“Everything’s in there.” Ethan gestured to the gold folders. “You will each have to sign an agreement that you will uphold the cover story, which you will be compensated for. Going forward, Golden Weekend will become an extension of tonight. You select your players. You craft the story. They play the game to win their heart’s desire with a promise to pay it forward and make a difference in the world.”

Jewel said, “Luna, you will be in charge of weekend planning. You, Nicole, will be the host.”

“No.”

“Yes. I promised you a role in my next web series. What do you think you’ve been doing all weekend?”

Nicole said, “But you shouldn’t have to compete for charity. You shouldn’t have to compete for entrepreneurship and money for college. That’s the problem with the system now. Scarcity isn’t real.”

“Then change it. That’s the point—it’s your show, your game. Your only requirements are to follow the cover story, select your players from Golden Rule, and it must be hosted here.”

“So you expect us to lie for you?”

“I expect you to act,” Jewel said, tilting her head to the side.

The talent. She was the talent.

Nicole opened the folder and began reading. She must have blinked thirty times in surprise before she made it past the first page.

She needed a lawyer. ASAP.

Maybe Stella’s dad would help, or she could even hire one now with some of the prize money Luna shared with them. Because if what she was reading was correct, then Jewel was not only giving her and Luna Golden Weekend, she was also giving them Golden Rule—both would be under the newly formed company called Golden Chaos, LLC.

Nicole stopped breathing. Her brain skipped so hard it literally forgot to send the message to her lungs.

Jewel, Ethan, and Olive would retain shares of the company but nothing else. When she looked up, Luna was watching her, hopeful and excited. Francis, Francis, he was grinning at her. “Did you know about this?”

“Some of it. I knew Jewel was stepping down,” he admitted. “But nothing about the game or the story other than I was told to talk about The Scavengers Initiative as often as I could and pretend like I hated Jewel because of it.”

“I was right.” Stella smacked the table. “You don’t actually hate her, do you?”

“Nah.” He shook his head.

“Wait, what about Stella?” Harlow asked, folder still open. “Why doesn’t she get part of the company? She’s the one who actually solved the game.”

Jewel said, “She was disqualified. You both were.”

“What?” Nicole focused on Jewel, happy shock rapidly being replaced by upset. “Why?”

“They were warned,” Jewel said calmly. “If any of the other players found out about the livestreams, they knew they would both be disqualified.”