“Cole! Long time no see!” Pierce greeted him with a quick fist bump, and a few others called out to him as he walked over, clearly all old friends. Alessia just stood quietly off to the side, a gentle smile ying at her lips as she watched him approach.


    “I thought you were going to bail on us today,” someone teased.


    “No way,” Cole said, ruffling Alessia’s hair with easy familiarity–a gesture that looked like second nature, as if he’d done it a thousand times before. “If thedy of the house gives an order, you know I have to deliver.”


    Their friends hooted and teased, but neither Cole nor Alessia seemed the least bit embarrassed. Instead, they acted as if this kind of banter was perfectly normal.


    “All the gifts are here. Just im yours. Pierce, mind helping hand them out?”


    “Help? I’m honored,” Pierce said, grinning as he took the suitcase from her.


    “Hey, sis Alessia-” Pierce was about to head to the back of the ssroom with the gifts when Ileana, looking as delicate and fragile as ever, somehow slipped in through the crowd.


    Ste rolled her eyes so hard it was almost theatrical, but before she could say anything, Alessia stepped between them, blocking her. Ste just pursed her lips and let it go.


    Cole ignored Ileanapletely, just gave a short, scornfulugh and perched himself on Alessia’s desk. With his baseball cap pulled low, he had the easy swagger of a schoolyard kingpin, but never crossed into looking rough or crude.


    Their group had loosely clustered around Alessia, forming a protective half–circle. It couldn’t have been more obvious: they were drawing a line. Ileana’s smile twitched at the edges as she tried to hide the jealousy in her eyes.


    Just a fake, she thought bitterly. No wonder these idiots can’t ever beat Crestview High in the finals–they’re all so clueless. But then again, the dumber they are, the easier to use. If she could work her way up in the Tate family through these people, she’d finally get the respect she deserved.


    While Ileana daydreamed, Alessia had no interest in ying along.


    “What’s wrong? Not rushing to y the doting little sister today?”


    Thementnded like a p. Ileana’s smile froze, but she just pretended not to


    <b>14:41 </b>


    hear. Instead, she raised her voice, feigning innocence, and pointed at the suitcase in Pierce’s hand.


    “Alessia, is that the suitcase you insisted on taking with you even after Dad kicked you out? I didn’t realize you brought it just to give gifts to your friends! If I’d known, I would’ve said something nice about you to Dad… I’m so sorry.”


    An awkward silence stretched between them; everyone exchanged uneasy nces.


    “Pierce, didn’t you call about picking it up before?” Cole askedzily, twirling a lock of Alessia’s hair around his finger.


    “Don’t even remind me,” Pierce replied, quick on the uptake. “They almost hung up on me. It was only when I mentioned Alessia’s name that they agreed to hand it over. You know, I’d asked everyone I knew to help me track down that collector’s item, and nobody could manage it. Alessia stepped in and got it done, no sweat. My dad was so proud when I gave it to him as a gift–he turned around and bought me that Phantom I’ve been dreaming about.”


    He rattled off the story like he was reciting a grocery list.


    “Yeah, well, I’m not the Tate family’s golden girl anymore,” Alessia said, her smile tinged with sarcasm. “Maybe next time you should ask the real Tate family heiress for help.”


    “No way, Alessia!” Pierce whined, looking genuinely worried. “My granddad’s turning sixty next week, and I was counting on you to help me find something special for him!“``


    That snapped the group out of it. They realized just how close they’de to falling for Ileana’s bait.


    At their level, money could buy anything–except the rare treasures that really showed off your family’s taste and connections. Gifts weren’t about price tags anymore; the rarer and more unique, the better. They’d all tried pulling strings on their own, but nobody took their calls. Alessia, though–if she promised she’d get you something, you could count on it, no matter how impossible it seemed. The only catch was, you had to trade her something in return.


    Who would believe it was just because she was the Tate family’s daughter?


    The group broke into a lively chatter, the tension dissolving. Ste caught sight of Ileana’s stormy expression, stifled a yawn, and lost all interest in the drama.