Urban Plundering: I Corrupted The System!

Maya's jaw clenched. Her fingers dug into the fabric of her designer skirt, and her voice dropped to a low, controlled whisper. "Honey," she said again, more pointed this time, "why didn't you tell me about this?"

Parker—calm as ever—finally looked up, raising a single eyebrow. "Since when do I report anything to you?" He blinked. "On what grounds, exactly?" He too was still processing how Cleopatra had worded it.

Damn.

Maya's face froze, caught between offended girlfriend and outraged queen bee. She looked around, luckily Parker's voice had been low for only thier table. Naomi practically wheezed behind her cup, while Cleopatra's smirk grew sharper, like a cat playing with a very angry mouse.

Cleopatra leaned back, crossing her arms. "Ouch. Seems like this whole honey thing is a little...one-sided, huh?"

That hit.

Maya's nails curled tighter into her palm, her voice dangerously thin. "We're not one-sided. Parker and I—we've been close since childhood. Isn't that right, baby?" She didn't wait for his response, just slid into the last open seat next to him—close. Real close.

Parker shifted his arm. She tried to loop hers around it. He subtly pulled away.

Cleopatra laughed, low and mean. "Sure. Childhood, huh? Got any proof, or is this just a fantasy playing out in your head?"

Maya's eyes lit up.

Like she'd been waiting for this.

Her phone was out in seconds. "Receipts? Oh, honey, I got receipts."

With a few taps, she flipped the screen to show a series of old-ass photos. Parker—clearly younger—looking just as deadpan and detached as he did now, while Maya was... well, not detached at all. Clinging to his arm. Kissing his cheek. Laughing while he clearly wanted to be anywhere else.

"See?" Maya snapped, holding it up for Cleopatra. "Childhood. History. What now?"

Cleopatra? Unfazed. She squinted at the pictures, then shrugged. "All I'm seeing is a girl chasing after a boy who looked like he was about to call the cops. You got any pics where he's actually interested? Or just...these?"

Maya's face twisted. "You bi—"

"Hold up." Parker finally spoke, setting his fork down with a clink. His voice was calm. Controlled. But that edge? Sharp enough to slice steel.

Naomi instantly stiffened, recognizing that tone.

"I'm done." Parker exhaled, leaning back slightly. "Not with just the food. With this. Both of you? I don't have the patience." He stood, adjusting his blazer. "Naomi. You done?"

Naomi nodded instantly, grabbing her bag and his. She didn't miss the way both Cleopatra and Maya stared—stunned. Like neither could process the fact that Parker was leaving them mid-battle. They'd been throwing themselves at him, and he just...left?

The entire cafeteria watched in disbelief.

Whispers rippled across the room. Phones were out. Someone had definitely recorded that shit. And Parker? He didn't care. Didn't look back.

As he and Naomi stepped into the hallway, she whispered under her breath, barely containing her grin. "That was...insane. You really just left them there?"

Parker tucked his phone into his pocket, thinking inwardly 'I'm not dealing with Olympian drama or Original family bullshit. Not today.'

On the outside, Parker cut her a sharp glance.

Naomi's mouth snapped shut.

"Smart girl."

****

Maya blinked, her perfectly glossed lips parting as Parker straight-up walked away. For a full beat, she didn't move. Cleopatra either. The hell just happened?

The whole cafeteria felt like it was holding its breath—like someone had just dropped a fucking grenade but forgot to pull the pin. Whispers. Phones still out, half the student body recording, the other half leaning over their tables whispering shit like:

"Bro just left both of them. No way."

"Wait, Maya and Cleo? What the fuck is this, a crossover episode?"

"Nah, this dude's playing different leagues right now."

Cleopatra was the first to snap out of it. She exhaled, shaking her head, muttering under her breath, "Damn," like she was genuinely impressed he had the balls to leave them like that.

Maya? Oh, she wasn't done.

Her fingers tightened around her phone. She wasn't about to be shown up. Not like this.

"That's cute," she muttered, voice lower now, almost purring, but laced with venom. "But I wasn't finished."

The screen of her phone flashed again—another photo. This one wasn't from childhood.

It was from this week.

The angle was perfect—too perfect—like one of those candid moments influencers set up but pretend was natural. Parker sitting at his desk, bored as fuck. Maya leaning over him, lips brushing his cheek, and for once? He didn't pull away. His face wasn't soft or affectionate, but it wasn't annoyed either. Neutral. Indifferent.

But to the gossip-obsessed rich brats in this school? Neutral was enough.

Cleopatra's gaze narrowed. "And?"

Maya's smirk was damn near predatory. "And this, honey, was taken two hours ago." She tilted the phone so half the damn room could see it. "So unless you've got something better, I'd say Parker and I are doing just fine."

The room was eating it up. Gasps. Stares.

Cleopatra didn't blink. Didn't flinch. If anything, her smirk deepened.

"That's your flex?" she said, voice dripping with mockery. "A half-assed peck in class? Girl, look at him. He's a whole ass brick wall. Parker wasn't even paying attention. Hell, you could be kissing a mannequin, and it'd be the same vibe."

Maya's jaw clenched.

"Oh, and for the record?" Cleo's smile sharpened, dangerous. "I'm the reason he looks like that. So technically, you're welcome."

The cafeteria erupted.

Meanwhile, in the far corner, Ryan sat with his usual crew, mostly silent but watching the whole mess unfold like it was a damn reality show. His lips curled into a smug grin as he whispered something to the guy next to him.

But Perseus?

Yeah, he wasn't grinning.

He wasn't even watching Maya and Cleopatra anymore.

His sharp, stormy-blue eyes were locked on the back of Parker's retreating figure, burning with recognition—like the puzzle pieces had finally clicked into place.

Parker Black.

The racer. One of the two who had completely humiliated him and Chione.

Perseus' knuckles flexed, his grip tightening around his fork until it bent slightly.

Interesting.

Elsewhere.

Near the windows, Cassandra sat with Atalanta, calm and quiet like always, her gaze distant but focused, half her face hidden behind the oversized coffee cup in her hands.

Her eyes hadn't left Parker once.

Not since he entered.

Not since he left.

Atalanta finally noticed, raising a brow. "You good? You've been staring since he sat down."
Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

Cassandra didn't answer immediately. She just exhaled, setting her cup down with a soft clink. Her voice was a whisper.

"He's the one."

Atalanta blinked. "The one what?"

But Cassandra didn't clarify.

She didn't need to.

Atalanta knew better than to press.

And outside the cafeteria doors?

Parker had no idea any of it was happening.

Or maybe he did and just didn't care?

****

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