Gilded

The gates of St. Harlow’s Academy looked like they belonged in a period drama. Tall, black iron twisted into intricate patterns, gold crest in the middle, polished so clean I could probably see my awkward reflection in it.

Except I didn’t have time to admire any of it. My suitcase was heavier than my will to live, my backpack was cutting into my shoulders, and my brand-new blazer was already suffocating me in this humid weather.

I was halfway through wondering if anyone would notice if I just turned around and ran away when I heard it— A whistle. Low. Drawn out. The kind of whistle that screams trouble.

Leaning against one of the carved stone pillars was him. Blond hair, expensive-looking watch, that stupid tie hanging loose like he didn’t give a damn about the dress code. He looked like the human version of a red flag… and somehow still managed to make it work.

“Lost, sweetheart?” he asked, eyes flicking over me in a way that made me want to either slap him or ask him to do it again.

I gripped my suitcase handle tighter. “Only if you count standing in front of the world’s biggest narcissist as ‘lost.’”

His smirk curved, slow and dangerous. “Feisty. I like it.” God, I hated him already. And, worse, I had this horrible gut feeling I’d be seeing a lot of him.

“Enjoy your little moment, Pretty Boy,” I said, brushing past him toward the main entrance. “It’s the last one you’ll get.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” his voice followed me, dripping with cocky amusement, “you wish.”

How I ended up here? Easy. My parents decided my future would be “better” if I transferred to some elite boarding school for my final two years of high school. Translation: they got jobs abroad, didn’t want to deal with me, and St. Harlow’s was far enough away to keep me out of their hair. Scholarship kid in a school full of legacy brats. Perfect.

I didn’t come here to make friends, join the lacrosse team, or fall in love. I came here to survive.

But judging by the smug blond boy who just declared war with a smirk… Survival was about to get complicated.