I Sponsored My Bully

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The charity case I'd been sponsoring with a million dollars turned out to be the girl sitting right next to me in class.

She was carrying my Herms Birkin, loudly complaining that mine was a knockoff.

She was licking a H?agen-Dazs cone, mocking me for only being able to afford a 7-Eleven Slurpee.

I didn't say a word.

I just cut off her credit card.

Then I kicked her out of the villa I owned but never used.

During class, my phone buzzed.

It was a suggestive photo from her.

The text read: "The St. Regis, Penthouse Suite. Waiting for you, Daddy. Wink~ XOXO."

Me: Gag.

Chapter 1

Cash was rotting in my accounts.

So, on a whim, I sponsored my housekeeper's daughter.

I didn't even know her name.

I just handed over a Black Card linked to my private trust.

The limit was one million dollars.

I figured that would cover everything from prep school tuition through her college graduation.

I was wrong.

It was only junior year.

My phone pinged.

Credit limit exceeded.

I was about to text the agency to ask what the hell was going on.

Then a voice memo popped up.

It was the first time in three years she had ever spoken to me.

"Sir? I know it's a lot, but I'm sprinting toward finals. My college counselor said I need this elite tutoring package to have a shot at the Ivies. It's really expensive. That's why the card declined. I'm so, so sorry..."

She called me "Sir."

She had no idea who I really was.

The tone was perfect.

Sincere.

Soft.

Dripping with a pathetic, tearful desperation.

But the frequency.

The pitch.

It clawed at my memory.

It sounded exactly like the girl sitting next to me in AP English.

Lexi.

But Lexi was a trust fund baby.

She acted like she owned the school.

How could she be my charity case?

My fingers flew across the screen.

I texted Preston, my father's assistant.

Run a background check on my sponsee. Now.

Thirty seconds later, a PDF landed in my inbox.

Name: Lexi.

Photo: Lexi.

The same girl who mocked my bag yesterday.

The pieces clicked into place.

A cold, hard knot formed in my stomach.

Lexi wasn't rich.

She was using my money to cosplay as an heiress.

We'd been stuck sitting next to each other for three years.

I had listened to her brag about her family's empire.

Her "daddy's" endless generosity.

Her bottomless trust fund.

Turns out, I was the "daddy."

My knuckles turned white as I gripped my phone.

The screen blurred as more messages flooded in.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

"Sir, please. I can't even afford lunch. Can you bump the limit?"

"You promised to help me. You can't just abandon me now. That's cruel."

"If I don't get into Yale because of this, it's on you. Do you want that on your conscience?"

I stared at the texts, paralyzed by the sheer audacity.

I didn't realize the cost of living for a "poor student" had inflated to half a million dollars.

She demanded it like it was her birthright.

Like I was her actual father.

Like cutting her off made me the villain in her twisted little story.

"Sloane! I've told you a thousand times. Get that knockoff bag out of my face."

The voice sliced through the air.

Lexi was back at her desk.

She glared at me, her eyes filled with pure, unadulterated disgust.

Chapter 2

I frowned, looking up to see her pointing at my bag, her face twisted in theatrical disgust.

"Stop pretending, Sloane. You're broke. Just own it. A Herms isn't for charity cases like you. Do you even have a shred of self-awareness?"

She didn't wait for an answer.

"Did you ask Mr. Harrison to switch seats like I told you? I'm sick of your depressing vibe. It's literally nauseating."

She gestured wildly at my drink.

"And get that 7-Eleven Slurpee away from me. That cheap cup is giving me a migraine."

Lexi had always been a nightmare.

I used to think she was just a spoiled brat.

Daddy's little princess throwing tantrums.

I ignored it.

It wasn't worth the energy.

But now?

Now I was keeping score.

Because every single cent Lexi spent came from me.

From the scholarship fund I set up.

I gave her that money so she could study.

So she could get into a good college.

So she could make something of herself.

Not so she could cosplay as a Gossip Girl villain, dripping in designer labels she didn't earn.

She could call me depressing all she wanted.

But insulting my slushie?

That was a declaration of war.

"What I carry is none of your business, Lexi. My bank account is none of your business. And since when did you become a certified authenticator? How many Birkins do you actually own?"

Her eyes bulged.

Her face went slack.

I was the quiet girl.

The doormat.

For three years, I had let her spew her venom without saying a word.

I treated her words like background noise.

Like a fart in a windstorm.

Irrelevant.

But this time?

The stench was suffocating.

And I was done holding my breath.

"You want to know why Mr. Harrison sat us together? He hoped my brain cells might rub off on you. You spend more time contouring than studying. Did you forget you're actually supposed to graduate?"

I took a loud, deliberate sip of my Slurpee.

"And if my drink offends your delicate sensibilities, tell your 'daddy' to buy 7-Eleven. Rebrand it. Change the logo. Until then, shut the hell up. You're exhausting."

Lexi's jaw hit the floor.

The entire classroom went silent.

Heads turned.

Whispers erupted.

"Holy sht. Did Sloane just snap?"

"Finally. I was waiting for her to explode."

"Lexi's been bullying her since freshman year. That clapback was lethal."

Someone from the back row chimed in.

"Yeah, Lexi. If you hate that slushie place so much, just have your dad buy the franchise! You're always bragging about how rich you are. Does he have the cash or not?"

"That chain has like, ten thousand locations nationwide. You say your family has 'f-you money,' Lexi. So what exactly does your dad do?"

Lexi froze.

Her face turned a deep, blotchy crimson.

She stammered, choking on her own lies.

Nobody in this room knew the truth.

Nobody knew that Lexi's mom was currently scrubbing the toilets in my guest house.

Chapter 3

"Lexi's father is the Chairman of Universal Group. He's the richest man in the state. Buying 7-Eleven? Please. He could buy Starbucks. He could buy H?agen-Dazs with his pocket change. He just doesn't want to. You guys are so clueless."

Kelly marched over, flanked by her squad of minions, effectively cutting off the laughter at Lexi's expense.

Lexi let out a delicate, practiced cough.

She smoothed her hair, glancing at Kelly. "Kelly, stop. My dad has money, sure. But it doesn't grow on trees."

The room went dead silent.

Universal Group.

The name dropped like a bomb.

Faces paled.

Skepticism warred with fear.

Universal wasn't just a company. It was an empire.

It spanned five continents.

It employed over a hundred thousand people.

Its operating system powered a quarter of the phones in this country.

And the most critical detail?

My father owned Universal Group.

I leaned back in my chair, studying Lexi.

Since when did my father have a daughter named Lexi?

"You say you're the heiress of Universal? Yeah, right. And I'm the lost Prince of Genovia," a guy from the back row shouted, snickering.

Kelly whipped around, her eyes blazing.

"Believe what you want. But I've been to her house. It's the biggest estate in Hidden Hills. It's not just a house, it's a palace. I'd believe she was royalty before I'd believe she's broke."

Hidden Hills.

My brain stalled.

A memory clicked into place.

I owned a vacant villa in Hidden Hills.

Two years ago, Lexi's motherDeborah, our housekeeperhad begged me for a favor.

She asked to stay in the guest quarters of the vacant property to "maintain it," claiming it was closer to her daughter's boarding school.

I had said yes.

A cold smirk touched my lips.

It seemed "maintaining it" meant moving her daughter into the master suite.

Kelly was on a roll now, her voice pitching up theatrically.

"Have you guys ever seen a bathroom that has its own living room? A closet the size of a department store? A custom round bed with a ten-foot radius? No? Didn't think so. That's just Lexi's bedroom."

Lexi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, feigning embarrassment.

"Kelly, stop," she murmured, waving a hand dismissively. "Those are just material things. I'm just a normal girl."

"God, you're so humble," Kelly sighed, looking at Lexi with pure adoration. "It's honestly an honor just to sit next to you."

She turned her sneer back to the class.

"You guys better start sucking up now. You might need a job from her dad one day."

The room shifted.

The doubt was fading, replaced by calculation.

But a few whispers still lingered.

Lexi sensed the hesitation.

She sighed, looking burdened by her own wealth.

"Fine. My birthday is coming up next week. I'll throw a party at the villa. You can all come. Just so you know I'm not lying."

Kelly gasped, clapping her hands.

"Omg, Lexi! Yes! I missed the last one. You have to order that custom Black Swan cake again. The massive one. I need a slice."

The Black Swan.

The class exchanged glances.

Even if they hadn't eaten it, they knew the brand.

It was the status symbol of cakes. Thousands of dollars for a single tier. delivered by models in tuxedos.

Envy rippled through the room.

Suddenly, everyone was desperate to be on the guest list.

Chapter 4

Even if they'd never tasted it, they knew the price tag.

Ten grand for a cake. Minimum.

Greed lit up their eyes.

Suddenly, everyone was desperate to be on the guest list.

Lexi shot Kelly a look.

A subtle, rehearsed signal.

Kelly jumped in on cue. "You guys can come, but don't show up empty-handed. This is a high-end party. Lexi doesn't do freeloaders."

Lexi smiled, playing the benevolent queen. "It's fine, Kelly. Everyone's welcome. Just bring whatever you can."

I sat there, marveling at the sheer delusion.

How did she have the nerve to claim my property as her own?

Before I could process the audacity, Kelly's finger was in my face.

"Sloane, don't even think about it. You're not invited. Lexi gets nauseous just looking at you. We don't need you ruining her appetite."

I let out a cold, sharp laugh.

"Whether I go or not isn't really up to you, is it?"

Lexi scoffed, her lip curling in disgust. "Wow, Sloane. I knew you were desperate, but crashing a party where you're not wanted? That's a new low, even for you."

Kelly snorted. "Exactly. Black Swan cake is for people with taste. Stick to your Slurpees. That's more your speed."

I stayed silent.

I couldn't wrap my head around their obsession with overpriced sugar.

The class buzzed with excitement, discussing what gifts to buy to earn their entry ticket.

Lexi pulled out her brand-new iPhone, tapping away with manicured nails.

A second later, my phone vibrated.

It was a text from her.

"Sir? My birthday is next week. I've never had a Black Swan cake before. Could you order one for me? A big one? Please?"

I stared at the screen.

The words felt cold.

Calculating.

She really thought I was just an ATM with a pulse.

I didn't reply.

The messages kept coming.

"I'm sorry if I was rude before. I know you're handsome and kind. You wouldn't leave me hanging, right?"

"I really want to meet you, Sir. I want to apologize in person."

"The St. Regis. Penthouse Suite. I'll be waiting for you, Daddy. Wink~ XOXO."

Then came the photos.

Lexi in a spaghetti-strap top that showed way too much skin.

Lexi in a micro-skirt that barely covered anything.

Lexi in sheer lingerie, biting her lip in a practiced pout.

Every image reeked of desperation.

It was like looking at something rotting.

Something covered in grease and cheap perfume.

My stomach churned.

"Ugh." The sound escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Lexi looked up, her brow furrowing.

She glared at me. "Ugly people are always so dramatic."

She went back to her phone.

My screen lit up again.

"Daddy, you're my savior."

"I don't really know how this works, but I did some research. I bought these... do you like them?"

Another photo loaded.

A mountain of sex toys.

Chapter 5

"Sick freak," I muttered, unable to hold it back.

Lexi clutched her phone to her chest, glaring at me. "Who are you talking to?"

I smirked, raising my voice just enough to be heard. "If the shoe fits, wear it."

"Psycho," she spat.

She grabbed her bag and stormed off to join Kelly's circle.

I watched her.

Every few seconds, she checked her screen.

She was waiting for a reply.

She was going to be waiting a long time.

I definitely didn't go to The St. Regis.

Instead, I called Preston and got the number for the housekeeper at the Hidden Hills villa.

Deborah. Lexi's mother.

I dialed.

"I'm coming home for a few days," I said. "Please have the master suite ready."

Deborah didn't say, "Yes, Miss."

She didn't say, "Right away."

She got angry.

"Miss Sloane, with all due respect, you can't just spring this on me. You're the Chairman's daughter, sure, but you need to give notice. How am I supposed to get that room ready on such short notice?"

I blinked, genuinely stunned.

"I said I'm coming in a few days. Is forty-eight hours not enough time to change some sheets?"

Her voice rose, sharp and indignant. "Of course not! Do you have any idea how large that estate is? If you want to stay there, you need to notify me at least six months in advance."

I let out a harsh, disbelief-filled laugh.

"It's my house. You're telling me I need to make a reservation six months in advance to sleep in my own bed? Are you insane?"

She didn't back down. "I don't care. You can't come back this week. If you want to stay, try again in the fall."

Wow.

The audacity.

Where did the help get the nerve to tell the owner to wait half a year?

But suddenly, Lexi made perfect sense.

Like mother, like daughter.

The apple didn't fall far from the entitled tree.

I didn't argue.

I just forwarded the call recording to Preston.

His reply was instant. "Miss Sloane, consider it handled. I'll terminate her employment immediately."

"No," I texted back. "Not yet. Send a team to inspect the property first. Check for damages. Check for unauthorized occupants. Document everything. If anything is missing or broken, I want them billed. I don't want them spinning a sob story about how the evil rich family kicked them out on the street without cause."

"Understood. I'm on it."

I put the phone down.

The villa was taken care of. Now I just had to wait.

The next day, Lexi walked into class.

She was wearing a high-collared shirt, but it wasn't enough.

Concealer was caked on her neck, cracking over the dark, purple bruises underneath.

Hickeys.

A lot of them.

I stared, confused.

I hadn't shown up at the hotel. So who gave her those?

My phone buzzed.

Another message from Lexi.

"Daddy, you're so bad."

I froze.

What?

Chapter 6

Another text popped up.

"You have to be gentler next time. What if you break me?"

"But Daddy, about my credit limit... when are you going to fix it? You promised."

I rubbed my temples.

The messages were disjointed.

Creepy.

I couldn't make sense of them.

Until gym class.

I walked into the locker room bathroom and heard a familiar, sugary voice coming from a stall.

Lexi.

"Daddy, tonight? Again?" She giggled, the sound echoing off the tiles. "I guess I can... but I really want this new bag."

"And my card is still maxed out. When are you going to unlock it?"

A pause.

Then a low, breathy moan.

"You want me on top? Oh, stop it. You're embarrassing me."

The pieces slammed together.

Lexi wasn't just delusional.

She was being catfished.

Some old creep had stolen my identity.

He'd convinced her he was the mysterious benefactor.

For a split second, I felt a pang of pity.

She was being groomed. Used.

Then she kept talking.

"The girl next to me has been staring at me all morning. I think she knows. What if she tells someone?"

"She's so annoying. Can't you just get her expelled?"

"Who cares if she has good grades? She's broke. Even if she gets into college, she'll just end up flipping burgers."

"Wait... Daddy, you should get her expelled, and then hire her as your maid! That would be hilarious."

My pity evaporated.

Instantly.

Screw her.

Let her get scammed.

Let her learn the hard way.

If she wanted to live in a fantasy world where everyone existed to serve her, she could deal with the nightmare when she woke up.

Lexi went quiet for a few days.

Then she showed up with a new bag.

Kelly swarmed her immediately, practically drooling.

"Omg, Lexi! Is that a Birkin? That must be, what, fifty grand? It looks custom."

Lexi preened, tossing her hair. "Yeah. My dad bought it for me. An early birthday present."

Kelly simpered. "Must be nice having a rich dad. Unlike some people who carry fake bags and act like they're better than everyone."

I looked up.

My eyes landed on the bag.

The stitching was atrocious.

The logo was slightly crooked.

It was a bad fake. A really bad fake.

I let out a dry laugh. "Funny. My 'fake' bag has lasted three years without a scratch. Your 'real' one is already unraveling."

"Unraveling?" Lexi's eyes widened.

She looked down.

Sure enough, a loose thread was dangling from the handle.

The class gasped.

"No way. A Birkin falling apart?"

Lexi's face turned scarlet.

"You don't know anything!" she snapped. "Real luxury items are delicate! That's how you know it's authentic!"

Kelly jumped in, desperate to save face. "Exactly! I read online that real designer bags aren't meant to last forever. Only cheap knockoffs last ten years. That thread just proves it's real."

The other minions nodded aggressively. "Yeah. Lexi's family is so rich they don't care if a bag falls apart. They just buy a new one. It's disposable to them."

I rolled my eyes.

Rich people were rich.

They weren't morons.

Nobody spent fifty grand on a bag that disintegrated in a week.

But I didn't argue.

I just watched the loose thread sway.

A perfect metaphor for Lexi's life.

Chapter 7

If luxury goods fell apart like wet tissue paper, nobody would buy them.

But I didn't argue.

I just watched.

Kelly quickly changed the subject, pulling a gift bag from under her desk. "Happy birthday, Lexi! We all chipped in."

She pulled out a box of La Mer skincare.

The set was worth maybe five hundred bucks.

"We saved our allowance for two weeks," Kelly gushed. "Hope you like it!"

Lexi took the box, barely glancing at it.

"Thanks," she said, her voice flat. "My skin is really sensitive, so I usually only use custom-formulated serums from my dermatologist in Paris. But I guess I can use this as hand cream or something. Thanks, guys."

The smiles on the other girls' faces vanished.

The air in the room grew heavy.

Kelly, oblivious as always, plowed ahead. "So, are we Ubering to your place tonight?"

Lexi smiled, a benevolent goddess granting a favor. "No need. My dad is sending a car for us."

Kelly's eyes practically popped out of her head. "Omg. Is it the Rolls?"

Lexi nodded.

"Yes! I've never been in a Rolls-Royce before! I'm finally going to live my Gossip Girl fantasy!"

"Me neither! This is going to be insane."

"A mansion tour, Black Swan cake, and a Rolls? Having a rich friend is the best."

I frowned.

I was genuinely curious now.

Who was this guy? Who was funding this charade?

When the bell rang, I followed them out.

And there it was.

A gleaming black Rolls-Royce Phantom idling at the curb.

I squinted at the license plate.

My stomach dropped.

That was my car.

That was my father's Phantom.

Why was it here?

Then the driver's door opened.

Larry stepped out.

Our family chauffeur.

He waved at Lexi, a sleazy grin plastered on his face.

The pieces clicked.

The "Daddy." The "rich benefactor."

It was Larry.

My driver was catfishing my classmate using my father's car.

I didn't know how they met, or how he pulled this off, but it ended today.

I pulled out my phone and called Preston.

I explained everything.

Preston didn't hesitate. "Miss Sloane, that is unacceptable. Larry is fired. Effective immediately. I'm sending a security team to serve him the termination papers and recover the vehicle."

"Good," I said. "But send more than one car. I'm going back to the villa tonight. And... send a few extra SUVs. I have a feeling we're going to need the seats."

Chapter 8

Kelly was still in full-on simp mode, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Omg, Mr. Universal! You look so young! I can't believe you're Lexi's dad."

"This car is insane. Is the leather, like, Italian? It looks so soft."

"Ugh, I wish my dad drove a Rolls. He's so basic."

She was practically licking Larry's face.

It was repulsive.

Even the other minions looked uncomfortable, shifting their weight and exchanging awkward glances.

Lexi noticed.

She also noticed the way Kelly was looking at Larry.

It wasn't just admiration. It was hunger.

Lexi hooked her arm through Larry's, staking her claim.

"Back off, Kelly," her body language screamed.

But Kelly had zero shame.

She latched onto Larry's other arm, batting her eyelashes.

"Hey, Uncle Larry... since Lexi and I are basically sisters, maybe I could be your... sugar baby? Just kidding! Unless..."

The air left the sidewalk