Megara stepped out of Jane's car, her arms laden with shopping bags, each one holding a bikini or a swimsuit. She had tried to stick to her usual wardrobe of sweatshirts and sweatpants, but her friends had refused, insisting the mall bring out their finest swimwear. She waved at them as they drove off, promising to pick her up by seven for the party that started at eight.
As she pressed the doorbell, a maid opened the door, greeting her with a kind smile. Megara smiled back, asking the maid for her name. "Priscilla Walker," the maid replied. Megara told her it was a beautiful name and made her way toward the living room.
Meanwhile, Lacey sat on the sofa, a cucumber mask on her face, FaceTiming her boyfriend, Evans. Two maids attended to her—one giving her a manicure, the other massaging her shoulders. Lacey glanced up from her phone and saw Megara, her hands full of expensive shopping bags. She kicked the maid painting her nails, a signal to stop, and shrugged her shoulders, signaling the other one to stop as well.
"I'll call you back," Lacey said into her phone before ending the call. "Megara! Didn't you learn how to greet the mistress of the house?" she called out as Megara was halfway up the stairs.
Megara stopped and turned, giving Lacey a look so menacing that Lacey instinctively recoiled, her body trembling slightly.
"Go back to whatever you were doing and don't disturb my peace," Megara said, her voice low and steady. "I don't have time for drama."
Lacey narrowed her eyes. "How did you manage to seduce Hugo into buying you all that stuff?" she asked, her voice laced with venom. "And why was he staying with you in the hospital?"
Megara scoffed. "Is the art of seduction all you can think about, rather than the art of common sense?"
Lacey bristled. "If it wasn't seduction, how could you have the 'Executioner of Royal Von High' wrapped around your chubby fingers like a robot?" she spat.
Megara simply raised an eyebrow. "How are you so sure Hugo bought any of this?"
Lacey fell silent, unable to reply.
"Now listen to me," Megara said, her voice a sharp command. "You're the one and only heir of the Shaw family. You don't need to waste your time thinking about unimportant things like seduction. Go to your room and read a book."
Lacey's face flushed with anger. She gritted her teeth, watching as Megara continued up the stairs. "I'll tell Mom when she gets back," she muttered under her breath, a silent vow to get her revenge.
"Go ahead," Megara said, a smirk playing on her lips. "Tell your mother. But do you have any proof that you didn't start this?"
"My mother believes everything I say!" Lacey retorted.
Megara's smirk widened. "Don't worry," she said coolly. "Your father will hear about it, too. How do you think he'll react when I tell him you accused me of seducing Hugo, who is clearly my friend?"
Lacey bit her bottom lip, her confidence wavering.
"Don't frown too much," Megara added, her voice dripping with mock concern. "You'll get wrinkles."
With that, Megara turned and walked into her room, slamming the door behind her. The sound echoed through the silent house, sending a jolt through Lacey's body. She stumbled backward, horrified, and then scurried down the stairs.
"Ugh, I'm so sick of all these parties," Megara grumbled, dropping the bags on her bed. She stalked over to her wardrobe, the racks filled with hoodies and sweatpants in every color imaginable. Her eyes caught on a bright yellow sundress, and the memory of Mrs. Santiago's party made her stomach clench. A low hiss escaped her lips as she snatched a pink hoodie and matching sweatpants.
Just as she laid her clothes out, her stomach growled. "Seriously?" she muttered, grabbing a pink siren couture bikini to go with her outfit. With a sigh, she headed downstairs, her hunger overriding her foul mood.
The moment she reached the bottom of the stairs, a loud squeal echoed from the living room. "Oh my gawd!" Lacey's voice shrieked. Megara rolled her eyes, ignoring her cousin as she made a beeline for the kitchen.
Priscilla, the cook, had already set out a plate of mac and cheese. "Thank you, Priscilla. This looks amazing," Megara said, her mouth watering. She took a big bite and hummed in appreciation. "Seriously, you're the best cook ever."
Lacey barged into the kitchen, her face a mask of smug satisfaction. "Don't get too comfortable," she said, her eyes fixed on Megara. "Did you hear about Uriel's pool party? I was invited, of course."
Megara took another bite of her mac and cheese, pretending not to hear her.
Lacey laughed, a cold, brittle sound. "Oh, wait. You weren't invited, were you? I guess going to Royal Von High doesn't automatically mean you're a part of the popular crowd. It's no surprise, really. With your background and looks, you wouldn't stand a chance with Uriel."
Megara finally looked up, a smirk playing on her lips. "It's fine you were invited but what's special about it since everyone was invited to attend? She asked looking eyes with Lacey. "If you'll excuse me I'm starving might even eat you if you were bread.
Lacey's smug expression instantly vanished, replaced by shock and fury. The maids in the kitchen fell silent, watching the two cousins with wide eyes. Just as Lacey was about to retort, the tension broke with the sound of a door opening.
Lucas walked in, a questioning look on his face. "What's going on in here?" he asked, and everyone in the room let out a collective sigh of relief.
Just as the tension between the cousins grew, Lucas walked in and was immediately engulfed in a tight hug by Lacey. "Dad!" she shrieked, her voice filled with delight.
He kissed the top of her head. "Where's your mother?" he asked.
"She's having brunch with her friends from the estate at Imperial Hotel," Lacey replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Lucas nodded, a small box appearing in his hand. He gave it to her, and Lacey's face lit up as she opened it to reveal a shimmering blue diamond necklace. "Oh, you're the best dad ever!" she squealed, hugging him again.
Lacey's smug smile returned as she turned to Megara, showing off the necklace while Lucas fastened it around her neck. Megara, however, seemed completely unfazed. She continued scrolling on her phone, taking another bite of her mac and cheese as if nothing had happened.
"Megara," Lucas said, his voice cutting through her apathetic demeanor. He tossed a small black box to her.
Lacey's mouth fell open in surprise. "Dad!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of shock and betrayal.
Megara caught the box effortlessly. "Thanks, Uncle Lucas," she said, her voice soft but sincere. She didn't open the box but simply placed it on the counter beside her.
Lucas walked out of the kitchen, and Lacey followed close behind. "What was that?" she demanded as soon as they were in the living room. "Why would you give her a gift?"
He patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it," he said with a dismissive wave. "It's just some cheap earrings I picked up from the store. Nothing for you to be bothered about."
Lacey's face brightened, a satisfied grin spreading across her lips. "Good," she said, before shifting the topic. "Speaking of parties, Dad I'm going to Uriel's pool party tonight it's for all schools.
"You can't go to such party it's too dangerous plus those irritating boys might just lay their hands on you. He said his voice laced with concern.
"Please, Dad?" Lacey begged, giving him her best puppy-dog eyes.
He sighed. "Fine," he conceded. "But only on one condition."
Lacey's smile faltered. "What?"
"Megara goes with you." He said his voice cold and firm.
"What?" Lacey's voice was an incredulous shriek. She quickly lowered her voice, forcing a sickly sweet tone. "But Dad, why? She knows nothing about the rich or how to act at a party like this."
"She's your cousin, Lacey," Lucas said, a sternness in his voice that made her flinch. "You will look out for her and she too will look out for you. you also will stop insulting her. It's either she goes with you, or you're not going at all. Your choice."
Lacey's eyes narrowed, a flash of pure rage burning behind them. But she quickly composed herself. "Fine," she said, her voice dripping with feigned sweetness. "We'll go together."
Lucas smiled, a small, knowing expression on his face. "Good," he said, before walking toward his study. He felt a sense of pride, believing he had found a way for the two cousins to finally bond.
But as he walked away, Lacey's mind was already at work. This wasn't a bonding opportunity; it was a perfect chance to make Megara look like a fool in front of everyone at Uriel's party.
Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, Megara was already making a Uriel's coffee. As she finished, she handed the cup to Priscilla. "Take this to my uncle, and you can keep the rest," she said, a small smirk on her face. She picked up the flask she had bought and walked out of the kitchen, her mind reeling with what she has in store for Uriel.
Later that evening, at 6:30 p.m., Megara was getting ready. She pulled on her chosen outfit, the pink hoodie and sweatpants concealing the siren couture bikini she wore underneath. After a quick glance in the mirror, she pulled her hair into a sleek ponytail and then twisted it into a bun, securing it with a pair of chopsticks.
She took a picture of herself, inspecting the final look. A knock on the door made her turn toward the window, but she didn't see her friends' car. She opened the door to find Lacey standing there. Her cousin was dressed in a short, flowing teal skirt that barely covered her knees and a matching teal bikini bra. Her blonde hair was braided into tight Fulani curls, and her lips were a deep shade of red.
"Are you going to the party dressed like that?" Lacey asked, giving her a quick look of disdain. "Yuck hello! you're going to a party not a gym.
Megara's expression didn't change. "At least I'm not dressed like a prostitute just to prove I'm going to a pool party," she retorted calmly.
Lacey laughed. "You wouldn't understand perfection. You're a nerd with zero fashion sense."
With a final, withering look, Lacey turned and led the way to the garage. Megara followed, resigned to the fact that her uncle had made her agree to this ridiculous arrangement.
In the garage, Lacey stopped in front of a gleaming pink Maserati. "Just so we're clear," she said, her voice dropping all pretense of sweetness. "You're not riding with me. Not in my baby."
"Megara shrugged, pulling out her phone. "I wasn't planning on it. I'm riding with my friends."
Lacey scoffed, rolling her eyes as she walked towards her car. "Wait for me at the party entrance or else I'm telling your dad you kicked me out."
"Fine! I will!" Lacey screamed before starting her car.
Megara scoffed at her attitude. She watched the car leave, and almost immediately Jane pulled over in front of the garage as she had texted them earlier. Megara got in the car, and they drove off into the night.
Inside the car, Jane eyed Megara's outfit. "Seriously? You're wearing pants?" she asked, a hint of playful disappointment in her voice. "We went all out buying those sexy skirts for nothing, I guess."
"I just wasn't feeling it," Megara said, scrolling through her phone. "I'm kind of reserved when it comes to my body. I don't really want to flaunt it since I'm not that fit yet."
Laura reached over and patted her knee. "Relax," she said gently. "Just enjoy yourself tonight, and don't get too drunk. You don't want to regret anything tomorrow."
Megara nodded absentmindedly, still inspecting a picture on her phone. Suddenly, the car came to an abrupt halt, throwing her forward. Megara's forehead ached as she rubbed it, trying to figure out what happened.
"What was that?" she asked, looking at Jane.
"Some idiot cut us off!" Jane fumed, cursing under her breath before continuing to drive. "Just a close call, that's all. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good," Megara said, leaning back in her seat. "Just a little shaken."
She checks her phone upon close inspection she found out nothing had happened to it. She sighed relieved nothing was out of the ordinary or accidentally shared.
They finally arrived at their destination. A long line of people snaked toward the entrance, music thumping from inside. As they approached, a burly guard stopped them. "IDs out, please," he said. Megara, Jane, and Laura all pulled out their IDs, which the guard scrutinized carefully. After checking their ages, he gestured for them to step forward for a thorough search before finally letting them inside.
The friends walked toward the gate, a stunning white mansion rising before them. Light spilled from every window, and the booming bass of "Espresso" by Sabrina carpenter pulsed through the air. They hummed along, a shared smile between them. Clearly, it was their favorite song.
A large crowd of students had gathered outside the living room doors, waiting for the host to usher them inside toward the backyard pool. Nearby, a group of girls were chattering excitedly, their voices carrying on the breeze.
"I heard Uriel's pool is one of the biggest and most luxurious in the whole UK," one girl said, giggling. "He apparently takes care of it himself, even though he lives here in Marylebone with his parents."
"That's what I heard too!" her friend chimed in, a little louder. "But this is nothing! I heard he has a bunch of other villas in Chesterfield. This is probably the smallest one he owns."
"He is my prince charming, though," another girl sighed dreamily, striking a pose. "I can't wait to see him. That's why I wore my sexiest bikini."
Jane's fists clenched, a low growl rumbling in her throat. She looked ready to pounce, but Megara quickly stepped in, pulling her back. The group of girls who had been gossiping about Uriel and their own aspirations to be his girlfriend quickly scattered, muttering to themselves. One of them said Jane was "crazy," and the others nodded in agreement, giggling as they began to whisper about all the things Jane had done to try and get Uriel's attention.
Just then, Laura, a fierce look in her eyes, stepped forward. "Say another word about my friend and I'll beat the living shit out of you," she said, her voice low and menacing. The gossiping girls fled without a second thought, not wanting to risk a confrontation.
Megara spotted Lacey and told her friends she'd meet them in the ladies' room. They nodded in understanding, and Megara walked toward her cousin. Lacey looked furious.
"You're late," Lacey said, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "I've been waiting for forty minutes! Evans wasn't happy at all. He had to go inside alone while I stood out here like an idiot."
"I'm sorry," Megara said, her tone apologetic. "We almost got into a car accident. That's why we were late."
"That's not my concern or my fault," Lacey snapped, her voice cold. "You should have dealt with it yourself. And honestly, just mind your own business and stay away from me. I don't want anyone to know I have a cousin with zero fashion sense."
Just then, a group of girls walked by, and Lacey quickly hid her face, making her point painfully clear.
"Fine by me," Megara said, shrugging her shoulders. "Just don't get too drunk, and don't do anything stupid. And call me if you feel threatened, okay?"
Lacey let out a harsh laugh. "Nothing's going to happen. Evans would never let anything bad happen to me."
Megara simply shrugged again, the slight disappointment in her eyes hidden by a neutral expression. She turned and walked away, rejoining her friends as she left Lacey standing alone.