Chapter 1

While I was waiting for my best friend, a girl I didn’t know walked past me.

I caught a faint trace of her perfume. My allergies were acting up, so I instinctively sniffed hard.

The girl immediately turned around and marched up to me, scowling, demanding $299.

“This is designer perfume I just bought. One bottle costs forty-four thousand dollars!”

“I only sprayed it twice, and now you’ve sniffed it all away!

Pay up, or I’m calling the cops!”

Looking at her impatient face, I refused without hesitation.

Her expression twisted, and she reached straight for my hair.

I froze.

Two hundred and ninety-nine dollars? Because I’d taken an extra breath?

When I didn’t respond, she impatiently shoved her phone closer. The payment QR code on her screen nearly touched the tip of my nose.

“Hey, are you deaf? Scan it! Stop wasting my time!”

I swallowed my disbelief and tried to explain politely.

“Sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose. I have allergies. I was just trying to clear my nose…”

“Please.” She sneered, looking me up and down.

“I’ve heard that one before. Look at you. Broke and still trying to act innocent. Just admit you wanted something for free. Spare me the excuses!”

Her voice was shrill enough to make people nearby turn and stare.

“This perfume is expensive. One sniff costs $299! Hurry up!”

She jerked her hand upward. Her phone smacked into my glasses, knocking them crooked.

The world behind my lenses blurred.

Anger shot straight to my head.

I straightened my glasses, my gaze turning cold.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“People walk up and down this street all day. Does everyone who passes you and smells your perfume have to send you $299? What are you, a walking ATM?”

She faltered, then flushed with rage. “You… How dare you insult me!”

Just then, my best friend called.

I had no interest in arguing with this lunatic. I answered and turned to leave.

“Hey, I’m—”

Before I could finish, a tearing pain ripped through my scalp.

I gasped and turned to find her face twisted with fury.

She’d grabbed a fistful of my hair from behind.

“Trying to run? You’re not going anywhere until you pay me and apologize!”

There was nothing delicate about her now. My head buzzed, adrenaline surged, and I grabbed her wrist without thinking. I yanked her hand away and shoved her back.

“You actually attacked me?”

Without hesitation, I took out my phone and called the police.

They arrived quickly.

After listening to her rambling, contradictory story, the two officers looked even more speechless than I felt.

The older officer fixed her with a stern look.

“Demanding money because someone smelled your perfume? This isn’t some harmless prank. Do you understand that this is extortion?”

“She took advantage of me first!” the girl argued. “My perfume is expensive! One ounce costs forty-five thousand dollars!”

The officer was done debating. He indicated his body camera.

“Fine. If you won’t cooperate, we can take this further. You look like a college student. Let’s see your student ID. We can contact your school and have someone come down here. I’d love to hear what they think of this behavior.”

The moment he mentioned her school, her arrogance vanished.

Her whole attitude changed. Head lowered, she reluctantly forced out an apology.

“I’m sorry.”

“And?” The officer pointed at my reddened scalp.

“You assaulted her and caused an injury. What about her medical expenses and compensation?”

In the end, under police supervision, she grudgingly transferred $500 to me.

I rubbed my aching scalp and watched her slink away, wondering why I’d bothered leaving the house today.

Just my luck.