Five rounds of interviews, and I finally landed an offer from Gauthier Corp—earned it fair and square.

I told Yvette Klutz, my girlfriend. Dumb move. She reported me behind my back and got me dropped.

"Kevin's freaking out about not landing a job, so I gave him this one. Just shoot out a few more résumés. It's only a few days."

Right. Kevin Hardwick got the job and a full-on welcome parade.

I laughed—dry, dead inside—then called my sister, the CEO.

"Haisley, think our company needs a new executive assistant?"

Haisley sucked in a sharp breath, then let out a quiet laugh.

"What's this? World finally beat you down? Ready to come home and take the throne?"

Classic Haisley—teasing, but always got my back.

I wasn't in the mood. "Yeah. I'm coming back. Set it up."

She caught the shift in my voice, knew something went down.

"Come back," she said. "Gauthier Corp's always got room for you."

Minutes after we hung up, HR called—full apology, offer back on the table.

Not long after, Yvette called.

"Dylan, we've been in a cold war for a whole day. You done being dramatic?" Her voice all smug, like she was doing me a favor. "Don't blame me. Kevin was jobless and literally getting sick from stress. Try to see the bigger picture."

My chest burned, hands shaking. "I'm your boyfriend. And you sold me out so Kevin could take my spot. How could you even do that?"

"I didn't have a choice, did I?" Yvette said, all casual, like she was the voice of reason. "Kevin couldn't land anything decent. He's been a wreck—snapping at everyone.

"Gauthier Corp's perfect for him. Good pay, low stress, close to home.

"You're talented—just apply somewhere else. No need to make this a thing."

I laughed, bitter. "You know how many nights I pulled for that job? How much I burned out?

"I only applied 'cause you were interning there—I just wanted to be with you. And right when I was about to make it, you turned me in.

"Seriously, what the hell were you thinking?"

Yvette snapped. "Dylan Dunham, is your heart made of stone? You're so selfish! Kevin's your junior—you're supposed to help him! It's just a dumb job. Are you really that desperate?"

"You're yelling at me?" My whole body went cold. I couldn't believe she actually said that.

"If it's such a stupid job," I shot back, "why'd you report me just to hand it over to Kevin? If he's so talented, let him earn one himself."

"Why bother when we had one right there?" she said, smug. "All you had to do was send out a few more résumés. Maybe if you stopped whining, you'd already have another offer. You're the one wasting time."

Yvette let out this dramatic sigh. "Dylan, I thought you were the nice, generous type—like, dream boyfriend material. Never figured you'd be this petty.

"You're just salty you lost the job and can't flex on your classmates, huh? That's why you're starting drama."

Her words cut deep. Heart twisted up.

Petty?

It was just an intern gig. I didn't even need it.

I applied because she was there. That's it. Just wanted to be close to her.

If I really wanted to, I could've walked into management with one word to my sister.

But now? I was done. No more words.

I was already shattered.

All I wanted was to shut her and that fake-sweet snake up—for good.

I let out a quiet sigh. Yvette took it as surrender.

She jumped right in, smug. "Alright, I get it—you've been wronged. I can help you reach out to some small companies. You'll definitely get something. Maybe not Gauthier level, but it's a solid start."

She kept going like she was handing me a golden ticket.

I cut her off, cold. "Don't bother."

Yvette sneered. "Ha! Graduation's coming up. You really think you'll land a good job without me?"

I fired back, "Wouldn't dream of bothering you. Last thing I need is getting an offer just to have someone snitch and hand it off again. I've got it covered. Neither of you needs to stress."

She lost it. "Can you get real for once? You think you passed Gauthier's interview on your own? If I hadn't coached you, you wouldn't have made it past round one. Without me, you're nothing!"

Give me a break.

You're nothing.

I wanted to blow up, but I bit my tongue.

Had to hold back—for now. The truth would hit way harder later.

I took a slow breath. "Really. Don't worry about me. I've got it handled."

Yvette, thinking I was finally caving, sounded all pleased. "Glad you came around. Stop being so dramatic. Focus on your next interview. I'm gonna check on Kevin—he's been feeling so guilty, he hasn't even eaten."

"Got it." I hung up, cool and clean. Didn't want another word from her.

Then came the new offer from Gauthier Corp.

Not an intern this time—a full-time employee.

Right after I turned in my onboarding paperwork, Yvette pinged me:

[Sending out résumés? Any other interviews lined up?]

I hit back: [No.]

She stalled—probably scrambling for her next move. Then, right on cue:

[Job hunting takes time. Dylan, Kevin felt SO bad about what happened. He wants to take you out, say thanks properly.]

Yeah, I could already see their phony smiles through the screen.

Dinner? Sure. More like "trap part two."

Before I could shut it down, she tossed in:

[By the way, can I ask you for a favor?]

Of course.

I just stared at the screen, deadpan.

[Kevin's starting at Gauthier Corp. Training's rough, and he's stressed. Mind sending him the prep stuff you found? You won't need it now anyway.]

My hand curled into a fist.

I'd busted my ass for that offer—late nights in the library, eyes burning, buried in prep.

Back then? Yvette only texted to whine that I was taking too long. Calling me? Nah. That would've cut into her gaming.

She never gave a damn about the effort.

Instead, she and Kevin tag-teamed to boot me out.

And now she wanted me to just hand it all over... to the guy who replaced me?

The audacity made me sick. Just thinking about her turned my stomach.

When I didn't bite, she doubled down:

[You've got free time anyway, right? Might as well help Kevin out so he can pass probation.]

[Gauthier Corp's a great company. You might learn something. It won't hurt.]

I took a slow breath, forcing the heat down.

Say no now, and I lose the long game.

If we're putting on a show, I'm going full method.

I typed back, every word icy and exact:

[Sure. No problem. Leave it to me.]

Yvette lit up. And of course, couldn't resist flexing:

[Don't worry. Once Kevin settles in, I'll put in a good word for you with the higher-ups.]

[Maybe we can even recommend you to a subsidiary of the company.]

A subsidiary?

The whole damn company is my family's.

And she thought she could get me in?

I nearly laughed. Intern queen really thought she was tossing me a bone.

Perfect. Let's see how far you snakes crawl with this.

Totally clueless, she shot off one last message:

[Alright, can't talk now. Kevin's calling me. Send the materials over ASAP.]

After chucking my phone, I bolted to the bathroom and dry heaved.

I was officially done with Yvette and Kevin. Just... gross.

I ghosted all their messages after that.

Instead, I hit up the CEO's office at Gauthier Corp and asked for the real onboarding details—what my role actually came with.

Next day? Kevin went full cringe in our class group chat.

Posted a smug selfie at his intern desk, captioned:

[New environment, new challenges. Grateful for someone quietly supporting and guiding me.]

And yeah—he tagged Yvette.

The chat blew up.

Everyone clueless started hyping him up and joking about couple goals and free meals.

Yvette dropped a hugging emoji like she wasn't the worst.

They really played the part of a cutesy power couple.

I watched their little show and let out a dry laugh.

Honestly? I hoped those two clowns stayed together forever. They deserved each other.

The day before I started, I timed my exit just right.

Boom—ran into the dynamic duo heading in from the other side.

Kevin was all puffed up in some shiny new designer suit, arm hooked with Yvette, who looked like she walked off a makeup ad. Both beaming like they were prom royalty.

Yvette had that sugar-sweet girlfriend look—until she spotted me.

Her eyes turned icy. Scanned my plain dress shirt and cheap slacks like I was some washed-up nobody.

I didn't blink. "Move."

Yvette cleared her throat and went full fake-boss mode. "Dylan, how's the material coming? I'm dropping Kevin off today—thought I'd save you the trip."

Yeah, right. She wasn't here for the files. She came to gloat.

She eyed me up and down. "Got an interview or something? You working now? Where at?"

Kevin peeled himself off her and reached out like we were bros or whatever.

I stepped aside. Didn't say a word.

His hand froze midair.

For a second, he looked awkward—then slapped on that fake-worried face. "Dylan, don't be mad at Yvette. She only did it for me... How's the job hunt? Want me to ask around? If you find something nearby, we could even split rent."

"No need. I haven't been job hunting."

Kevin's eyes lit up like he just won a prize. "Still nothing? Oof. Most entry-level spots are drying up fast."

Yvette rolled her eyes. "Dylan, seriously? I told you to send out résumés! You still haven't found anything? What, you think Kevin and I are gonna carry you?"

I watched her rant and just laughed.

Kevin leaned in and whispered something to her, throwing on that fake pout before turning to me with those wide, innocent eyes he thought sold the act.

"Dylan, if you're really stuck, I know someone hiring for outsourced admin stuff. It's tough, but you'd pick up a lot. Feels like a good fit for you."

Outsourced admin?

Suits me?

Nice way to say I'm only good for grunt work.

Yvette jumped in, preaching like she was doing me a favor. "Kevin's right. You need a reality check. Stop chasing pipe dreams. Gauthier Corp isn't for everyone. You only got that offer because of dumb luck."

I looked at them—both so smug, like they'd already won.

To them, I was the loser they left in the dust.

"I already found a new job," I said.

Yvette and Kevin traded a look. Yeah—they weren't buying it.

Yvette scoffed. "Oh yeah? What no-name company? Come on, tell us—we'll help you vet it."

Kevin piled on with that fake-boy-next-door tone. "Just watch your back, man. Lots of sketchy places out there preying on grads like you."

Their act was almost funny.

I smirked. "You'll find out what my job is tomorrow."