Sparkle | Saltburn

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Phoebe Dalton was always the life of the party. With her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders like a golden waterfall and her bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief, she was the epitome of charm and charisma. Her bubbly personality drew people to her like moths to a flame, and she reveled in the attention.

Growing up in a wealthy family, Phoebe had always been surrounded by privilege. Her father, a British businessman from a long line of fishermen, and her mother, an American physicist, had provided her with every opportunity to succeed. However, despite their best efforts, Phoebe had never been academically gifted.

From a young age, Phoebe had struggled with her studies. Her teachers often despaired of her, wondering how such a bright and charming girl could be so utterly clueless when it came to academics.

But Phoebe was not one to be discouraged. She had a secret weapon, one that had helped her sail through her private school with outstanding grades and had ultimately secured her a place at Oxford University: her ability to charm the nerdy boys into doing all the work for her.

It had started innocently enough. Phoebe had always been popular with the boys, her beauty and charisma making her the object of many a young man's affection. But Phoebe was not content to simply bat her eyelashes and smile sweetly. No, she had a much more cunning plan in mind.

She would seek out the smartest, nerdiest boys in her class and would make them an offer they couldn't refuse. With a flick of her hair and a flutter of her eyelashes, she would offer them a chance to spend time with her in exchange for doing her homework or writing her essays. And, much to her delight, they always agreed.

Phoebe had a gift for making people feel special, and the boys were no exception. They would spend hours pouring over textbooks and writing essays, all the while believing that they were doing it for the chance to impress Phoebe. Little did they know, Phoebe had no intention of ever dating any of them. She simply enjoyed the attention and the satisfaction of knowing that she was getting what she wanted without having to lift a finger.

And so, Phoebe sailed through her school years, her grades impeccable, her future bright. Her parents were overjoyed when she received her acceptance letter from Oxford, believing that their daughter had inherited her mother's intelligence and her father's work ethic. Little did they know the truth behind Phoebe's academic success.

As Phoebe's departure for Oxford drew near, she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. She knew that her charade would become even more challenging in university, but she was determined to keep up the facade. However, before she embarked on this new chapter of her life, she wanted to thank the boy who had written her entrance essay, the piece of writing that had secured her place at Oxford.

His name was James, a shy and studious boy who had always harbored a crush on Phoebe. She had sensed his admiration and had used it to her advantage, convincing him to write her essay with the promise of a special reward.

On the day before her departure, Phoebe dressed in her most alluring outfit—a tight-fitting dress that accentuated her curves and a pair of heels that elongated her legs. She wanted to make sure that James felt appreciated for his efforts, even if it was only for a brief moment.

Arriving at James's house, Phoebe took a deep breath to steady her nerves before knocking on the door. James opened it, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Phoebe standing before him, looking more beautiful than ever.

"Hi, James," Phoebe said, flashing him a dazzling smile, "I just wanted to thank you again for writing my essay."

James blushed, unable to tear his gaze away from Phoebe, "It was my pleasure. I'm just glad I could help."