Elite Affairs - Book one

Chapter Fourteen

"Let me in, I want to understand you."

Madeline's fingers flew across her phone's keyboard as she sat in the upscale boutique's lounge area, a sly grin spreading across her face. Lilah and Jason sat across from her, sipping their lattes and exchanging worried glances.

"You're really going to hack into Açelya's phone and send a fake text to the school's administration?" Lilah asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Madeline's grin grew wider. "Not just any text. I'll make it look like Açelya is planning a secret party in the dorms, complete with alcohol and boys. By the time I'm done, she'll be facing detention and possibly even expulsion."

Jason's eyes widened in concern as he took a nervous sip of his latte. "Maddie, this is a pretty big deal. You're going to get Açelya in serious trouble."

Madeline's eyes sparkled with mischief. "That's the point. Açelya thinks she's so much better than us, with her perfect sweet girl act and her goody-goody attitude. But I'll show her what it means to cross Madeline Miller."

Lilah's gaze darted back and forth between Madeline and Jason, her eyes filled with unease. "Jason's right, Maddie. This is still a pretty mean thing to do."

But Madeline just shrugged, her fingers still flying across her phone's keyboard. "Oh, come on. It's just a little payback. Açelya will survive."

As Madeline continued to type away, Lilah and Jason exchanged another worried glance, their lattes forgotten in front of them. They knew they were in too deep, and Madeline's plan was still going to cause trouble for Açelya.

Lilah placed a hand on Madeline's arm. "Maddie, listen to us. This isn't right. We can find another way to get back at Açelya without ruining her life. Maddie, come on. It's just a dance. Don't make such a big deal out of it."

Madeline shook off Lilah's hand, her expression unyielding. "You don't get it, Lilah. Açelya's always trying to one-up us, to prove that she's better than us. And now she's got Léon's attention? Please. She's just a wannabe, trying to climb the social ladder by any means necessary."

Jason shifted uncomfortably, trying to intervene. "Maddie, maybe we should just let it go. Açelya's not worth our time."

Madeline's eyes flashed with determination. "Oh, I'm not going to let it go. I'm going to make sure Açelya knows that she's not welcome in our circle. She thinks she can just waltz in here and steal the spotlight? I don't think so." As Madeline's words dripped with venom, Lilah and Jason exchanged a worried glance, fearing what she might do next.

Lilah's eyes widened in horror as Madeline's words dripped with venom. "Maddie, stop. You're going to regret this. Açelya's not worth it."

But Madeline just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "Regret it? Ha! I'll never regret taking down Açelya. She's been asking for it since the moment she stepped foot in this school."

Jason leaned forward, his voice low and urgent. "Maddie, listen to us. We're your friends. We don't want to see you get hurt."

Madeline's gaze turned icy. "Hurt? You think I'm going to get hurt? Açelya's the one who's going to get hurt. And I'm going to be the one to do it."

"Maddie, think about it. We're all in this together. We're the ones who run this school. Why bother with Açelya?"

Madeline's gaze turned glacial. "You're just scared because you know I'll do whatever it takes to take her down. And if you two don't back me up, you'll be next."

Jason shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting between Madeline and Lilah. "Maddie, come on. We're your friends. We're in this together."

Madeline's smile was cold and menacing. "Friends? You think we're friends? I'm the one who makes the rules around here. And if you don't follow them, you're out. Got it?"