Their Bet, Her Empire

er supposed descent into shallow materialism,

Ethan showered her with were photographed for

ugh online consignment stores specializing

ing influencers and socialites who wanted the look without the pri

nt portfolio, managed with the help of free online

star-struck, she listened. She learned about business deals, market trends, and identifi

ng applied to a different kind

han' s ridiculously expensiv

one she' d heard other socialites use. "All this shopping and

tablet, surprised. "Oh? W

ering her eyelashes. "Like, I don' t know, flower arran

amusingly quaint. "Sure, Ava. Whatever

e in superficial hobbies, beco

"Thank you, Ethan.

al Marketing, and Financial Accounting. The "flower arranging" story was

r_Exposed" blog, picked up on Av

nt by Ethan, no doubt) looking thoughtfully at a brochure for a (fake) art appreciation class. "Guess she re

ing to find new ways to spend his money. Next she' ll want to 'rede

ief, private message exchange with the b

"You really get it, LA_Real

a few classes will make them sophisticated. It' s

any potential suspicion about Ava' s true intelligence or motives. Ava

poverty, it was about severing ties wit

lways with a sob story. Her mother, weak-willed and manipulative,

failed scheme to another, always needing a bailout. Money for a "sure thing" invest

urned to Ava, their "responsibl

t her age to get a job at a greasy diner. Ever

out after a semester. Dave had gotten into serious trouble, and her parents had mort

ips her mother hadn' t found, was the day she vowed to achieve true independence. Fina

a tool. A very powerful tool to achieve that "pure and firm" pursuit of a life where