Prologue - Exiled from the city
Lily Grant flung her designer backpack over her shoulder, grinning at her friends, Rachel and Maddie. “Last day of school forever, bitches!” Rachel shouted, throwing her arms around Lily and Maddie. The three friends giggled, snapping selfies in front of the school’s iconic fountain. Lily’s phone buzzed nonstop as her followers began to like and comment on her posts.
“OMG, Lil, your Instagram story from this morning already has like, a million views!” Maddie squealed. Lily beamed, checking her phone. “I know, right? My followers love a good morning motivational post.”
As they walked out of the school gates, Lily’s eyes scanned the crowded sidewalk. She waved at fans and fellow influencers, exchanging air kisses and hugs. Rachel rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “Only you could make a last day of school look like a red-carpet event, Lil.”
She laughed at Rachel's comment. “Hey, someone’s got to keep my brand strong. Besides, my followers need their daily dose of Lily Grant.” Maddie playfully pushed Lily’s shoulder. “Yeah, and what’s Lily Grant without her millions of adoring fans?”
The trio continued down the sidewalk, drawing admiring glances and whispers. Lily lapped up the attention, posing for photos and signing autographs. As they stopped at a street corner, Lily’s phone buzzed again. She frowned at the screen.
“What’s wrong?” Rachel asked.
Her face fell. “It’s my mom. She wants to meet with me right now.”
Maddie’s eyes widen at Lily's words. “Your parents never talk to you; they only ever e-mail or text. This sounds serious.”
Her gut twisted with anxiety. She had a feeling her mom’s meeting wouldn’t be about celebrating her latest social media milestone.
Little did she know, her life was about to take a dramatic turn.
Lily stormed into the living room of their extravagant penthouse apartment on the Upper East Side of New York City with her phone still tightly clutched in her hand. Her heart beating in her throat. She hasn’t spoken to her parents face to face in months, usually they all live past one another.
Her parents, poised on the plush couch of their immaculately decorated living room, exchanged a stern glance.
“Lily, we need to talk,” her mother began, her voice firm but laced with concern. No pleasantries were exchanged, no hugs or kisses, this was the Grant family after all, they were all in a rush to go about their business.
Lily flopped onto the armchair, her eyes flashing defiance. “What’s there to talk about? You’re just going to lecture me about the party and for drinking on a school night, right? Well, I get it, mother dearest, it probably won’t happen again.”
Her father’s expression turned grim. “Lily, that video of you and your friends dancing on the bar at Club Monaco has gone viral. You’re seventeen years old, and your behavior is not only embarrassing, but it’s also reflecting poorly on our family and business.”
She rolled her brown eyes. “Oh, come on, Dad. You’re not going to start with the ‘family reputation’ speech again, are you?”
Her father’s voice rose. “Lily, not everything in this life is just about you. Your actions have consequences. Our business associates are talking, and it’s not good. You have gone too far. Your mother and I are in agreement that we need to take drastic measures to ensure that this kind of behavior stops.”
Lily’s mother intervened, her voice softer. “Sweetie, we’ve decided that it’s best for you to take a break from the city and the... fame. You’re going to spend the summer at your grandparent's ranch in Monroe.”
Lily’s jaw dropped as panic started to settle in the pit of her stomach. “WHAT?! No, I’m not! I’m supposed to go to France with Maddie and Rachel! We’ve been planning this trip for months! It’s for my eighteenth birthday!”
Her father’s expression remained unyielding. “I’m afraid that’s not possible, Lily. You need to learn that there’s more to life than partying and social media. A summer on the ranch will be good for you. You’ll learn the value of hard work and simplicity.”
Her face burned with fury. “This is so unfair! My followers are doing a countdown with me for this trip, and I am supposed to meet with a bunch of brands and influencers in Paris! You’re ruining my life!”
Her father stood; his eyes stern. “This conversation is over, Lily. You’re leaving for the ranch in the morning and that’s final, so I suggest you start packing.”
Lily seethed, her mind racing with ways to escape this prison sentence. But for now, she was trapped, forced to abandon her glamorous life for a summer of cow dung and boredom.
