THE DEAL WITH THE STAR

Chapter One

Kimberly’s POV

I stared at the silver heels in my hands as if they could somehow fix the mess my life had become. “I polished these stupid shoes every single day,” I muttered, my voice breaking. “Because he bought them for me.”

Adele and Adrian were sprawled across my small dorm bed, the room cluttered with textbooks, empty snack wrappers, and fairy lights strung across the wall. I hated the pity in their eyes.

Adrian opened his mouth, but Adele was faster, she hurled a pillow straight at his face.

“Shut up, Adrian. We’re supposed to be comforting her, not making it worse!”

The dam finally broke. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I looked at the expensive dress and matching bag hanging on my closet rack. I had worked so many extra shifts at the campus café just to afford them. All for a guy who never deserved any of it.

Adrian sighed. “At least you brought the flowers home. That was patient of you.”

“I wasn’t being patient!” I snapped. “The flowers were too beautiful to throw away.”

Adele moved closer and rubbed soothing circles on my back.

“Kim, it’s okay to be hurt. It’s not about Jake been gay, it’s that he knew, and he still led you on for months. That’s what’s cruel.”

“That’s what kills me,” I whispered, wiping my face angrily. “He knew he wasn’t into women, but he still let me fall for him. He made me believe we had something real.”

Adrian raised his hands defensively. “I warned you about him from the beginning. My instincts are never wrong.”

I glared at him through my tears. “Right now, I really hate you.”

“Okay, enough of this,” Adele said, standing up with determination. “You don’t like clubbing, but tonight we’re going out. Just for a little while. You need to get out of this room and breathe.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere,” I mumbled, pulling my knees to my chest. “I just want to stay here and cry myself to sleep.”

“Not under my watch,” Adrian declared. He grabbed one of my arms while Adele took the other. Despite my weak protests, they dragged me up and pulled me toward the door.

The club was loud, crowded, and overwhelming,

exactly what I didn’t need. Neon lights flashed across the packed dance floor as the bass vibrated through my chest. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol, perfume, and sweat. I had already lost count of how many shots I’d thrown back.

“Kimberly, you’ve had enough,” Adele said, sitting beside me at the crowded bar. She looked genuinely worried. “You know you can’t handle hangovers.”

“Then why did you guys drag me here?” I slurred, reaching for another glass. “Let me drink until I forget Jake ever existed.”

Adele snatched the shot glass from my hand. “Where the hell is Adrian? Stay right here and don’t move. I’m going to find him so we can take you back. No more drinks, okay?”

I waved her off lazily. “Yeah, yeah… go ahead.”

A few minutes after she disappeared into the crowd, my stomach started turning violently. The room spun. I needed the restroom fast.

I stumbled off the barstool and pushed through the sea of bodies, heading toward the dimly lit hallway at the back. The music grew muffled, the air cooler and heavier with the scent of spilled drinks.

That was when I saw them.

Two silhouettes in a dark corner, locked in a heated argument. I moved closer, curiosity cutting through my drunken haze.

It was Kai Dawson.

Even blurry, I recognized him immediately. The star quarterback. The most popular guy on campus and one of New York’s rising football talents. Tall, built, radiating arrogance even from a distance.

He was towering over a girl. From where I stood, it looked like he’d just grabbed her roughly or worse. She was looking down, shoulders hunched.

No way…

My heart pounded. Without thinking, I pulled out my phone and started recording.

Suddenly, Kai’s head snapped in my direction. Our eyes met across the hallway.

His expression shifted from shock to pure, burning rage in a split second.

Panic shot through me. I turned and tried to run.

I was halfway down the hall when a powerful hand grabbed my arm and yanked me backward. My back slammed hard against the wall, knocking the breath out of me.

Kai Dawson stood inches away, his ocean-blue eyes dark with fury, his grip tight on my arm.

“Kimberly Castell,” he growled, voice low and dangerous.