"What is it? Anything! Just name it," Lila announced, her eyes shining with so much enthusiasm she might as well have offered up her kidney if Violet needed it. Her eagerness was almost infectious.
Ivy raised a skeptical eyebrow, while Daisy tilted her head, intrigued by what Violet could possibly want. It was not eveyday that one saw the untouchable ice queen let her guard down, even just a little.
"I’m broke," Violet declared flatly.
The table fell silent. Lila’s jaw practically hit the floor as she had clearly been expecting something far grander she could take on for her sake. Ivy, on the other hand, burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.
She was not laughing at Violet for being poor but rather at Lila for expecting it was some life-or-death situation
Lila hissed, glaring at Ivy, who was laughing so hard tears gathered in her eyes.
"I am serious here," Violet said, her displeasure slicing through Ivy’s laughter like a blade.
Sobering up, Ivy smirked. "Fine, fine. You’re broke. So what? Call your parents then."
"Unlike you, not everyone has rich parents," Daisy snapped, her glare sharp enough to make Ivy swallow her retort. For once, the usually clueless and insensitive Ivy seemed to grasp how her words might affect someone.
"Thank you for that," Violet said, dramatically bowing her head to Daisy, who let out a long, exaggerated sigh at her theatrics.
Violet continued, "Seriously, though. I’m broke. If there’s one thing I thought being an elite at Lunaris would provide, it’s money. But so far, there’s none of that."
"That’s only because you haven’t been utilizing it," Lila interjected with a firm and certain tone.
"What do you mean by that?" Violet asked, frowning.
"Even without rich parents, the elites at Lunaris make their money through their fame," Lila explained, leaning forward. She hesitated for a moment before asking, "You do have Moontagram, right?"
"I won’t even be surprised if she doesn’t," Ivy quipped, rolling her eyes. But her smirk froze when she caught Violet’s serious expression. "Oh god," Ivy groaned, covering her face. "She really doesn’t have it."
Lila gasped as if Violet had committed murder. "Okay, no judgement. First step: download the app. Now."
Violet sighed but pulled out her phone, allowing Lila to guide her through it. As the app installed, Lila launched into her explanation. "Moontagram isn’t just a social media app. It’s a goldmine for eveyone out here. Do you know why people dream of being at the top of the hierarchy at this school? It’s not just about status, it sets you up for life."
"How?" Violet asked, genuinely curious now.
"Through followers, sponsorships, and endorsements," Lila began. "Take Elsie, for example. She’s the most-followed person in Lunaris with over ten million followers. She earns a fortune through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and even selling her own beauty line. Every time she posts about a product, she gets paid. Big time."
"Natalie," Lila continued, "isn’t far behind with seven million followers. But what makes her unique is the number of brands she represents. She’s the queen of brand ambassadorships. Tech companies, fashion houses, even lifestyle products, her endorsements are everywhere. She’s basically a walking advertisement."
"Amanda, Griffin’s former girlfriend, has two million followers," Lila added. "She’s more focused on selling her own services and a model, but she runs exclusive makeup tutorials and paid subscription content for her followers."
Lila said with a knowing smile. "Sponsored posts can pay thousands, even tens of thousands, depending on your following. Brand ambassadors get paid monthly, plus bonuses. And if you have a product or service? Even better."
By the time Lila finished, Violet’s mind was racing. She leaned back in her chair, a glint of determination in her eyes. "I want in," she said decisively. "If it’s about money, I would do it."
Lila clapped her hands, practically bouncing in her seat. "Yes! And I’ll be your account manager. We’ll have you up and running in no time."
"I’ll help too," Daisy chimed in. "I can write your captions and content."
Ivy smirked, folding her arms. "And I’ll make sure you don’t turn into a fashion disaster."
Violet looked at each of them, feeling emotional for the first time. "Thank you," She said sincerity knowing she didn’t deserve this kindness.
While Violet was still relishing the unexpected warmth from her friends, there was a sudden commotion in the dining hall. She watched as heads turned, and whispers filled the air as one of the cardinal alphas made an appearance.
It was not just any Alpha but Alaric Storm himself.
Violet’s heart skipped a beat. She felt her stomach twist with a mix of nerves and excitement as the memory of last night’s kiss flashed vividly in her head.
The gods help her! She thought she was prepared to face him but that didn’t seem to be the case with the butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
But before Violet could collect herself, she noticed something unusual.
Alaric wasn’t heading to the upper-floor where the other alphas typically sat even though the rest hadn’t arrived yet. He was walking toward her.
Huh?
Violet’s breath hitched as her pulse quickened, the dining hall growing eerily quiet around her when they realized what was going on.
As Alaric drew closer, her mind scrambled for what to say. Still seated, she opened her mouth to greet him.
"Hi, Alaric—"
But she didn’t get the chance to finish because in one fluid motion, Alaric leaned down and kissed her.
The world seemed to freeze.
Violet’s body went rigid, her eyes wide with shock as her brain struggled to comprehend what was happening. She could feel his warmth, the faint scent of rain and thunder that clung to him, and the confidence in the way he kissed her, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The dining hall erupted in chaos, a cacophony of gasps, whispers, and the sound of someone dropping their tray of food. But above all that, she heard a familiar shrill voice pierce the silence.
"O. M. G..." Lila squeaked, followed by an ear-splitting squeal that drew even more attention to their table.