The Heiress Drops the Mic

I didn't find out Bryce had a new girlfriend until I moved back home and grabbed drinks with our old crew. Tatum had her claws out from day one.

I didn't bring her a welcometothegroup gift, so she immediately accused me of organizing a meangirl freezeout. I kept my physical distance from Bryce. Her translation?

I was playing hard to get. I wore a standard designer gown to a charity gala. She forced out a few crocodile tears and told everyone I was dressing up to seduce him.

I had zero interest in playing a supporting role in their toxic high school drama. I cut Bryce off. Completely.

Bryce, who had spent months playing the spineless peacemaker, finally snapped. "Sloane, you know our families have contracts together." He planted his feet, his jaw tight. "Cutting me off is just a sick power play to force me to dump Tatum!" "Tatum is just insecure.

She loves me, okay? That’s all this is—her showing how much she cares!" "You already have everything handed to you.

Why do you have to tear her down at every turn?" I just stared at him. Years later, I took over my family’s corporation.

Bryce’s family, meanwhile, drove their business straight into the ground.

Naturally, he showed up at my office, begging. "Sloane, just throw me a lifeline." "I'll dump Tatum today," he pleaded, his palms pressed flat against my desk. "Her possessiveness is insane.

She literally chased off every single one of our investors." I leaned back in my leather chair, letting out a sharp, breathless laugh. "Save it.

My back already hurts enough without carrying the blame for your messy breakup. You two are a match made in hell.

I highly recommend you stay together." "Besides." I tilted my head, holding his desperate gaze. "Didn't you say it yourself?

She just loves you." Chapter 1 I spent the break overseas handling some of my parents' business operations.

I didn't find out Bryce had gotten himself a girlfriend until I flew back for the semester and met up with our usual crew.

I was just about to give him grief about it when the private room door swung open.

In walked a girl in a flowy white sundress, sporting pinstraight black hair and the ultimate innocent, doeeyed aesthetic.

She chewed on her bottom lip, looking like someone had just kicked her puppy. She didn't even sit down.

She just stood there, burning a hole through me. "Tatum, I thought you said you wanted to rest. What are you doing here?" Bryce was the first to react.

He jogged over, wrapping an arm around her, and flashed us a goofy grin as he introduced her. "I missed you," Tatum mumbled into his chest.

Her voice was obnoxiously soft, practically a whisper. "I don't feel safe when you aren't around." We all chuckled, throwing Bryce some goodnatured banter about how lucky he was. "Yeah, well, my girl is actually sweet and wellbehaved," Bryce laughed. "Not like Sloane over here.

She's basically one of the guys." I rolled my eyes at him, and the easy banter in the room started up again. The four of us practically grew up in the same sandbox.

Our families had intertwined business empires, and we'd been a tightknit unit for as long as I could remember.

They treated me like one of the bros because I didn't care about the usual drama, but I always knew where the lines were drawn.

We were in the middle of complaining about how much I'd missed decent local food overseas when Tatum, who hadn't said a word, suddenly choked out a sob.

She was staring dead at the pile of gifts I’d brought for the guys. "Are you purposely trying to freeze me out, Sloane?" She didn't yell, but that trembling, tearful voice sucked all the air out of the room.

Dead silence. "You brought a present for every single person in this group but me." "And I've never even been out of the country.

You just keep bragging about how amazing your life is overseas.

Are you mocking me?" Her shoulders hitched with every breath, playing the absolute victim. "Do you think I'm not good enough for Bryce?

Is that why you wouldn't even get me anything?" Seeing her fall apart, Bryce went into full panic mode. He scrambled to wipe her tears, whispering frantic reassurances.

I exchanged a look with the other two guys. The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on. I set my fork down.

I looked right at Tatum, keeping my voice perfectly level. "You're overthinking it. Bryce wasn't dating anyone when I left the country.

I didn't know you existed until tonight, so I didn't prep a gift. My bad." "If it bothers you that much, I'll have someone send something over tomorrow.

Tell me what kind of jewelry or perfume you like, and I'll handle it." I figured a direct fix would kill the drama. Instead, Tatum started sobbing harder.

She gripped Bryce's shirt like a lifeline and buried her face in his chest.

She looked absolutely pitiful. "Are you just trying to pay me off?" Her muffled voice drifted up. "What kind of girl do you think I am?

You think you can just throw perfume at me to shut me up?" "I don't want your money. I just… I just feel so left out." Next to me, Everett frowned. He was the anchor of our group.

He didn't talk much, but when he did, people listened. "Tatum, drop it," Everett said, his tone flat. "Sloane isn't like that. We grew up together.

We know how she operates—she doesn't play high school mind games." "She literally didn't know you existed.

Nobody is freezing you out." Miles jumped in right after, flashing a smooth, easygoing smile to cut the tension. "Exactly. Sloane asked us what we wanted before she even left.

We told her whatever, and she still dragged herself across three different cities to hunt down decent stuff for us." "She's solid. Blame Bryce for not giving her a headsup.

Seriously, don't read into it." Chapter 2 Tatum didn't absorb a single syllable.

She just blinked, letting a fresh wave of tears spill over her lashes as she gazed up at Bryce. "Bryce, look at them. They’re all defending Sloane.

I shouldn't have come." "I'm just a third wheel, aren't I? Do you think I'm being dramatic too?" The color drained from Bryce’s face.

He whipped his head around, shooting me a glare so toxic you'd think I just kicked his dog. "Sloane, zip it, okay?

Tatum already struggles with her confidence, and you just have to attack her the second you touch down?" "It's just a damn gift. You said you'd buy her one, so leave it at that.

Why are you drilling into her and twisting the knife? Look how upset she is." "Bryce, dial it back." Miles stepped in, elbowing Bryce in the ribs.

He shot me a quick, reassuring look. "You know how Sloane operates. There's no reason to blow up." I pressed my lips together, swallowing the sharp retort burning in my throat.

She was still crying, and starting World War III with my best friend’s girlfriend on day one wasn't a good look. I stayed quiet. I could always just avoid her in the future.

The room fell dead silent. Then, Tatum's chair scraped against the floor. She bolted upright.

She jabbed a shaking finger right at my face. "Why are you comforting her?" Her voice cracked. "I'm the one being targeted!

I'm the one getting bullied!" "You’re all circling the wagons around her like I’m some kind of monster. Like I don't belong here!" I actually blinked, genuinely thrown off.

Miles and Everett froze in their tracks. "I know how much Bryce cares about you guys.

I swallowed my pride to come here and try to fit in." She choked back a sob. "But I don't understand you, Sloane." "I just met you, and you're already trying to tear me down.

What did I ever do to you?" "My roommates warned me about this! They told me to watch out for the resident 'girl best friend' because she'd try to mark her territory.

But I wanted to give you a chance!" "Instead, you manipulate all of them against me and treat me like a total joke!" Right on cue, her eyes rolled back into her head.

Her knees buckled. Bryce lunged forward, catching her before she hit the floor. "Tatum!

Tatum, look at me!" He cradled her against his chest. "You’re already so fragile, why are you pushing yourself? You're going to kill me with worry!" "Bryce… I'm scared.

I'm scared of Sloane…" She breathed the words out, limp as a ragdoll, before fully passing out in his arms. It was a performance worthy of a daytime soap opera.

Bryce snapped. "Are you happy now, Sloane?!" He barked, his voice echoing off the walls. "Is this the kind of trash you picked up living overseas?

Being a complete bully?" "You already have everything handed to you on a silver platter. You want to act like a spoiled brat with us? Fine!" "I told you to back off! She loves me.

The only reason she even stepped foot in this room was for me." "You think she actually wanted to be at your stupid welcomehome party?" "But you just had to push her until she collapsed.

Let me make this crystal clear." He pointed a rigid finger at me. "She is the woman I love." "If anything happens to her, I swear to God, I will ruin you." He didn't wait for a response.

He ignored Everett and Miles shouting his name. Scooping Tatum up into his arms, he shoved his way toward the door, slamming his shoulder into mine.

The impact sent me stumbling backward. Everett shot out a hand, gripping my arm right before the base of my spine collided with the sharp edge of the marble table.

I dug my heels into the floor, catching my balance. The heavy oak door slammed shut. So that was it. That was how he really saw me after all these years.

A spoiled brat throwing her weight around. The sheer hypocrisy of it all was almost funny.

Chapter 3 Once the adrenaline wore off, the reality of what just happened settled in my chest like a block of ice.

In my entire life, no one had ever pointed a finger in my face and screamed at me like that.

Let alone a guy I’d shared a sandbox with. "Sloane, you holding up okay?" Everett’s heavy hand landed on the top of my head, ruffling my hair exactly like he did when we were kids. "Don't sweat it.

I'll talk some sense into Bryce." "He's clearly thinking with the wrong head right now to be spitting that kind of venom." "No kidding!" Miles scoffed, crossing his arms. "That girl is straight out of a cheesy teen drama.

A textbook pickme." "I'd bet my trust fund that whole fainting spell was completely faked." "And Bryce with that 'woman I love' garbage?" Miles pitched his voice up in a mocking falsetto. "He literally said the exact same thing about his last fling.

They both owe you a massive apology." Miles always had the sharpest tongue out of all of us. Listening to him ruthlessly roast Bryce loosened the tight knot in my shoulders.

I actually cracked a smile. I liked to keep things simple. Tatum wasn't part of my world, and I planned to keep it that way. She could play her little victim games somewhere else.

As for Bryce… we had too much history. Plus, he had bailed me out of a genuinely bad spot once when we were younger. I owed him a pass. Just this once.

The semester kicked into high gear anyway. Between classes and shadowing my parents at the corporate office, the whole disaster easily faded into the background.

Bryce and I didn't text or call after that night. Everett, Miles, and I, however, still grabbed food whenever our schedules aligned.

After a few weeks, Bryce clearly noticed he was the odd man out.

Out of nowhere, he dropped a meme in our group chat—a painfully obvious olive branch—and asked if we all wanted to hang out.

I happened to be slammed with backtoback board meetings that day and had to pass.

Later that night, I saw Bryce post a photo with the guys on Instagram. [Everett treating us to steaks. Sloane missed out big time.

You're buying next round!] Miles had tagged me in the comments. I just tapped the screen, leaving a simple laughing emoji, and locked my phone.

Which was why my phone vibrating at midnight completely caught me off guard. The caller ID flashed an unknown number. I answered it, only to hear Tatum's voice on the other end.

I had never given her my number. But the real shock was her tone.

Gone was the fragile, trembling whisper. "You're really good at this, aren't you?" She practically purred the words, dripping with hostility. "Playing hard to get.

You've got the whole routine down." I went still. It was like listening to a different person. "You've been dodging Bryce all week on purpose, right?

Just so he'd practically beg for your attention on Instagram today?" My grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles turned white.

The ambient warmth drained out of my body, leaving nothing but cold, hard focus. "You're just using his guilt," Tatum sneered. "You know he cares about his precious 'bro.' So you make up some excuse about being too busy, drop a casual little emoji so you look like the bigger person, and suddenly you're all he can think about." "You're just sitting there, waiting for him to come crawling back to you." I exhaled a slow, measured breath, forcing down the spike of adrenaline. "Tatum, this is strike two." My voice was deadpan, completely stripped of any warmth. "I let your little performance at the restaurant slide because of Bryce, but do not mistake my silence for weakness." "I've known Bryce for over a decade.

I don't need to play mind games to get his attention. He's just a guy I grew up with." I didn't raise my voice. I didn't need to. "Keep your delusional insecurities to yourself.

I have a company to run.

I don't have time to entertain your psychotic breakdowns." Chapter 4 "Stop faking it!" Tatum’s voice spiked, sharp enough to make me wince and pull the phone away from my ear. "I know exactly how this works!

The resident 'girl best friend' is always secretly obsessed with the guy. You just can't stand seeing him with someone else.

You want all of them orbiting around you!" "You hate seeing Bryce and me together! You're just playing hard to get to wedge yourself between us!

What, you think you're better than me because of your bank account?" "You're just a spoiled trust fund brat.

Without Daddy's money, you're exactly the same as me!" I pinched the bridge of my nose. Listening to her unhinged rant, a dry laugh actually forced its way up my throat.

Was she suffering from main character syndrome, or just totally delusional? "Sloane… you know I struggle with my confidence.

You know I'm terrified I won't fit in with you guys." Her voice suddenly flipped, dropping into a wet, pathetic whimper. "Are you just trying to isolate me?

You want everyone on your side, don't you? Why are you treating me like this? Why won't you just accept my apology…" My stomach dropped.

A second later, heavy footsteps echoed through the receiver, followed by the sound of a brief struggle. "What the hell is your problem, Sloane?!" Bryce’s voice blasted through the speaker. "Tatum specifically begged me for your number so she could apologize!

She was terrified you guys had a misunderstanding." "She swallowed her pride to fix this, and you're still bullying her?!" Hearing him instantly side with her, blind and barking, I just felt a heavy exhaustion settle in my bones.

His parents had built their empire from the ground up with pure grit. How did their son end up being such a gullible idiot? "Bryce… does Sloane look down on me?

Is she trying to tear us apart? Why won't she just leave me alone?" Tatum sobbed in the background, her voice dripping with manufactured misery.

Bryce went dead silent, clearly buying every second of it. I didn't let him start his next lecture. "Shut up.

Both of you." I clipped the words out. "Tatum, you're psychotic." "You're sitting around inventing imaginary rivals because you have nothing better to do.

I gave you a pass twice because of him, but I'm done playing." "And Bryce?" I tightened my grip on the phone. "Is that a tumor on your neck, or a head?

A literal zombie has more brain cells than you." "You swallow every lie that drops out of her mouth.

Do you seriously think I have the time to sit around and watch you two act like lunatics?" The blood was pounding against my temples.

Between balancing my university finals and practically running my parents' corporate office, I was running on fumes.

I didn't have the bandwidth for this high school garbage. "Since I'm the villain in your little love story, let's make this easy. We're done.

Go live happily ever after with your perfect girlfriend." "Block my number. Out of sight, out of mind." I hit end call. I tossed the phone onto the mattress, rubbing my temples.

I had enabled his explosive temper for years. My family's company had funneled millions into his family's accounts, effectively making them who they were today.

I considered whatever childhood debt I owed him for bailing me out officially paid in full.

I was just mapping out exactly how to never speak to him again when a violent pounding rattled my front door. Bang. Bang. Bang. Chapter 5 This villa was my private property.

Only my inner circle even knew the address. I yanked the door open, already on the defensive, only to freeze. Bryce was standing on my porch.

The same guy I had literally just hung up on. "What do you want?" I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms. "Don't tell me you drove all the way here to play white knight for your crybaby girlfriend again." Bryce didn't immediately launch into a lecture.

Instead, he just stared at me. He dragged his gaze up and down my frame, his eyes narrowing before a smug, knowing smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth.

He looked like he had just cracked some grand conspiracy. Honestly, it made my skin crawl. "Spit it out. What are you staring at?" I snapped. "We're done, remember?

Don't ever—" He cut me off, planting his hands on his hips. "Alright, alright. Sloane, you've been so on edge ever since you flew back." Yeah, no kidding, I thought.

Anyone would be on edge having a rabid dog barking at them all week. "I've told you a million times, Tatum just loves me too much.

She's terrified of losing me." Bryce took a step closer, dropping his voice. "Then tonight, you threaten to cut me off completely." "You know our families have multimillion dollar contracts tied together.

You know I can't just ignore my family's empire. Threatening me like that… it’s just a power play to force me to break up with her, isn't it?" My eyes went wide.

The sheer delusion of his words physically stunned me into silence. "Oh, come on." He crossed his arms, that arrogant smirk spreading across his face as he locked eyes with me. "I honestly didn't pick up on how you felt about me before.

You should have just been upfront with me from the start!" "Fine. You win.

I'll dump her." I swear, the smile on his face crossed the line straight into creepy. "Just admit you're jealous, and I'll drop her right now. We can be together. How's that?

I'm spoiling you, aren't I?" I just stared at him.

The second my brain rebooted, I planted a foot square in his chest, shoved him backward onto the porch, and slammed the heavy oak door in his face.

The deadbolt clicked into place with a sharp snap. "Get a damn therapist!" I shouted through the wood.

If I had committed some terrible crime in a past life, the legal system should have just locked me up.

Discovering my childhood best friend was a raging, clinical narcissist was a punishment I didn't deserve. I seriously needed to start burning some sage.

How did I suddenly attract two absolute psychopaths into my orbit? Disgusting. For the next few days, our group chat was dead quiet.

Everett slid into my texts, asking if Tatum had started any more drama, and if Bryce had manned up and apologized yet. "I cut him off," I finally texted back. "You and Miles stay out of it.

We're still good, just the three of us. Let him drown in his own mess." Everett and Miles FaceTimed me right after.

They spent a few minutes making sure I was actually okay, then we locked in our plans to hit the upcoming charity gala together next week.

My parents were actually hosting the event. It was a massive networking mixer filled with board members, investors, and oldmoney families.

The whole point was to force the next generation to mingle and build connections.

Since all four of our families held massive shares in each other's companies, our attendance was mandatory. Chapter 6 I didn't expect Bryce to actually show up with Tatum in tow.

This gala was an exclusive, inviteonly event hosted by my family.

You didn't get past the front doors without a goldembossed invitation. "Dude, why did you bring Tatum?" Miles nudged Bryce in the ribs. "This is a corporate mixer.

Plus, it's literally Sloane's home turf." Bryce muttered a curse, dragging a hand through his hair. He looked completely over it. "What was I supposed to do?

You know how insecure she gets." "I didn't even want to bring her. My parents haven't even met her yet.

But she kept complaining about feeling sick and whining that she was terrified to be away from me." Miles rolled his eyes.

He sidled up to Everett and me, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Everett, what did I tell you?

Bryce is doing his usual routine." "He gets obsessed with a new toy, plays the devoted white knight for a few months, and then dumps them.

Honestly, this one has lasted longer than average. Pathetic." Everett chuckled, admitting he'd lost whatever bet they had going.

I'd honestly never paid attention to Bryce's revolving door of hookups. But listening to Miles spill the tea, the picture became crystal clear. Bryce was a textbook player.

He'd throw his own friends under the bus to defend whatever girl he was currently infatuated with, only to toss her out like trash the second he got bored.

Remembering his unhinged, narcissistic little speech on my porch last week, my stomach did a slow roll of sheer disgust.

The three of us were nursing our wine, minding our own business, when Bryce strolled over. Tatum trailed closely behind him like a shadow.

I caught her staring at me, and a tight knot formed between my brows. "You guys are hiding out in the quiet section, huh?" Bryce shoved his hands in his pockets, flashing a casual grin.

He acted like he hadn't just ambushed me at my house a few days ago. This was a professional networking event.

We were already on our way to greet some of the board members, so I completely ignored him and kept walking.

I barely took two steps before a pathetic, muffled sob stopped me dead in my tracks. Tatum was practically hanging off Bryce's arm.

Her eyes were rimmed with red, playing the part of a cornered, terrified rabbit. "Bryce… is Sloane still targeting me?

I already apologized, what more does she want from me?" She pointed a trembling finger at me. "Look at what she's wearing…" "She knows I don't have her kind of money!

She dressed up like that on purpose to humiliate me in front of everyone. She's just doing it to make you stare at her!

She's doing it to seduce you and put me down, isn't she?!" I paused, looking down at my dress.

It was a champagnecolored silk gown that draped smoothly over my shoulders, ending with a subtle scatter of crystals at the hem.

My mother had specifically flown it in for me, insisting the cut made me look mature and ready for the boardroom. It wasn't flashy. It didn't show too much skin.

It was standard, highend evening wear. Next to me, Everett and Miles exchanged a stunned, deeply uncomfortable look. I was just as speechless. But Tatum wasn't done.

Whether it was a calculated move or she was genuinely spiraling, she cranked up the volume. Her tearful, highpitched whining echoed across the marble floor. Conversations died out.

Heads turned. Dozens of highnetworth guests stopped to stare at our little circle. Bryce's gaze darted around the room.

The casual grin vanished from his face, replaced by sheer panic.

He clearly hadn't anticipated Tatum throwing a massive tantrum in the middle of a highsociety event—especially not at an event hosted by my family, surrounded by the exact executives and investors who held his family's financial future in their hands.

Chapter 7 "Stop talking!" Bryce hissed, frantically trying to peel her fingers off his arm. "It's a dress," he stammered, his grip slipping. "I bought you one too, didn't I?" "Sloane can wear whatever the hell she wants.

Stop making a scene, it's humiliating! Leave your petty girl drama out of this." Tatum ignored him. Her manicured nails dug deeper into his suit jacket.

The tears fell like clockwork, dripping rapidly down her cheeks as she raised her voice to the entire room. "I know I don't have Sloane's trust fund!

I know I'm not some rich heiress!" she wailed, playing to the audience of staring billionaires. "But Bryce and I actually love each other!

Why won't she just leave us alone?" "She froze me out of the welcome party, she's been playing mind games with him all week, and now she shows up practically naked just to steal him back!

What did I ever do to deserve this?" "I might not come from money, but my parents actually raised me to have morals!

Not to use my daddy's bank account to bully people and steal boyfriends! Did your parents literally teach you nothing?!" Her chest heaved. "You know I have severe anxiety!

You know my health is bad, but you just keep pushing me!" She was practically hysterical now, choking on her own sobs.

She suddenly lunged forward, her fingers clawing toward the hem of my silk gown. "You look like a cheap hooker!

Nobody decent dresses like this!" she shrieked. "Bryce, make her take it off! Make her go change!" "I don't want you looking at her!

You promised I was the only girl you cared about!" I took a smooth halfstep back. Her grasping fingers swiped through empty air. The last shred of my patience flatlined.

My earlier warning had clearly gone straight in one ear and out the other. "Who exactly is screaming like a feral animal in the middle of my gala, and making baseless accusations against my daughter?" The deep, authoritative baritone of my father’s voice cut through the room like a crack of thunder