Chapter 3The Eleventh Candidate

The dinner didn't wrap up until eleven.

Mrs. Calloway dragged Mom off to play cards.

Olivia had been drinking, so she asked me to drive her home.

But just as we reached the hotel entrance, she took a call.

"I left something in the private room. I'm going to run up and grab it. You go on home without me."

I nodded and didn't ask any questions.

Because one minute earlier, Bryce had texted me a room number.

"1808. Your surprise is inside."

I stood in the lobby and watched Olivia walk straight into the elevator and press 18.

I already knew.

I didn't go up right away.

Not until Olivia texted, "Home yet? Get some sleep."

Only then did I press 18.

The door to 1808 hadn't fully shut.

As I got closer, I heard Bryce laugh.

"So when are you going to tell him?"

Olivia sounded annoyed.

"In a couple of days. Your review period isn't over yet. There's no point making a scene right now."

"And you're still stringing him along?"

It went quiet inside for a few seconds.

Then Bryce laughed again.

"My dad's a deputy city administrator. What he promised you is a done deal."

Olivia's voice softened right away.

"I know. Just ask your dad about my transfer again. If I can really transfer over, we'll be at the same agency, and it'll be way easier to see each other."

I laughed.

So in her eyes, three years together weren't even worth as much as a transfer.

I took out my phone and started recording.

Then I pushed the door open.

The two of them on the bed froze at the same time.

Bryce had a bathrobe draped over him.

Olivia was wrapped in a towel, her jacket tossed beside the bed.

"Luke?"

I held up my phone.

"Go on. I didn't catch the whole part about the transfer."

Once Olivia snapped out of it, her first reaction wasn't to apologize.

It was to lunge at me and grab for my phone.

"Are you out of your mind?"

I took a step back.

"What's wrong? Nervous now?"

She stopped.

The panic on her face slowly turned into anger.

"Fine. Since you've seen it anyway, it saves me from having to find the right time to tell you."

She pulled on her clothes.

"Let's break up. And here I was, trying to spare your pride."

I laughed.

"Thanks."

My calm only made her angrier.

Olivia looked me up and down coldly.

"What are you pretending for? Luke, you have to accept your place in life. Look at Bryce, then look at yourself. He's about to start at a city agency, and his family has connections. What do you have, besides the good grades you used to get? Were you planning to live off me forever?"

Leaning against the headboard, Bryce said, "Olivia, don't be so hard on his ego."

But his eyes were full of smug satisfaction.

I asked him, "You called me up here just so I'd see this?"

He smiled.

"Better you see things clearly sooner rather than later. Some things just aren't yours, no matter how tightly you hold on."

I nodded.

"True."

Then I turned and walked out.

Behind me, Olivia scoffed.

"Once Bryce officially starts, you won't be able to get in his good graces even if you try."

Only once the elevator doors closed did I open my phone.

The video was crystal clear.

Both of their faces. The clothes scattered beside the bed.

And every word of Olivia admitting she'd cheated on me.

I grabbed a few stills and sent them to Sabrina along with the video.

"Supplemental evidence. Bryce knew Olivia and I had been together for three years, and he got involved with her anyway. Submit it together with the rest under his personal conduct."

She replied quickly.

"Got it. I'll add it right away."

I put my phone away.

My eyes stung, but I didn't look back.

Olivia thought she'd hitched herself to a city official's family.

I really wanted to see how long her dream of marrying into money would last if Bryce couldn't even make it through the agency's front doors.