The Roster Queen
Honestly, I feel bad for your future husband, Phoebe said, swiping through TikTok on her phone. Hes going to drain his 401k just for the down payment on a wife whos already been driven around the block a few times.
I considered this for a moment. She wasn't wrong, but the delivery was pure Phoebesnide and dripping with manufactured innocence.
You know what? I offered, shrugging. I could always transfer one of them to you.
Phoebes eyes, glued to the screen of her phone, widened instantly.
1
I... I dont know about that, she stammered, her gaze darting everywhere but at me.
Then, the air around us shimmered with an imagined text overlaya phenomenon Id grown numb to, but one that Phoebe seemed utterly reliant on.
[OMG PHOEBE! Don't even hesitate! Skylars backups aren't just anyone!]
[A Wall Street CEO, a Biker Bad Boy, and a Boston Trust Fund Princeall ripped, all rich, all prime quality. This is the stuff of fantasies!]
[Heh, the thought of Phoebe getting all the fish Skylar carefully baited is just so delicious.]
[Im already craving the scene where Phoebe brings her whole harem to rub it in Skylars face, watching the look of wild regret on the villainess's face! Get it, girlie!]
Phoebes expression cycled through shock, disbelief, and finally, settled on a look of utter, greedy ecstasy.
You have three guys on rotation, right? she declared, her tone suddenly booming with the confidence of a shopper at a luxury outlet. I want all of them.
I let out a soft, appreciative chuckle.
Three at once might give you indigestion, I said, leaning back. Lets start with one. Once youve secured him completely, then we can talk about the other two.
Phoebe hesitated, then nodded sharply.
Fine. But don't you dare regret this later.
No regrets, I promised. One backup for ten thousand dollars. Cash only.
Her jaw dropped.
Wait, youre charging me? Ten grand? Are you serious? Just go rob a bank!
I remained cool, unbothered.
Oh. In that case, lets forget I offered.
The imaginary comments immediately flared up in a panic:
[NO, PHOEBE! Dont let this opportunity slip! This is a once-in-a-lifetime deal!]
[These men are worth billions, you idiot! Ten thousand dollars is nothing! Youll be swimming in ten million once you reel them in!]
[Skylar is so shortsighted, it's sickening. A poor girl with no class. If she knew she was trading a multi-billionaire for ten grand, shed be clawing at the walls with regret!]
Phoebe swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on the ceiling where the imaginary words hovered.
Fine, she conceded, her voice a strained whisper. Ten thousand. Deal.
2
It took Phoebe a week to scrape the cash together.
In the meantime, I had carefully selected which of my current prospects I would pass onthe fish I was ready to release back into the stream.
Ashton Lennox, 21 years old, six-foot-two, eight-pack abs, I recited, handing her a burner phone and a gaming console account. Hes a student at the university across town, from a very average background. We met playing this game.
I continued my detailed briefing, every word a subtle lie designed to maintain the narrative Id created.
He occasionally buys me takeout coffeethe gifts never cost more than thirty bucks. His parents messy divorce left him with serious attachment issues. He's very sensitive and needs constant reassurance.
I looked her dead in the eye, offering the full customer-service rundown. Ive established myself as the Gentle, Understanding Older Woman. You have to maintain that persona and give him all the security he craves.
[Hahaha, the villainess still thinks the main guy is just a poor college student. Our Ashton is just testing herhe hates gold-diggers, so he acts broke!]
[To think Skylar spent all that time only to get a few cheap coffee orders, and our girl Phoebe gets everything for free! I cant stop laughing!]
Phoebes lips curled into a smug half-smile. The moment the accounts were hers, she changed the passwords.
She gave me a pointed, triumphant look. Skylar, when Ive got this guy secured, youre going to be so sorry you let him go.
I smiled sweetly. I wont regret it. I only hope you dont.
Phoebe just scoffed, dismissing me. She immediately logged in and began chatting with "Ashton."
For the next few weeks, Phoebe was inseparable from her phone, either texting him or playing the game with him. The imaginary commentary confirmed that things were going well: Ashton hadn't noticed the switch. Phoebe, guided by the online cheerleaders, was slowly erasing my digital footprint and meticulously executing the seduction plan.
A fortnight later, Phoebe walked into our dorm room.
The first thing I noticed was the dazzling sparkle on her necka massive diamond necklace.
She immediately noticed my stare, tossing her head back with a triumphant smirk.
Ashton bought me this necklace, she announced. I looked it up online. Its worth over two million dollars.
I nodded slowly, offering a simple, Its beautiful.
Phoebe sighed dramatically.
Honestly, I don't get men, she mused. Youre so much prettier and smarter than I am, and you were with him for so long. All he ever got you was a few cheap coffees. Im just average and a little clumsy, and weve only been talking for two weeks, but he sends me this million-dollar piece. Why do you think that is?
What else could I say?
Because, I explained, my voice flat, he was pretending to be broke the entire time he was talking to me.
3
I knew Ashton was rich. Of course I did. Thats why I pursued him in the first place.
Wed met on a high-stakes mobile game. That game had two kinds of players: whales who drop tens of thousands of dollars without a second thought, and people like me who hustle to sell account boosts for cash.
Ashton was the former. I was the latter.
The moment I saw his game avatar, clad in gear that would cost six figures in real money, I knew he was no ordinary catch. A once-in-a-lifetime sight. I immediately began my calculated pursuit.
Daily dungeon runs, sweet morning and goodnight texts, endless concerned inquiries. I waited patiently, and one night, after he poured out a sob story about the 'pain of his unstable childhood,' I solidified my persona as the Gentle, Understanding Older Womanthe one stable, maternal figure he needed. The needy, emotionally starved boy was securely hooked.
Perhaps he feared that everyone who got close to him only wanted his money. Ashton had adopted the cover of a cash-strapped, average college student with poor grades and a plain appearance.
Hed often play the pitiful victim, asking me in a small, vulnerable voice, Babe, am I really worth your love, being so ordinary? Im so scared youll meet the real me, be disappointed, and just leave.
Id be silently rolling my eyes at his full complement of custom, god-tier game gear. For a rich guy, dropping a million in a mobile game is probably like dropping a hundred bucks for a normal personthey dont even notice the cost. He hadn't even realized how badly he'd exposed himself.
But Id reply with syrupy sweetness: Never. In my heart, you are the most special little puppy. I could never leave you.
Ashton seemed determined to maintain the broke narrative. He was incredibly cheap. His coffee orders were from no-name chains, and his gifts were usually nine-ninety-nine-and-free-shipping junk from Amazon.
But his sweet talk was on point, he consistently carried me in the game, and hed occasionally send me scorching-hot, borderline-explicit photos of his abs. For a while, I genuinely liked him.
Until one time.
I was rushing to a gig on my scooter when I crashed into a road barrier. My right leg was fractured, and a kind stranger rushed me to the ER. The x-rays, the hospital stay, the follow-up physical therapyit came to over twenty thousand dollars.
I was desperate. I took a picture of myself in the hospital bed, looking pathetic, and reached out to Ashton.
Babe, can you lend me some cash? I promise Ill pay you back the second Im better!
His response? Silence. For an entire month, Ashton did not reply.
Luckily, I found a new prospect who covered the hospital bill. Otherwise, I might have been permanently disabled.
It was only after I was fully recovered and discharged that Ashton resumed our chat, acting as if nothing had happeneddaily good mornings, constant life updates.
The jerk. Why didnt he just wait for me to die and then send flowers to my grave?
I wanted to dump him then and there. But I couldn't find the right moment. You dont just casually break up with a guy who can crush you socially or financially without a second thought. A messy exit could have serious repercussions.
So I played along, performing affection while shifting my focus to other men in my portfolio.
Maybe he sensed the chill. Ashtons neediness and possessiveness exploded. He started relentlessly pushing for us to meet in person.
Absolutely not. Online life is one thing. It can't contaminate my real-world hustle.
I was trying to figure out how to put him off when Phoebe, my convenient roommate, stepped up.
Shed taken this spoiled, demanding idiot off my hands. Perfect. If she could actually manage to get money out of Ashton, that was her skill, not my loss.
At least I had secured ten thousand dollars, cold hard cash.
Since my low-key attitude failed to provoke her, Phoebe dropped the topic of the necklace.
By the way, Ashton wants to meet up in person, she said, her eyes flicking to mine. He said to bring all my roommateshe wants to treat us to dinner and get to know you guys.
She slowly twisted the knife. Skylar, youre free the day after tomorrow, right?
[Awww, finally, the highly anticipated confrontation! Will Skylar break down?]
[The villainess thinks hes an ordinary guy, but when she sees our Ashton is a total Greek god in person, she's going to be absolutely demolished!]
[Oh, but I'm worried. What if Skylar decides she wants him back? What if she tries to steal him from our girl?]
[Relax! Ashton is clearly obsessed with Phoebe now. Even if he knows the truth, hell choose her without hesitation!]
[If Skylar tries anything, Ashton will protect Phoebe and crush her!]
4
I was ready to decline.
But then Phoebe mentioned it. Ashton was bringing a welcome gift for each roommate.
A solid gold chain for everyone.
I immediately canceled my plans. Damn capitalism!
The day of the dinner, I wore a simple t-shirt and jeans, no makeup, and chose the seat furthest from the head of the table. I wanted zero attention. Phoebe was the star.
When Ashton walked in, I glanced up.
Pale skin, perfect, chiseled features. An aura of cool, detached entitlement that only comes with obscene wealth.
Yes, I thought. Definitely a guy who can drop a million in a mobile game without blinking.
After my momentary appraisal, I went back to looking at my phone.
Ashtons eyes lingered on me for a second, then quickly moved on.
Phoebe rushed to greet him, all fake sweetness.
Youre late, sweetie! Punishment: you have to peel all my shrimp for me later.
She reached out to take his hand. He subtly sidestepped the touch.
My apologies for the delay, Ashton said with a faint smile. I brought some gifts for everyone. Thank you all for taking care of my girlfriend.
He turned to Phoebe. Sweetie, will you introduce me to your roommates?
Of course. Phoebe went down the line, but when she got to me, she paused, a venomous smile playing on her lips.
And this is Skylar Rhodes. The campus queen. Beautiful, smart, and a long line of admirers. Shes famous for juggling three guys at once, so shes pretty talented.
Ashton froze. Three?
I looked up, meeting his intense, dark gaze.
I gave him a calm, casual smile. Correction. Only two now.
Ashton stared at me, his eyes wide and unblinking.
The atmosphere turned instantly arctic.
Luckily, the waiter chose that moment to serve the main course, easing the tension.
During the meal, Phoebe worked overtime to show off their relationship, demanding Ashton feed her and peel her shrimp.
I kept my head down, hunched in the corner, casually eating and texting on my phone.
Suddenly, my phone was snatched out of my hand.
I looked up. Ashton was standing over me, his face disturbingly calm.
Why are you on your phone the whole time? Is the food not to your liking?
The nerve of this guy. Zero boundaries.
I frowned, simply holding out my hand, silently demanding my phone back.
Ashton ignored me, instead glancing down at the screen.
Whats so interesting? Can I see?
The vibe was getting seriously weird.
Phoebe, looking confused, chimed in hesitantly. Skylar always eats lightly, Ashton. Just ignore her, lets keep eating.
He didn't acknowledge her. He just kept his unsettling gaze on me, then asked, each word distinct and loaded:
Who, exactly, are you texting?
Uh oh. Even the thickest person at the table should have noticed the shift.
Phoebes voice was trembling. Ashton, what is the meaning of this? Youve been staring at Skylar since you walked in! You wont even talk to me! Do you even want to be with me anymore?
Ashton looked at her with pure, cold disdain. He tsked softly.
He didn't even bother to explain. He just delivered a sharp command:
Ten seconds. Take your roommates and leave. Ill let this slide. Otherwise you wont want to know the consequences of my bad mood.
Phoebes eyes welled up, but her two other, more self-preserving roommates quickly pulled her away, practically dragging her out of the restaurant.
I considered a swift exit, but Ashton was already standing in front of me, blocking the path.
His eyes were red, and his voice cracked with a wounded sound.
Its just us now. Can you explain?
He sounded genuinely heartbroken.
Why did you give the account to your roommate? Why did you dump me? You said I was your good little puppy, your most special one! Why did you have other backups behind my back?
Ashtons questions came faster and louder. He slammed my phone onto the table in front of me.
Is it because of this (872) 422-xxxx Ryder Jensen, the Race Car God? Is this jerk hitting on you? Youve been texting him nonstop since I walked in!
He was panting now.
I saw he sent you a bunch of chest selfies! That shameless loser, hitting on another mans girlfriend! What does he have that I dont? Skylar, say something!
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