is business now. If we can put our differences aside, this deal can benefit all of you," I said, keeping my tone level.
"All of us? You don't expect to be included?" Mr. Anderson asked, skepticism creeping into his voice.
"I came here to prove that I'm more valuable than Rose Jiang and to get the blessing to date your son. I'm a Spencer. I'm the heir. I have access to all the tools to ensure a beneficial partnership. Based on my surname alone, you can start to enter higher social circles that Rose Jiang will never be able to," I stated firmly. "Have I proven I'm better and more valuable?"
The three Andersons stared at me as though I had completely lost my mind. I knew I must sound insane, but they were my only hope in ensuring Damien stayed compliant with our agreement. There would be more land and business decisions to make in the future, but for now, my first profitable investment could go to them.
"I'll go make a call real quick," Mr. Anderson said, picking up my phone and dialing out from his own. "If this is legit, I'll accept you. For now, why don't you have dinner here?"
In other words, I'm checking this out. Don't you dare leave until I give you the clearance.
Great, I was trapped. It was only 3 PM, and they most likely ate around 8 PM, right? No phone either. I guess I could be MIA for a few hours.
"So, what did this Eli Roth character do?" Mrs. Anderson asked, her interest piqued again.
"Honestly, he's just a piece of crap, and I've finally opened my eyes to it. He's a wishy-washy incompetent man with a crippling inferiority complex. He's a gaslighter and a manipulator, and he hates confrontation because he's a weak, stupid man who can't do anything but steal people's ideas and claim them as his own. I had to give up my ambition just to get him to look at me. Well, I'm tired of being nothing," I ranted, feeling the weight of my frustrations pour out. "I gave him the idea to buy the land in the first place, and because I was smart enough to know he called me unattractive, imagine my surprise when he presented the idea to his family like he thought of it. His older brother designed a bunch of things for the land and expanded on the idea, and it was this huge project they cut me out of!"
"Really?" Mrs. Anderson gasped, her interest clearly piqued.
"Yeah, so now that the plans are in the final stages, why not let them lose it to the most feared and soon-to-be-respected family in town?" I complained, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "After all, their finances can't handle losing this deal very well. I want to see their faces when they have to start listening to the people they look down on."
"Sounds like you hate their family," Mr. Anderson commented, eyeing me critically.
"I hate that they use the 'friendship' to look down on people," I replied, my tone firm. "When you mess with the Spencer name, I can't just let it go."
"That's nice and all, but what about my son? You haven't said anything about him," Mrs. Anderson crossed her arms, her scrutiny unyielding.
"Well, isn't giving you this information helping your son in the long run? Being with me can also improve his reputation, and I'm a very competent person. I can cook, clean, maintain a household and make money, so he will be well taken care of—"
"Stop! Do you like Damien?" She shook her head, clearly unimpressed.
"Yeah, if I didn't, I wouldn't have asked him out myself," I lied, my voice steady.
Mrs. Anderson looked at Damien, who simply nodded. "We'll know the verdict by dinner time, it looks like. I'll have you know that I can see right through you, though. This is clearly business."
Damien tried to say something, but I stopped him. "For now, it may seem that way, but your son had me chase Rose away, and I did, giving you something of more value in the process. If he accepted me after that, we clearly have a chance at making it."
"I have no doubt my son likes you. He loves trouble. It's you I'm worried about," she pressed.
"How so?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"You're a snake."
"Which means it's better to have me on your side," I argued, crossing my arms defiantly.
"What're you gaining from this?" she pressed.
"People I feel can be trusted. People who won't lie to your face just to placate you and earn favors. People with integrity and principles," I said, my voice firm.
"And knowing our family history and reputation, you'd side with us over the Roths?" she challenged.
I understood her skepticism, but there was no way I could tell her I was using her son as a shield from Eli and Debbie. "Perhaps in another life, I'd choose them, but in this life, I'd rather choose the Andersons."
"Two truths and a lie," she smirked. "Interesting."