Claire checked the time.
Zara waved a hand. "See you."
Claire and Skylar Sommers pulled Lex Grant along, ready to leave.
Zara hesitated before calling out, "Does that ointment of yours... really work?"
"It works," Claire replied without a second of hesitation.
That unwavering confidence gave Zara a massive boost of reassurance.
"Then sell me a tube." Zara bit her lip. "How much is it?"
"I haven't set a price yet. I happen to have a tube with me; you can just have it."
"I shouldn't do that, right?” Zara didn't want to take advantage of her roommate. "It's fine. If it works, all I ask is that you casually mention it to your social circle." Claire smiled as she made the request.
It wasn't an unreasonable ask, so Zara agreed without a second thought.
Then it hit her. "Wait, are you using me as a guinea pig?"
The kicker was that even as a test subject, she still had to thank Claire for the privilege!
That was the mind of a genius for you-she really didn't operate like a normal person.
Zara's social circle was full of wealthy socialites obsessed with beauty; none of them could tolerate a single blemish.
Price was never an issue; if a product worked, they would throw money at it.
"Of course not,” Claire denied smoothly. “I have plenty of test subjects already.”
"Even A-list actors swear by it. My ointment delivers visible results."
Zara processed those words. "So you're saying I'm not even qualified to be a guinea pig?"
"If that's how you want to interpret it, there's nothing I can do." Claire shrugged.
Claire promised to give Zara the ointment after evening training.
Then, she and Skylar walked off with Lex.
Lex's hair was a mess; she had probably gotten dragged into the scuffle too.
But that wasn't what Claire wanted to ask about.
Once Skylar returned to her own room, Claire turned to Lex. "What was that about you making Zara's bed?"
"Did you offer, or did she order you to do it?"
Lex was a bit of a people-pleaser. Claire had known Lex longer than Zara, and she certainly didn't want Lex being coerced into playing the.. maid.
The wealthy heiress might be throwing her weight around without realizing it, and Lex might just be too timid to say no.
Realizing Claire had misunderstood, Lex quickly explained, "No, it wasn't like that. I offered to help her."
"We're roommates, and Zara isn't a
bad person. She didn't know how to do it and
bates, and Zara isn't a
hadn't even ex
yet.
It wasn't a big deal to lend a hand."
Seeing that Lex was telling the truth, Claire finally relaxed.
"Alright, as long as you're okay with it."
Lex nodded. She was genuinely touched that Claire cared enough to check on her. "Thank you, Claire." Someone like Claire was a rare source of pure kindness in her life.
Lex's hometown was overwhelmingly traditional, heavily favoring boys over girls. Families like Nanette's, where daughters were actually valued, were incredibly rare.
"Don't mention it. We're friends." Claire patted Lex's shoulder and headed back to her own dorm.
It was almost time. Everyone was waking up from their naps.
Her roommates were frantically trying to fold their blankets into the mandatory military squares.
The
Strehand, choosing to
had folded theirs
get
sleep under their jackets rather than
ruin their handiwork
The procrastinators were on the verge of tears as they wrestled with their bedding.
Priscilla Hastings had already finished hers.
She was currently standing over her three roommates, barking out instructions.
As soon as Claire walked in, Priscilla noticed.
"Claire, where have you been?"
Priscilla was genuinely worried.
Room inspections were about to start, and Claire had disappeared without a word.
Priscilla didn't have her number, or she would have called.