Chapter 1My boyfriend cosplayed poor for three years. Got over me. Started posting bounties in his trust fund group chat.
"500k to whoever gets Briar off my back. I'm done."
His boys said no way.
"Dude everyone knows she's obsessed with you. Getting her to leave? Might as well kill her."
He acted all stressed:
"Yeah, I know. But what can I do? Family wants me married. Can't bring home a girl like THAT."
Then tagged his best buddy.
"Hey Wilder, wanna try?"
Playing broke? Cute. I've been playing in love.
That 500k? Mine.
Been waiting three years for this.
---
Saw Declan say he was done. I almost laughed out loud.
Three years.
The trust fund prince finally got bored of playing poor boyfriend.
My days of being his fake obsessed girlfriend were finally over.
What's next? He throws some fat check at me and tells me to get lost?
He's East Coast elite. Can't be cheap about it.
At least 500k.
When I get that? I'm hiring twenty models. Gonna feel up all their abs.
Hehe.
But then I kept reading.
My smile died.
Wait. Why's there a middleman?
You don't need someone to seduce me.
Just hand ME the money.
Long as the price is right, I'll disappear faster than anyone.
Too bad I played the lovesick girlfriend too well these past three years. The trust fund prince bought it.
He told his bro Wilder in the group:
"If it doesn't work, whatever. Worst case I'll fake my death."
Then I get nothing?
Not hehe anymore.
I put the phone back.
Declan came out of the shower.
Our crappy rental was 500 square feet. Super cramped.
Coming out of the bathroom he had to duck or hit his head.
In this dump, the trust fund prince lived with me three years.
Guy really stuck it out though.
After drying his hair, he climbed into bed to kiss me.
Like every other night.
He got into it. Hand sliding under my pajama top to touch my waist.
I grabbed his wrist. "Not tonight."
He was breathing hard. "What's wrong?"
What's wrong?
Not in the mood, duh.
My 500k just flew away. How am I supposed to sleep with you?
Made up an excuse. "Got my period."
He froze. Dick died instantly. Rolled off me.
Once he calmed down, his brain started working again:
"Wait. That's not supposed to be today."
It IS today!
Today was supposed to be my payday. My freedom day!
You fucked it up, genius!
I turned away. Straight-up lied to his face.
"My period's wonky."
Forget it. I'm about to have internal bleeding from rage.
I found Declan three years ago.
Early morning. Heading to my stall, barely awake.
Kicked something lying in front of my spot.
Jolted me awake real quick.
Oh shit. Did one of my pig halves fall off the truck?
Looked closer. Let out a breath.
Not a pig. A person.
Oh thank god.
Kicked him a bit farther.
Pass out somewhere else, dude. You're blocking my setup.
After a few kicks, Declan woke up. Puppy eyes staring at me.
Like a dog left in the rain.
"I'm so hungry. Got any food?"
"I don't have money but I can work."
I looked at his clothes.
Covered in mud but clearly expensive. Probably over a grand each.
This is broke?
Then what's my $2.99 clearance tee?
A rag?
I took in that rich guy anyway.
Because he was hot.
Ever since I started that shitty meat counter job, my love life was dead.
Just me and dead animals all day.
Yeah okay, I kept him around partly 'cause he was hot.
But the REAL reason? Caught him on the phone one day.
"Yo, I'm in."
"Chill, she's totally clueless. Fed her some amnesia bullshit."
"Dumped the Rolex, threw on some cheap shit. Cosplaying poor right now."
"Why? Bro, I'm bored as fuck. What's the fun in sitting on billions doing nothing?"
"Way better watching some girl fall for broke me. Watching her give up everything for my fake-poor ass."
I was shocked.
Did this motherfucker just say billions?
BILLIONS?
Oh my god.
Everyone back up.
I'm about to become the most in-love bitch on this planet.
Chapter 2
From that day? I went all in on Declan.
Played the obsessed girlfriend like my life depended on it.
He's hungry? I cook.
He's cold? I get him clothes.
He says he's tired? I tell him to stay home and game. Blow my paycheck on his stupid game money.
His birthday comes? I take every penny I have. Even sell my plasma. Buy him a gemstone earring.
He holds my bruised arm. Starts crying.
"Briar, why are you so good to me?"
Why else?
For your billions, duh.
I look down all shy. Won't look at him.
Mumble some nonsense that means nothing.
He doesn't push. Just takes my hand.
"Briar, I like you. Be my girlfriend."
I bury my face so he won't see my smile splitting open.
Billions, here I come!
Dated the trust fund prince while he played poor. Three years.
The whole time I worked like a bitch.
Treated him like royalty.
Why?
Hoping he'd get bored and throw me fat breakup money.
Now he's finally bored.
But doesn't wanna give me a dime.
Instead wants to pass me to the next guy.
I'm so pissed.
These stingy rich people.
Next day, soon as I woke up I went to work.
First time in three years. No breakfast for him. No goodbye kiss.
Right after I got to my stall, he sent me a voice message.
Voice all sticky and low. Clearly still half asleep.
"Babe, no good morning kiss today? Can't sleep right without your kisses."
If you really can't sleep, get up and work.
Eating my food every day. Sleeping in my bed. Won't even pay up.
How do you sleep at night?
I ignored him. Kept weighing pork for customers.
2 PM. Sold the last bit. Packed up to go home.
A Maybach drove past. Way too close.
My outer thigh burned. Probably scraped.
The car stopped. Guy in a sharp suit stepped out.
High nose bridge. Deep eyes. Looked like he had some European blood.
He glanced down at me. "Get in. I'll take you to the hospital."
I tested my leg. Seemed fine. Said no thanks.
Then he handed me a card.
"Add me. You need anything, find me."
I was kinda touched.
He seemed pretty decent.
Not all rich people are twisted like Declan.
I took the card. Saw the name right away.
Wilder Ashford.
Wilder?
Thought about last night's chat.
My good feelings dropped below zero.
Oh fantastic.
Here comes Wilder.
Alright, showtime.
Chapter 3
I grab onto his jacket. Give him the full puppy eyes. Voice all shaky like I'm super nervous:
"Or... could you maybe just... give me cash for the hospital?"
Last night I was lying in bed thinking.
I fucked up from the start. Went way too hard with the whole "I'm obsessed with you" act.
Now Declan deadass thinks I'd pick him over money.
This time? Ask for money right away.
Gotta get paid somehow.
Sure enough, Wilder smiled and agreed.
"Alright."
Took my phone. Added himself without asking. Sent me 100k.
"100k for one kiss from a pretty girl. Fair trade, right?"
What a shameless player!
Makes sense. Same circle as Declan.
One's got zero class. The other's shady and doesn't play by rules.
Looking at the transfer, I got so excited my voice shook:
"No, I have a boyfr—mmph!"
My eyes went wide.
Wilder didn't wait for me to finish. Just kissed me.
His kiss was like him. Seemed casual but super aggressive.
Dude just went for it. Tongue in my mouth before I could even react.
What could I do?
Just kinda... stood there. Let him have his moment for like a minute.
Then shoved him back acting all shocked and ran off.
Next few days, Wilder showed up every day in different luxury cars.
Wave his hand. Buy all my pork.
Then invite me out.
I refused every time.
"Nah, gotta go home and cook for my boyfriend. Or he'll starve."
Not only that. I secretly raised prices from $20 a pound to $50.
He never checked anyway.
Might as well make what I can.
Finally one day I said yes.
He looked confused for a second. Like he didn't expect it.
I smiled all shy:
"Made some money lately. Wanna buy my boyfriend a gift."
Wilder ground his teeth. "Fine. I'll come."
He took me to the fanciest mall.
Saw a bag. I touched it.
"My boyfriend said when he has money he'll buy me this."
Wilder nodded to the sales girl: "Wrap it."
Saw a little black dress. I looked wistful:
"My boyfriend said when he has money he'll get me this too."
Wilder: "Wrap it."
Saw a pearl necklace. I stopped.
"My boyfriend—"
Wilder cut me off. "Wrap the pearl set and that gold one too."
Then pushed me into a fitting room. Kissed me hard.
After a long time he pulled back. Breathing heavy:
"Briar, your boyfriend can't give you anything. Why do you like him so much?"
"I'm loaded. Whatever you want, I'll get it. Won't lie to your face for years like that dickhead."
"Pick me, okay?"
