The Perfect Ruin

Even if she didn’t invite me, though, I would find a way in, either as a waitress or a part of the staff. The annual Passion Gala was special to her, and I had to work hard to get invited, I knew. She didn’t fully trust me just yet, but by the time Passion Camp was over, she would. She’d have to.

To prepare for camp, I went to Walmart the weekend before and bought new shorts, tank tops, and hiking shoes. I collected bug spray, tampons, and other essentials as well. Camp was in three days and I had to be prepared. My first mission was going to be to remove Keke from “bestie” status. The only question was how I could do that without too much backlash against me.

I needed to get closer to Keke to truly get her out of my way. I had to learn more about her so I could use it against her, but Keke wasn’t the type to trust easily, and something told me it had something to do with the father of her child. He’d left her to raise a baby alone and, apparently, she grew a backbone afterward and didn’t take any shit from anyone, per her arrogant Instagram posts.

My second mission would be to have a moment alone with Lola to bond. Both of us out in the open, sharing stories and confiding in each other with no one else around. That wasn’t going to happen unless I conquered mission one, though, and that was to get Keke the hell out of my way.

There was no way in hell Keke was going to lose her place to me. She’d have her head so far up Lola’s ass during camp that it would take a miracle to wrench her out.

* * *

The day camp began, I left my apartment in a flash. I didn’t want to be in that run-down place any more than I needed to be.

When I left, Julius was sitting on the stoop, his loose hair pulled up in a half ponytail. I hated when he did that to his hair. It made him look too feminine, and I liked masculine men. Sometimes I was sure he wore his hair that way just to get a reaction from me, seeing as I’d mentioned how much I’d hated it once before.

I stepped around him. “Did you get my text?” I asked.

“Yep,” he said, taking a drag from his joint.

“And you got it done?”

“Yep.” His tone was nonchalant. “And for the record, I’m not your fucking errand boy. You don’t know what I had going on. Next time give me a few days’ notice before you come to my door demanding shit from me.”

“Oh, shut up, Julius. You got something out of it, didn’t you?” Just as I asked that, his eyes drifted down to my bare legs; then he stood up with the joint and looked me in the eye.

“It was straight,” he mumbled, then he turned his back on me and went up the stairs to his apartment.

I rolled my eyes and walked to my car. Julius was extra. Yes, I’d had sex with him in exchange for a favor, and no, I didn’t feel good about it, Marriott. It is what it is.

I arrived at Lola’s house twenty minutes early so we could ride to Passion Camp together. I took my bag out of the trunk as soon as I pulled up and walked to the door. Georgia answered.

“Hello again, Miss Elliot.”

“Hi, Georgia.” I gave my head a bob and walked past her when she stepped back. I didn’t have time for her and her weird looks today.

“Mrs. Maxwell is in her office. She told me to send you up when you arrived,” Georgia said after shutting the door behind me. “You can leave your bags here. I’ll have them placed in the SUV.”

“Thanks.” I walked down the corridor, where the furniture looked crisp and dusted, the wall tables polished, and went up the stairs with the flair of confidence. I knew every room—had studied this place so much, it was engraved in my brain. This was my time to shine and really get cozy with Lola before camp started.

I found the double doors to Lola’s office, remembering them from when she gave me the official tour of her home, but before I could knock, I heard voices.

Brows dipping, I knocked, and Lola sang for me to come in. I pushed one of the double doors open and Lola was standing beside her desk, laughing.

And seated in Lola’s desk chair was Keke.

Fucking Keke! I swear, Marriott!

I gritted my teeth before giving a tight-lipped smile.

“Oh, hi, Ivy!” Lola rushed my way, wrapping her arms around my shoulders to hug me. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing your gorgeous face. You remember Keke?” She gestured back at the so-called bestie.