Under The Surface. (My Middle Finger to Mr. Billionaire)

Everyone is a stranger until the masks come off.

To the rest of Westwood High, the Bayson brothers are gods. They have the looks, the black cards, and the kind of charm that makes girls forget their own names. They play the part of the perfect heirs perfectly, hiding the fact that their father is a nightmare in a tailored suit and their mansion is just a colorful cage.

Then there's me.

I have three rules: Keep my walls high, keep my grades up, and never trust a rich people. My past taught me that "rich" usually means "ruined," so I planned to survive high school as the invisible girl next door.

But then they arrived.

I thought the mansion next door would stay empty forever. I wasn't prepared for the Bayson brothers to move in and turn my quiet life upside down.

My plan to stay invisible? Dead.

The "Golden Boy" is officially my neighbor, and it gets worse.

Now, I'm the only one seeing Troy when he's not performing for an audience. He watches me from his balcony like he's trying to solve a puzzle. He knows I'm trouble and I know he's a rich boy with too many secrets.

But between study sessions, family chaos, and the pressure of his father's wrath, the lines are getting blurry.

Everyone in Westwood is an expert at hiding. We're all playing a part to survive. But when the secrets come to light, will we find the freedom we're all thirsty for, or are we just destined to drown together in the same ocean?

Find out in the pages of UNDER THE SURFACE...

• Trope: Forced Proximity, Neighbors-to-Lovers.

• Pacing: Slow Burn.

• Dynamic: Multi-POV.

• Themes: Family Trauma, Breaking the Cycle, Class Differences, and High School Politics.

⚠️ AUTHOR'S NOTE / DISCLAIMER:

This story contains mature themes,past domestic trauma, rated 18+ sex scenes and emotional abuse. It features strong abusive languages.

Read at your own risk.