Page 38 of You Owe Me

My heart skips a beat, but I maintain my composure. “What are you talking about?”

“I’ve compiled quite a file on Maverick’s... business activities.” Carter pulls out his phone, swiping through what appears to be a collection of documents. “Including evidence that he’s been cheating. Did you know that he had people take tests for him last year? Paid stand-ins taking exams while he was running his grandfather’s business?”

My stomach drops. This isn’t some vague threat or bluff. Carter’s talking about something very specific, something real. Something Maverick actually did confide in me about during that terrible period after Pops had his stroke. The weeks when he was killing himself trying to keep his grandfather’s company afloat while maintaining his own GPA.

“It’s not what you think,” I say automatically, a protective instinct kicking in. “It wasn’t about cheating.”

Carter’s smile widens, knowing he’s hit a nerve. “Exam impersonation is exam impersonation, Ainsley. The university doesn’t care about motivations.”

He’s right, of course. The fact that Maverick did it to save his family’s company rather than out of laziness wouldn’t matter to the academic integrity board. The fact that he basically created his entire IOU system specifically to have people he could trust for situations exactly like this wouldn’t change the outcome either.

“What exactly do you think you have?” I try to sound casual while my heart hammers in my chest.

Carter swipes to another document. “Names, dates, specific exams. Even the IOUs he issued in exchange.” He turns the phone so I can see, and my blood freezes. There it is. A photo of one of Maverick’s playing cards with his distinctive handwriting. “Your boyfriend’s favor network is fascinating. Instead of money, he trades in obligations. Very elegant. Very difficult to trace. Until now.”

He’s right. Maverick burned some bridges last year. Made enemies who would happily provide evidence against him.

“This isn’t just about grades, Ainsley,” Carter continues, his voice almost gentle, as if he’s sorry to be the bearer of bad news. “This is exam impersonation. It’s not just academic misconduct; it’s fraud. My father has expelled students for less, and they don’t get accepted anywhere else. Imagine what this would do to Maverick’s future. His chances at grad school. His ability to continue running his grandfather’s company with that kind of mark on his record.”

“You’d lie to your own father?” Though, I’m not really surprised.

“I wouldn’t be lying at all.” He shrugs. “The evidence is real. Maverick did have people take exams for him. The fact that he traded favors instead of cash doesn’t make it any less fraudulent. The university doesn’t accept ‘I was busy running a company’ as an excuse for academic dishonesty.”

He’s right. If the dean discovers that Maverick had exam impersonators, paid with IOUs or otherwise, he’d be expelled immediately. No appeal. No second chances. His academic career would be over. No investment firm would hire someone expelled for fraud, and without Maverick at the helm, his grandfather’s company would likely collapse.

“Maverick was doing what he had to do to save his family,” I say, hating how defensive I sound. “His grandfather had just had a stroke. The company was falling apart.”

“A touching story.” Carter’s voice drips with false sympathy. “I’m sure the Academic Integrity Board will find it very moving before they expel him anyway.”

“You’re bluffing,” I say, but we both know I don’t believe that.

“Am I?” He holds up his phone, showing me what appears to be pixelated photos, but they’re clear enough to show someone who definitely isn’t Maverick sitting at a desk with his studentID. “One email sends these and the sworn statements I’ve collected to the Academic Integrity Board.

“Why are you doing this?” I hate the tremor in my voice. “What did Maverick ever do to you?”

“This isn’t personal.” As if that makes it better somehow. “It’s strategic. Maverick has built something impressive, something I want to understand better. You’re my way in.”

“So this is about his business? You want to... what, become the next campus kingpin?”

Carter’s smile broadens. “I prefer to think of it as a natural transition of power. Maverick is graduating soon. Someone needs to fill the vacuum he’ll leave behind.”

“And you think taking me to a gala will accomplish that how, exactly?”

“The gala is just the beginning,” he explains. “A public appearance together sends a message that things are changing. It destabilizes Maverick’s position, makes people question his control. After that, well... there are many ways you could be useful.”

The implication turns my stomach. “This is insane. You’re insane.”

“I’m ambitious,” he corrects, just as he did before. “And I’m offering you a choice. Come to the gala with me, help ease this transition, and everyone benefits. Maverick keeps his academic record clean, and you get connections that could launch your marine biology career.”

“Or?” I prompt, though I already know the answer.

“Or I send this email, along with several others I’ve prepared. Maverick faces an academic investigation that will, at minimum, prevent him from graduating on time. And all those poker games Maverick’s been so interested in lately? Suddenly off-limits when he’s banned from campus activities pending investigation.”

“You’ve clearly thought this through,” I say, stalling for time. “But aren’t you forgetting something important?”

Carter raises an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“The part where Maverick finds out about this threat and dismantles your entire life.” I lean closer, dropping my voice. “You think you know him, but you don’t. Not really. You haven’t seen what happens when someone threatens the people he cares about.”

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