The sorority house at Alpha Epsilon Phi was buzzing with energy, the music loud enough to rattle the windows, the lights flashing with every beat. Chloe Stone stood at the center of it all, a drink in her perfectly manicured hand, her blonde ponytail bouncing as she laughed. She glanced around the room, eyes narrowing as she took in the scene—her scene. Everyone knew this was her party, her rules.

"Sarah, have you seen Emily? I swear if she's off chatting with those lame freshman boys again, I am going to lose it." Chloe rolled her eyes dramatically, her tone dripping with exasperation as she turned her attention back to her best friend, Sarah.

"No clue, babe," Sarah replied, shrugging while she sipped her drink. "But she better not be embarrassing us, you know?"

Chloe smirked, her blue eyes scanning the crowd. That was when she caught a glimpse of someone walking through the door, flanked by James and Tyler. Chloe's lips curved into a sly smile—she had invited them, but she wasn't entirely sure if they would show. It wasn't that she particularly needed them here, but there was something about them that intrigued her.

He's not bad looking, and at least he's not pretending to be someone he's not. Unlike half the people in this room. Plus, he's got the kind of wealth that even I respect.

She flipped her hair back and made her way over, her designer heels clicking against the floor, cutting through the mass of partygoers who instinctively parted for her. Chloe could feel the eyes of others following her, watching every step she took. She thrived on it—the power, the attention, the knowledge that she owned the room.

"Well, well, look who finally decided to show up," Chloe called out, her voice laced with both amusement and subtle authority as she approached. "Though I guess it wouldn't be a party without someone like you here." She gave a teasing smile, her eyes locked on theirs. James and Tyler both chuckled, but this time there was a sense of mutual respect. Chloe knew that their presence commanded attention, just like hers.

Tyler grinned, giving them a pat on the back. "Dude, finally! We were starting to think you were ditching us for one of those yacht parties again. Glad you made it. This place is wild."

James nodded, raising his drink. "Yeah, man. And you know Chloe's parties—always something crazy going down. Plus, couldn't miss seeing you try to keep up with her, right?" He smirked, casting a playful glance at Chloe.

Sarah sidled up beside Chloe, giving them a genuine smile. "Lucky us, getting an appearance from you. Don't let it go to your head, though." She laughed, nudging Chloe playfully.

Chloe rolled her eyes, but there was a glimmer of approval in them. She liked when people understood the hierarchy, but with them, it wasn't so much about control—it was about maintaining an equilibrium. Still, she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a more casual, almost sincere tone.

"Just make sure you have fun, alright? I don't want you standing around all stiff and ruining the vibe. This is my party, but I know you know how to handle yourself." She winked, the corners of her lips curling into a knowing smile before resuming her conversation with the others.

Let's see if you can keep up. Maybe you're more than just another face in the crowd—maybe you're the one person who can match me.