Dumped For Pennies, Returning With Billions

Cari stood on the sidewalk, looking up at the towering, gold-tinted glass of the Cloud Crest hotel in midtown Manhattan.

She followed the navigation map around the side of the building and pushed open the heavy metal door to the employee entrance.

A wave of air hit her face, smelling strongly of industrial bleach and cheap coffee.

She walked down the narrow hallway to the supervisor's office to check in.

Trina Sharp sat behind a metal desk, slowly painting her fingernails bright red.

Trina looked up. Her eyes dragged up and down Cari's faded t-shirt and scuffed sneakers.

A loud, mocking scoff left Trina's lips.

"We don't need anyone," Trina said flatly, waving a hand to dismiss her. Trina wanted to give the shift to her own cousin.

Megan Keller, another server carrying a stack of folded uniforms, stopped in the doorway.

"Trina, the GigMatch system already confirmed her," Megan said quickly. "If you reject her now, the platform will hit the hotel with a massive cancellation fee."

Trina rolled her eyes hard.

She reached under the desk and threw a bundled uniform at Cari's chest. It was clearly a size too small.

Cari caught the fabric. She didn't argue.

She gave Megan a small nod of thanks and walked into the locker room.

When Cari came back out in the tight uniform, Trina pointed a sharp fingernail at her.

"You take the VIP private dining room," Trina ordered. It was the heaviest, most stressful section.

Cari loaded a massive silver tray with heavy metal cutlery and three bottles of champagne.

She balanced the tray on her shoulder and walked steadily through the maze of kitchen hallways.

She reached the heavy oak doors of the top-tier VIP room at the end of the hall.

Just as she raised her hand to knock, a busboy hurriedly pushed past her to exit the room, leaving the heavy oak doors slightly ajar in his rush. A familiar voice drifted through the resulting gap. Cari's hand froze in mid-air. Her eyebrows pulled together. She leaned closer, peering through the open space before the heavy door could swing completely shut.

The room was dimly lit with crystal chandeliers. A group of wealthy kids sat around a long mahogany table.

Cari's eyes instantly locked onto the young man sitting near the head of the table.

Her stomach twisted violently.

It was her boyfriend, Hamlin Ross. The guy who always claimed he was a broke student and made her split every penny with him.

Right now, Hamlin was wearing a perfectly tailored designer suit. A thick Rolex watch caught the light on his wrist.

Hamlin held a glass of red wine, leaning forward with a sickeningly eager smile.

He was toasting Harper Zamora, who sat at the head of the table.

Cody Boggs, one of the rich followers, slammed his hand on the table and laughed.

"Hamlin, you really worked hard pretending to be poor just to get into the Zamora circle," Cody mocked loudly. "Did the fake daughter ask you for grocery money today?"

Hamlin let out a short, cruel laugh. He waved his hand dismissively.

"Cari is a desperate beggar," Hamlin sneered. "Looking at her makes me sick."

Hamlin turned his attention back to Harper.

"I only dated her to get close to your family, Harper," Hamlin said, his voice dripping with loyalty. "I gathered all her embarrassing secrets just for you."

Harper covered her mouth with her hand, her shoulders shaking with a delicate laugh.

"You did well, Hamlin," Harper praised him. "Like a very obedient dog."

Outside the door, Cari stood completely still.

The heavy silver tray dug into her shoulder. Her fingers gripped the edge of the tray so hard her knuckles turned stark white.

A sharp, stabbing pain hit her chest as the original owner's lingering emotions flared up.

But Cari's eyes were dead and cold.

A brutal, icy smile slowly formed on her lips.

She took a deep breath, shifting the heavy tray entirely to her left hand.

She freed her right hand and gripped the heavy brass handle of the door.

Down the hall, Trina walked around the corner. She saw Cari standing still and immediately opened her mouth to yell.

Inside the room, the laughter paused at the sound of Trina's approaching footsteps.

Cari ignored Trina completely. Her eyes stayed locked on Hamlin through the crack.

She pulled her right leg back, shifting all her weight, and prepared to strike.