Chapter 1
The people I was carpooling with wanted to kick me out.
The only problem was that it was my car.
Since three of my coworkers lived in my neighborhood, I had suggested we carpool to work so it wouldn’t feel awkward, or like they owed me some massive favor. I told them the driver, James, was a distant relative who happened to work nearby. I had him charge them a rate that was barely more than a bus pass. It was a steal, considering it saved them two hours of commuting every day and kept them out of the brutal Seattle rain for two straight months.
Everything had been smooth. Or so I thought.
Then came today.
I was in a stall in the office restroom when I heard whispering near the sinks. At first I ignored it, but then I heard my name.
A male voice said, “Trevor from Sales. A private car service on this route usually costs two hundred a day. We’re paying fifty between the three of us. If we can just get one more person into that fourth seat and charge them fifty, our own ride becomes free.”
The other two answered with quiet murmurs of agreement.
After a short pause, Trevor spoke again.
“Why don’t we just cut Chloe loose? She’s always acting precious about the car, telling us to be careful with the upholstery, like she owns the place. If she’s gone, we can actually relax.”
“I’m in,” Brianna added, her voice sharp. “I’m sick of that better-than-you vibe she gives off. Let her go back to squeezing onto the light rail with everyone else where she belongs.”
I leaned my forehead against the cold metal door of the stall and let out a silent, jagged laugh.
Me, on the light rail.
They had no idea it was my car.
The conversation went on, dripping with the kind of casual cruelty that made my skin crawl.
“We haven’t paid for next month yet,” Trevor said. “Let’s just tell her we’re done carpooling. Force her to drop out on her own.”
“Exactly,” Brianna giggled. “And that story about the driver being her relative? Please. Who actually believes that? They barely even speak in the car. God, I want to see her face when she realizes she’s been dumped.”
Trevor laughed.
“She acts like she’s the queen of the office. I already texted James. He said he’d keep the same price for the rest of us.”
A chill ran through me that had nothing to do with the air conditioning.
They didn’t know the car had been a graduation gift from my parents. They didn’t know James had been my family’s driver since I was little. I had started all of this out of pity. One morning after a storm, I had seen Trevor and the others walk into the office looking like drowned rats. They mentioned they lived in a remote suburb to save on rent, which meant a soul-crushing two-hour commute each way. My parents had bought a house for me in that same area. Not because they wanted me in the suburbs, but because I liked the quiet. They insisted James keep driving me for safety.
Out of genuine kindness, I had offered them a ride.
I cut their commute from two hours to thirty minutes, door to door. To protect their pride, I lied and said it was just a relative’s car, and that they were doing me a favor by filling seats.
Back then, their faces had been masks of pure gratitude.
“Chloe, you’re a lifesaver,” Brianna had said, clutching my arm. “I knew you were the sweetest person in this department.”
Trevor had even clapped me on the shoulder.
“If you ever need anything, kid, you come to me. I’ve been at this firm the longest. I’ve got your back.”
I understood now that my kindness hadn’t earned me friends.
It had only bred resentment.
In their eyes, I wasn’t a benefactor. I was an obstacle to a free ride.
I took a slow breath, composed myself, and stepped out of the stall.
I walked to the sink and began washing my hands as if I hadn’t heard a word.
The three of them jumped.
Panic flashed in their eyes for a split second before they covered it with practiced corporate indifference. In the mirror, I saw Trevor catch Brianna’s eye.
Trevor broke the silence first.
“Hey, Chloe. We were actually just talking about you. The three of us decided we’re going back to the train next month. It’s cheaper, so we’re out of the carpool.”
I looked at him, pretending to be confused.
“But the carpool is barely more expensive than transit.”
It was fifty dollars a day split between three people, about sixteen dollars each. The light rail cost nearly twelve round trip, and when you factored in the time they saved, plus the fact that they stopped getting docked for arriving late on stormy mornings, they were actually saving money with me. Not to mention that if anyone had to stay late, I told James not to charge them extra for the day. The gas alone cost more than what they were paying.
Brianna stepped forward, her voice dripping with a sickly imitation of concern.
“We’re just trying to be responsible, Chloe. We’re working people. Every dollar matters. Since we’re dropping out, it wouldn’t be fair for you to carry the cost of the car alone. You should probably just join us on the train.”
I looked at her and saw the predatory gleam in her eyes.
They weren’t going back to the train.
They were going to tell James they had negotiated a better arrangement and try to leave me behind.
“I think I’ll keep the car,” I said quietly. “I like the comfort. If you’re out, I’ll just tell James not to pick you up tomorrow.”
Trevor’s face tightened.
Brianna gripped his arm and stepped into my space.
“Chloe, be realistic. Your salary isn’t that high. Fifteen hundred a month for a private car? That’s a massive burden for a girl like you. You’re young,” she continued in a patronizing tone, like a mother lecturing a child. “You shouldn’t be so obsessed with luxury. A commute builds character. Don’t be lazy.”
I pretended to think it over, tilting my head.
“You’re right. It is a lot of money. But I guess I’m just a fan of luxury. I’ll keep the ride since you’re done. I’ll let James know he doesn’t need to stop at your places anymore.”
The third member of their little group, Lauren, finally spoke.
Lauren was the one I had once considered a real friend.
“Chloe, honestly, we don’t really want to ride with you anymore anyway. Unless you’re willing to cover our portion of the fee as a thank-you for our company, we’re done with you.”
The other two nodded immediately.
“If you were smart, you’d pay for us to stay,” Trevor added. “Otherwise, enjoy the rain, princess.”
I stared into Lauren’s eyes.
Six months ago, Lauren had ruined a major data set for a five-million-dollar acquisition. The client had been ready to walk. I stayed up for forty-eight hours fixing her mistakes and rewriting the proposal. I even put her name on the final presentation so she wouldn’t get fired. She had sobbed into my shoulder afterward.
“Chloe, you’re my guardian angel. I owe you my life. I’ll never forget this.”
Memory, apparently, was a fickle thing.
Looking at her now, I saw no gratitude. Only cold calculation.
This was exactly the kind of betrayal my father had warned me about. He always said unconditional kindness often turned into entitlement.
I hadn’t believed him then.
I believed him now.
“I see,” I said, my voice trembling slightly, not from sadness, but from rising rage. “Good to know.”
Lauren’s face brightened with triumph. She reached out to pat my hand.
“I knew you were the most generous person in the office, Chloe.”
I pulled my hand away before she could touch me.
Then I walked past them without another word, my heels clicking sharply on the linoleum.