Badass in Disguise

Jade’s POV:

1 was in a taxi, taking the long way back to my ce, when I spotted the sign for Mike’s Auto Service.

I asked the driver to pull ovTI.

As I approached the garage after paying the taxi, I noticed a sleek red Porsche parked near the entrance, looking wildly out of ce among the beat–up sedans and trucks. Through the open bay dour, I could hear raised voices.

Tve reced the timing belt and checked the transmission as requested, Ss was saying, his voice tight but professional. “Here’s your bill, Mr. Colemanb./bb” /b

1 paused near the entrance, observing the scene insideb. /bbSs /bstood by the Mercedes in blue overalls, a clipboard in hand. Across from him was a well–dressed man in his mid–forties–expensive suit, designer bwutch/b, artificially tanned skin. He was standing too close to Ss, his bodynguage binvasive/b.

“You have quite the talent with your hands,” the man said, ignoring the clipboard Ss was offering. His voice dripped with suggestion. “A smart, good–looking young man like you could do better than this ce.”

Ss took a small step back. “I’m happy with my job, sir.”

I slipped inside, pretending to examine a service price list on the wall. The bell above the door jangled, but neither of them paid me any attention.

Coleman–bthat /bwas what Ss had called him–bmoved /bcloser again, closing bthe /bdistance Ss had created. “Come now, Princeton isn’t cheap. I hear you’re on schrship? I bet you could use some extra cash. His hand brushed against Ss’s arm. “I could help with that.

Ss’s jaw tightened visibly. “My car servicees with the bbill/b, nothing more. If you’re satisfied with the brepairs/b, I’d appreciate payment.”

Colemanughed, the sound ally and grating. “I’m on the alumni advisory board at Princeton,” he said, lowering his voice. “I have friends on the schrshipmittee. It would be a shame if anything happened to your funding.”

I’d heard enough. I stepped forward, smiling brightly. “Excuse

e me, I’m here about my car? The Honda with the brake issue?”

Both men turned. bSs’s /bexpression remained neutral, but I caught the brief sh of relief in his eyes. Coleman looked annoyed at the interruption.

“We don’t have any Hondas scheduled today,” Ss bsaid /bevenly.

“Oh, that’s strange, I frowned, pulling out my phone. “Let me check my

confirmation”

Coleman turned back to Ss with an impatient hull “As I was saying,” he continued, voice lower now, “I understand your mother is in the hospital. Medical bills can be crushing for someone in your… situation.”

Ss stiffened. “That’s not your concern.

“All I’m asking is for you to join me for a drink,” Coleman persisted. “We could bdiscuss /byour

future. I know p

people who could make your

b12:28 /bSat, Sep 27

academic bcareer /bvery smooth.”

I prefer to earn bmy /bgrades, Ss replied coldly.

:

Coleman’s friendly fa?ade slipped, “Don’t be bnaive/b. You think a kid from your background gets into Princeton without someone pulling strings?

nly here to fix cars, Mr. Coleman. Please respect that.”

“I earned my ce,” Ss said quietly, intensity burning in his eyes. “And I’m only here to

Coleman leaned in, dropping all pretense. “Listen, you ungrateful little shit. Do you know how many kids would kill for the opportunity I’m offering? One call from me, and that schrship disappears.”

ed around Ss’s wrist, I stepped forward. “Is there a problem here?” I asked, my voice carrying across the

When Coleman’s hand mped around

garage.

Coleman barely nced at me. “This is a private conversation. Mind your own business.”

“Actually,” I said, holding up my phone, “I’ve been recording the bst /bfew minutes. Including that lovely threat about his schrship.”

Coleman released Ss’s wrist and spun toward me.

“You’re b bluffing.

I turned my

y screen toward him, showing the active recording app. “Princeton has a strict policy bagainst /balumni using their influence to solicit… favors… from students. I wonder what the board would think about this recording?”

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