The Price of Envy

The moment Tessa laid eyes on me at the Vanguard Corp. interview, she completely fell apart.

It all started with the concert Id been dreaming of for months.

The night tickets went on sale, I pulled an all-nighter, but my frantic clicking was for nothing. They sold out in seconds. Gritting my teeth, I ended up forking over an extra four hundred dollars to a scalper for a floor seat.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by the grim look on my roommate Tessas face. She was standing over my bed, her voice a low hiss. Are you insane? Spending nine hundred dollars on a concert ticket?

I tried to explain patiently that my parents were fine with it, that it was my allowance to spend on things that made me happy. But her voice shot up, accusing me of being spoiled and thoughtless. She even threw out a sleazy warning about girls whod do anything for a designer bag, telling me I needed to remember my "self-worth."

The night before the concert, my phone buzzed with a notification: Ticket refund successful. A moment later, an email from my academic advisor landed in my inbox. The attached grade report showed that I, who had always been at the top of my class, had failed several core subjects.

Frantic, I ran to find Tessa, who was our department's student representative. She just smirked at me. Aren't you just here for a good time, Sophie? What's the rush? Then, with a voice dripping in acid, she added, Funny how the ones who act so innocent are always the ones with the most dirt.

Now, watching her stand here before me, utterly flustered and lost, the irony is almost too much to bear.

After finals wrapped up, I spent the entire night trying to snag a ticket for the concert Id been waiting for all year. They were gone in a flash. Just as I was about to give up, a post popped up on social mediaa friend of a friend was selling a floor ticket. The last one.

My parents had just dropped fifty grand into my account for "expenses," so I didn't hesitate. I immediately offered four hundred dollars over the asking price and secured it.

The next morning, I was still half-asleep when I felt a pair of eyes burning into me. I cracked mine open to see my roommate, Tessa, leaning deep into my curtained-off bunk, staring at me with an unnerving intensity.

I jolted upright. Tessa? What are you doing?

A chill crawled up my spine.

You didnt go to sleep until 4:35 a.m., Sophie, she said, her voice low and accusatory. What were you doing up to, being all sneaky?

My bed curtains were drawn. How could she possibly know the exact time I fell asleep? Her dark, hollow gaze made my skin crawl.

Oh, uh, I was trying to get concert tickets, I mumbled, trying to brush it off. The show is next month. Can you move? I need to get up.

I gestured for her to get off my bed, but she acted as if she hadn't heard me. Instead, she plopped right down on the edge of my mattress, her expression a strange mix of pity and amusement. She patted my shoulder.

Dont play dumb. You stayed up all night for a concert ticket? Seriously, theres nothing special about them. You can listen to any song you want online for free. Its a total waste of money.

She wasnt done. Besides, its not easy to earn money these days. You really want to be one of those suckers throwing cash at celebrities? Thats your parents hard-earned money youre burning!

I fought down a wave of irritation and climbed out the other side of the bed.

Tessa, you dont need to worry about it. Finals are over, and Im ready to relax. Its not that expensive, and the experience is worth it to me. I added, And my parents are going with me. They love concerts too.

That seemed to set her off.

Not that expensive? I never took you for such a materialistic person! Your parents might spoil you now, but the real world wont be so kind!

I almost laughed. Did this girl have any concept of boundaries?

Nine hundred bucks for one show? What a waste. Whoever marries you is in for a world of trouble.

She spat out the exact number, down to the dollar. My other roommates glanced over, their eyes wide.

Whoa, thats a lot, Sophie. You sure you didnt get ripped off? one of them asked.

How did she know the exact amount I paid on my own phone?

I took a deep breath, about to explain I got it from a trusted source, when Tessa let out a cold snort.

Oh, a few hundred dollars is nothing to Sophie. She has her ways of getting money from men.

That was it. Id had enough. I shoved her off my bed.

What did you just say, Tessa? Its my money, what does it have to do with you? Dont push your luck!

Tessa was not only our student rep but also a micro-influencer with a decent following. She was used to being the one in charge, the one nobody talked back to. My public defiance made her face flush a deep, blotchy red.

Whatever. Theres no talking to people like you, she huffed, turning away. I was just trying to be nice. Why do you have to pretend to be such a goody-two-shoes all the time?

I ignored her and headed to the cafeteria. But when I got back to the dorm, I found her hunched over my bed, her hand darting around under my pillow. She was so focused she didnt hear me come in.

What are you doing? I demanded.

Tessa yelped, startled. She quickly snatched her hand back, hiding whatever she was holding.

God, Sophie, cant you walk like a normal person? she snapped, her voice shaking.

She was the one doing something shady, but somehow, I was the one in the wrong?

My brows knitted together. What were you looking for in my bed? You cant just go through my things without my permission.

Tessa rolled her eyes, her face a mask of annoyance. Do you have a persecution complex or something? You think youre so special? Nobody wants to touch your stupid stuff!

With that, she stormed out of the room.

That afternoon, during our department meeting, Tessa leaned against the whiteboard, her arms crossed, her eyes fixed on me.

Lately, there have been a lot of stories online about college girls selling their bodies to feed their vanity, she announced to the room, her voice dripping with meaning. We should all learn from their mistakes and uphold our integrity.

She tilted her chin in my direction. Right, Sophie?

A few of the guys in the class snickered, their laughter grating on my nerves. I saw a couple of them looking me up and down with smug, knowing smiles.

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to explode.

Who are you trying to call out, Tessa? I said through gritted teeth. Show some respect.

She pretended not to hear me. You all probably dont know this, but Sophie spent nine hundred dollars on a single concert ticket. Her skincare products cost thousands, all imported. Even her underwear is designer, costing hundreds!

Oh my god, this woman had absolutely no shame.

A hot, uncontrollable rage surged through me. I kicked back my chair and shot to my feet. What is wrong with you? Who talks about their roommates private life in front of the entire class? If you cant control that mouth of yours, I swear Ill shut it for you!

Tessa just smirked, her voice rising with excitement. As student representative, I propose that her academic scholarship be revoked and the money divided among the students on financial aid! Sophie can clearly afford it; that three-thousand-dollar scholarship is less than what she spends on a concert ticket!

She paused for dramatic effect. But for students like us, that money means more hot meals. It means less of a burden on our families!

Tessa was on financial aid. In fact, her entire influencer persona was built around being a poor, hardworking student who was pulling herself up by her bootstraps. Her sob story had gained her a lot of sympathy online.

As soon as she finished, a murmur of agreement spread through the classroom.

Divide my scholarship? Without even asking me?

I was furious. I grabbed the nearest textbook and hurled it at her. Are you deaf? I earned that scholarship with my grades! It has nothing to do with you. What gives you the right to give it away?

I then turned to the rest of the class. And don't you dare try to guilt-trip me! There are programs for students who need financial assistance. If you want money, earn it with your own merit!

After my outburst, I stormed out of the room, leaving Tessa fuming and stomping her foot behind me.

As I crossed the main campus quad, I saw a large poster for Vanguard Corp.s on-campus recruitment drive. The anger Id just started to let go of came roaring back.

I had been the one to convince Alexander Knight to hold a trial recruitment event at our university, begging and pleading with him to give my classmates a chance at a top-tier company. And this was the thanks I got.

Fine. If they were going to be like that, I didnt need to waste my energy.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Alexs number.

His assistant, Mark, picked up. When I told him to cancel the campus recruitment drive, he agreed without hesitation.

Honestly, Mrs. Knight, the candidate pool wasnt quite aligned with the corporations needs anyway. Its better to cancel before we officially begin. Dont worry, Ill handle everything.

Oh, and by the way, Mrs. Knight, he added, Mr. Knight knows youre going to the concert. He had a dress custom-made for you. Ill have it delivered later today.

Thanks, Mark. Tell Alex to call me when hes free.

Hanging up, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. No more trying to do good deeds for ungrateful people.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated. I glanced down and saw a notification that made my stomach drop.

[Dear Ms. Reed, your ticket refund has been processed successfully!]

What the hell? Id stayed up all night for that ticket. There was no way I would have refunded it.

I was about to call the ticketing agency when a message from our academic advisor popped up in the group chat. It was a picture of the final rankings for the semester. My eyes scanned the list, and my heart stopped.

I, who had never placed below first in my entire college career, was now at the bottom of the list.

I rushed to my advisors office, certain there had been a mistake with the system. My academic record had been flawless since my freshman year. Id even felt I performed better than usual on these finals. How could my rank have plummeted so drastically?

The moment I stepped into her office, I noticed the strange way my advisor was looking at me. There was a hint of disdain in her eyes. It was unsettling, but I was determined to sort this out.

After carefully reviewing the grade sheet, I knew something was wrong.

Professor, these scores cant be right, I said, pointing to the paper. How did I get a 49 in English? I have the highest proficiency score in our entire class.

My advisor, who was usually warm and supportive, was uncharacteristically cold.

Dont you ever have an off day, Sophie? When something goes wrong, you should look for the cause within yourself, not immediately blame the system or your teachers. Her tone sharpened. And about that letter of recommendation for your study abroad application I cant write it for you anymore. Sophie, I have to say, a young woman needs to have some self-respect.

Her words left me completely bewildered. What did she mean, no self-respect?

Connecting her strange attitude with Tessas recent hostility, a sickening suspicion began to form in my mind.

I found Tessa and confronted her. What did you do?

Tessa simply arched an eyebrow. I submitted lower scores for you. So what? As the student rep, I have the authority. I was just ensuring a level playing field for everyone else.

Her voice was laced with a chilling self-righteousness. The interview spot at Vanguard Corp. should go to someone who truly has the skills, not some gold-digging tramp like you!

So that was it. The internship. Tessa must have heard some rumor that the top-ranked student in our department would automatically get an interview with Vanguard.

Too bad for her, shed based her entire scheme on a lie.

Tessa knew I was in the middle of applying to graduate programs abroad, that every single grade was crucial for my application. Yet shed abused her position to knock me out of the running, all for the sake of some twisted idea of fairness.

I told the advisor everything, she continued, her voice dripping with venom. About your messy private life, how you stay up every night sexting with some guy. All those designer clothes you wear theyre from your sugar daddy, aren't they? If I were your parents, Id die of shame.

Her words were getting more and more vicious. I couldnt take it anymore. I had been patient for days, but I was done being a doormat.

I raised my hand and slapped her, hard, across the face.

Are you sick in the head? I seethed. You spend all your time in the dorm spying on me. Are you that pathetic? The man Im talking to every night is my husband, you psycho. So keep your filthy mouth shut!

Tessa clutched her cheek, her eyes wide with shock. Don't give me that crap! That guy sends you thousands of dollars at a time. If thats not being a sugar baby, what is?

I almost laughed. The playful little money transfers Alex and I sent each other were, in her twisted mind, evidence of me being a kept woman.