My Bully Became My Fan Chapter 07
I chose the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel for our reunion. Not because I loved the place, but
because I knew Madison would recognize it from celebrity Instagram posts and desperately want to be seen here.
More importantly, some of her old Riverside “friends” would be here–the type who’d remember exactly
how far she’d fallen.
arrived early and took a corner table with perfect lighting. My outfit was casual but expensive, the kind of effortless luxury that screams money without trying.
Five years since I’ve seen her face.
Madison walked in ten minutes late, wearing an obviously knockoff designer dress. The moment I saw her, something cold and sharp twisted in my stomach
There she is. The bitch who killed my mom.
But she moved like she owned the place, immediately pulling out her phone for selfies.
“Oh my God, I used to come here all the time! This place brings back so many memories!”
Sure it does. Target employees definitely hang out here regularly.
The sight of her performing the same fake confidence from high school made me nauseous, but I painted on my biggest smile.
“Madison! You look amazing!”
She bounced over, still snapping photos. “Scarlett! Oh my God, you’re even more gorgeous in person! Can we take a selfie?”
our three thousand fake followers are going to love this.
leaned in as she took pictures, making sure to get the hotel logo in the background. Her cheap perfume made my skin crawl.
“I can’t believe we’re both in LA now,” she gushed. “It‘s like fate! I always knew you’d make it big. You were always so… quiet and smart in high school.”
Quiet and smart.
The words hit me like a physical blow. My vision went red for a second.
That’s how she remembers me? The girl she tortured was just “quiet and smart“?
“What did you think of me back then?” I asked, my voice honey–sweet despite the rage clawing at my chest.
She tilted her head thoughtfully. “Honestly? You were just this sweet, shy girl who kept to herself. I always felt bad that we didn’t hang out more.”
She felt bad we didn’t hang out more.
I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood.
She really doesn’t remember. I was just background noise to her.
The server appeared, giving me a moment to compose myself. “Will you be ordering drinks?”
“Yes!” Madison jumped in. “I’ll have the champagne cocktail-”
“I’m sorry, miss, but I’ll need to see your membership card first.”
Madison’s face went blank. “My… what?”
“Your membership card. This is a private club, so we require-”
Joh!” Her laugh was high and nervous. “I must have left it in my other purse!” other purse. Right.
“I’m afraid without a membership card, there’s a guest fee of eight hundred dollars.”
I watched panic flash across her face. “Eight hundred?
she whispered.
Perfect.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said smoothly, pulling out my black Amex. “I’ve got this. So great to see an old friend.”
“Oh my God, Scarlett, you’re an angel! I’ll totally pay you back!”
Eight hundred dollars. Pocket change for me, probably more than she makes in a week.
The satisfaction was immediate and warm. She had no dea she was already in my trap.
spent the next hour listening to her spin lies about brand partnerships” and “collaboration opportunities. “Every word made my skin crawl–the same girl who‘ d called me trailer trash was now lying about fake success to impress me.
Twenty minutes in, she excused herself to the bathroom.
Ime for round two.
waited a minute, then casually walked toward the restroom. Through the door, I could hear voices-
Madison and someone else.
“Madison Blackwell? Oh my God, is that really you?”
Stephanie Chen. Perfect.
“Stephanie! Hi!”
“I should ask you the same thing. Didn’t your family
lose everything? I heard you were working retail now.
I positioned myself where I could hear everything.
“That’s not–I mean, we had some temporary setbacks-”
“Oh honey, it’s fine. But how can you afford this place? Isn’t the guest fee like eight hundred dollars?”
“Well, actually, I’m here with ScarlettGlow. We’re old riends from high school.”
“Wait, you know ScarlettGlow? That’s so random! But
Madison… I heard you’re doing that sugar daddy thing now. Like, actually getting paid by old men for… you know.”
The bathroom went dead silent.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Madison said, voice shaking.
Come on, everyone knows. My cousin saw you on Seeking Arrangements. Sex work is real work, right?”
Madison Blackwell, who called me a slut, is literally prostituting herself.
heard toilet flushes, footsteps–other women had been listening to every word.
The rush of vindication was intoxicating. I slipped back to our table, body humming with satisfaction.
Madison returned looking flushed and shaken, trying to play it off.
“Sorry about that! Just ran into an old friend.”
“Everything okay? You look upset.”
“I’m fine! Just excited about all this!” Her smile was brittle now. “Being around successful people like you is so inspiring.”
If only you knew who you’re really sitting across from.
I ordered another round, watching her hands tremble slightly as she reached for her glass.
This is just the beginning.
“You know,” I said casually, “I’m actually looking for beta testers for my new product line. It’s worth about five hundred dollars retail, but I need people to try it and give feedback.”
Her eyes lit up like Christmas morning.
“Oh my God, really? I would love to! I’m always posting about skincare, so this would be perfect!”
‘Great! And actually, I’m doing this beauty retreat in Malibu next month. Pretty exclusive–only twenty influencers. The fee is three thousand, but if you become a brand ambassador, we refund everything.”
“Three thousand?” Her smile faltered.
“I know it’s an investment,” I said sympathetically.
But the networking opportunities are incredible. Last year, three girls got major brand deals just from the connections.”
Three thousand dollars she doesn’t have. Three thousand she’ll destroy herself trying to get.
I could see her mental wheels turning, weighing desperation against impossibility.
That sounds amazing. When do you need an answer?”
No rush. Just let me know by next week.”
Hook, line, and sinker.
We finished our drinks with Madison taking fifty more selfies. She hugged me goodbye like we were best friends.
Thank you so much, Scarlett. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
Actually, I have a pretty good idea.
Watching her walk toward the bus stop–because of course she couldn’t afford valet–I felt cold satisfaction settle in my chest.
Round one to me, bitch.