Chapter Five

IAN CARMICHAEL

Dear Ass-Wipers for the Rich

You all must be delusional to think that a few thousand dollars can compensate for the physical assault and public disgrace I had to endure last night. Clearly your sad excuse for old money of a madam can afford everything except accountability.

My message to her:

Eat shit! I hope you choke on your hangover vomit!

{A slew of middle fingers}

I scoffed at the amusing reply of the girl, which had been forwarded to me. Mum had told me to handle the matter, which honestly, was nothing but an inconvenience.

The one who makes a mess should be the one to clean it up.

The girl did not accept the money. Not that three thousand dollars was enough to pay for the assault and public humiliation.

Even though it was troublesome that she did not accept the compensation as she could sue, a part of me was pleased with her reply.

Ina Davis.

I had to do some little background checks on her. After all, I needed to know a bit about who I was dealing with.

I read over the email again. It would be rude of me not to forward her message to Aunt Susan, wouldn't it?

“Did someone send you a nude?”

I locked my phone. The small smile I hadn't realised was on my face, slipped off as I turned to him.

He smirked at me.

“When did you arrive?” I asked, dropping my phone on the table.

“Long enough to see you smiling at your phone. I’m curious, what was that?” He asked.

“Nothing that concerns you”, I replied coolly, grabbing my hand wraps.

The issue did concern him, after all, the girl was his friend. But he didn't need to know it was her email I was reading.

He snorted, before grabbing the hem of his shirt to pull it off over his head.

Once in a while, Christian and I would meet at the training room in my home, and engage in a boxing match. It was our own way of unwinding and releasing stress.

I entered the boxing ring, clad in a pair of shorts and a tank top.

“Did you hear that the admission list will be released soon?” Christian asked, wrapping his hands.

I hummed with a nod.

“Jasmine is more anxious than ever”, He said, with a click of his tongue.

“She'll make it”. Apart from the fact that Jasmine was just smart enough to get into Crestmont University, the Diamantes were stakeholders. Her chances were high.

“That's exactly what I told her”, Christian said with an eye roll, as he joined me in the ring.

It was natural for her to be anxious. Especially knowing her entrance exam score was just a few points above the cut off, and the school was highly competitive. Regardless of the fact that her surname was enough.

Christian and I got into position.

“Guess what?” He asked with a grin, before swinging for me. I dodged.

“What?” I asked, throwing mine, but as expected, he moved aside.

“He finally unfroze my bank account”, he announced.

Mr. Mayor had frozen Christian’s accounts, thinking it was enough to keep his wild son at bay. Which had a negative effect, as it only made him more rebellious. It was like the man didn't know his son enough.

“Congratulations”, I said dryly, before aiming for his side and then his face. He barely dodged the blow to his face, but I got him on the first one.

He groaned. “Not the face, asshole”, he muttered, before rushing at me.

If there was one thing I learned about boxing with Christian for a long time, it was the fact that he was more of speed and less of strategy. While I would be looking for an opening or a weak point, he would be throwing punches almost too fast to dodge.

“Does that mean you’ll quit your current job?” I asked amidst trying to dodge his rain of punches, to distract him a bit.

“Yeah. I’ll be back to school soon anyways”, he replied, slowing down a bit. There was a distant look in his eyes. They lightened up when I quickly landed two hard hits.

He began to rush at me again.

“How about your friend?” I asked, before I could hold back. My brows drew together at my strange interest in this girl.

“She’s doing good. Do you know they tried to bribe her?” He asked, panting. I nodded.

“Mum asked me to handle it”, I said, and a look of annoyance crossed his face.

“Handle it huh?” He muttered.

The look on his face told me he was about to go hard. I braced myself. Warm-up was over.

INA DAVIS

I frowned half asleep, turning to bury my face into the pillow. For a moment, I shut my eyes, trying to pretend that the alarm wasn't ringing. I groaned loudly when it only got louder with each passing second.

I grumbled, rolling on the bed. I did not get to bed early the night before, due to late night deliveries. But I still had to wake up the following morning for work.

Forcing my head up, I groggily reached for my phone to turn off the alarm.

8am.

I dragged myself off the bed, walking out to the guest bathroom. The apartment I was living in consisted of two rooms; one master bedroom, and a smaller guest room without an in suite bathroom. I had nothing to complain about because I was paying less than half of the rent.

I stared at the mirror, toothbrush in my mouth.

Unsurprisingly, my hair looked like a mess, eyes red with gunk at the corners. I turned on my phone to check my messages.

It was a habit. Scrolling through my phone while brushing.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw an email at the top of my notification, a dreadly familiar name at the top.

Heart pounding and fingers trembling, I tapped on the mail to read it.

My eyes slowly widened with each word I read. At that point, I could hear my heart beating, and blood rushing in my ears.

CRESTMONT UNIVERSITY OF ELITES, CRESTVILLE.

Good day, Miss Davis.

This is to inform you that you have been selected to be admitted after passing the entrance exams and interviews which were held from June 30 to July 15, 2025.

As one of the top ten candidates, you have been offered a scholarship, which will cover ALL FEES EXCEPT ACCOMMODATION, all through the years of the program.

More information about the admission process will be passed across to you in due time.

Congratulations Miss Davis. We look forward to having you.

I tried to scream, only to nearly joke on toothpaste foam. I coughed, spitting on the sink. Then I screamed loud enough to scar my vocal cords.

I jumped, still screaming into the air, while staring at my phone.

Wait… I thought, pausing. Could this be a dream?

I bit my arm very hard. Nope, not a dream. Besides, my dreams were either nightmares or a cascade of events that never made sense.

This was as real as it could get. I passed the entrance exams. I was selected for a scholarship.

I let out another scream, more hoarse this time.

“What the fuck Ina?!” My roommate asked, popping into the bathroom with sleepy eyes, and a not so pleasant expression.

My screaming probably woke her up. But I could not bring myself to care. uncontainable excitement bubbled through me. I was practically hopping.

“What happened?” She asked.

“I…” I took in a deep breath, trying to calm down.

Memories of me studying so hard my eyes bled, head feeling like it would explode, flooded my mind. The nerve wrecking interviews. I knew I did well in the tests. But I didn't think I would be selected after the interviews.

The judging look on their faces while I tried not to show how much of a nervous wreck I was. The way I cried hard on my bed after the last interview.

What gave you the confidence to apply to this school despite knowing you are not cut out for this place financially and background wise?

I…

Were you banking on the scholarship program this year? We have thousands of candidates, Miss Davis, why did you think you would be selected not to talk of us handing you a scholarship?

I had expected something in the lines of those questions. I heard of the stress interviews, where they deliberately ‘bully’ you to gauge your reaction. Yet I was not prepared for their bite. The look on their faces…

I always wanted to attend Crestmont University because of the vast opportunities this school has to offer. At first it seemed like a far away dream. I had a lot of self doubt holding me back. But when the admission forms were released, I knew not trying would be like losing before the whistle is blown.

So you were betting on luck?

I was betting on my abilities. Despite everything, I knew I had a chance.

How overconfident? As bitter as it might sound, there is a high chance that you may not get selected, talk less of getting the scholarship. What will you do if that happens?

I…

Will you apply again?

I had an answer to that, but it was not something I had wanted to say. I had told myself I would only apply once. That I would only try, but I would give my all. Just that one chance.

Your silence tells me you won't. That shows you're a quitter, Miss Davis. In this institution, we train leaders. And leaders are not quitters.

My hands were shaking beneath the table. At that moment, I felt like I had messed up something.

But leaders take calculated risks too. If you invest into a business with a low success rate, and it fails, will you be motivated to try again?

This is an interview, Miss Davis, and we're the ones asking the questions.

I’m sorry. I…

There is nothing more we need to hear from you. We’ll get back to you Miss Davis.

“Ina?” Julia called again, snapping me out of memory lane.

“I got selected for a scholarship. Crestmont University”, I said, wiping my tears. But they kept streaming down my cheeks.

Those stick in their asses, stuck up people in suits gave me a chance after all.

Julia raised her brows in surprise.

“So that is why you were screaming like a banshee?”

I nodded, my lips pulling up into a smile. I did it. I couldn't believe I did it.

“Wipe your tears and wash your mouth. You look terrible”, she frowned, before turning around.

I wiped my mouth, and my face scrunched a bit from the toothpaste stain.

“Congratulations”, I heard her say, as she walked away.

“Thanks”, I muttered, turning back to the sink to wash my mouth and face.

Although Julia and I were not besties, at least she could have tried to look happy for me. Not like it mattered anyways.

I shrugged it off, before walking out of the bathroom.

“Hey Ina, did you happen to see a purple bra? I don't know but I think I left it on the couch. Haven't seen it since”, she asked.

“I don't know where it is”, I answered, and she groaned loudly.

I was being honest. After throwing it in the trash, a few days ago, the bra could be anywhere. It would be a lie to say I hadn't noticed her looking for it.

“It was the only one that fit”, I heard her say.

Then you shouldn't have left it on the couch.

“Sorry, not sorry”, I muttered under my breath.

Another wave of excitement rushed through me when I thought about the email again.

“Crestmont University, here I come”, I sang.

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