Chapter 3 - The Untouchable Jock
That same evening, the atmosphere inside the Sterling mansion was electrifying.
Situated on a gated hilltop overlooking the city, the twenty-room estate blazed with light. Brad Sterling slammed the door of his customized Mustang and strolled into the grand marble foyer, throwing his varsity jacket onto a velvet armchair.
In the dining room, his father, Marcus Sterling, was drinking high-end scotch while discussing multi-million dollar figures over an earpiece. Marcus was a stern, silver-haired tycoon whose reputation on Wall Street was built on ruthless acquisitions and destroying competitors.
“We’ve got them, Arthur!” Marcus barked into the phone, laughing triumphantly. “The mysterious holding company behind Aegis had a system crash twenty minutes ago! Their automated safety bonds hit the market at a thirty percent discount! I just instructed our brokerage to buy every single share!”
Brad walked into the room, grabbing an apple from a crystal bowl. “Hey, Dad. Sounds like you had a good day.”
Marcus looked up, pride gleaming in his eyes. “Good day? Brad, today we seal the deal that makes our family a multi-billion-dollar dynasty. By tomorrow morning, Sterling Global will control the world’s most advanced financial AI. You’ll be driving a Ferrari to your Ivy League college next fall.”
“Told you we were untouchable,” Brad grinned, taking a bite of the apple. He thought back to the school hallway earlier today—the dark coffee spilling over that pathetic loser Leo’s face. The thought made him chuckle out loud.
Marcus raised an eyebrow. “What’s so funny?”
“Ah, nothing,” Brad smirked. “Just some broke freak at school trying to act tough today. Poured coffee all over his laptop because he was blocking my way. He actually had the nerve to say you wouldn't have a company left by tomorrow.”
Marcus chuckled dismissively. “High school drama. Let the peasants dream, Brad. They exist to serve people like us. Just make sure you keep your grades up for the admissions board. The charity gala tomorrow night at the country club is where we celebrate our victory.”
Meanwhile, across town at a local diner, Chloe Montgomery sat at a booth with her friends. Chloe was the head cheerleader, brilliant, and Brad’s girlfriend—though recently, the title felt more like a cage than a honor.
She couldn't stop thinking about the look in Leo Vance’s eyes when Brad poured that coffee.
She had seen people get bullied before. They usually cried, shrank away, or yelled back in anger. But Leo hadn't looked angry. He had looked like an executioner holding a axe, waiting for the condemned man to finish speaking.
“Chloe, are you even listening?” her friend Sarah asked, waving a hand in front of her face. “We were saying Brad looked so hot today when he put that weird kid in his place.”
Chloe frowned. “It was cruel, Sarah. Leo didn't do anything to him. He was just studying.”
“Who cares? He’s a nobody,” Sarah shrugged. “Brad’s dad is buying half the city tomorrow anyway.”
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Chloe looked down at her phone. She opened the school portal and looked at the student directory. There was Leo’s photo—plain, quiet, unreadable.
She felt a strange, unsettling chill in her chest. Something told her that Brad hadn't just bullied a quiet kid today. Something told her Brad had just knocked on the door of something terrifying.
