Got what was coming

Cara stepped outside, expecting to see the usual stiff-looking chauffeur in a pressed suit waiting by the car. Instead, her eyes widened in disbelief as she saw 'him' leaning casually against the sleek black BMW car.

Garrett.

Oh, you've got to be kidding me, Cara thought to herself, her body stiffening in shock. Of all the people she expected to see this morning, she only had to come across Garrett—Mara's ex-boyfriend—was the last one. The one who had lied to them for months, swearing he worked at Hills Technology and software development Company.

But here he was, in a chauffeur's uniform, looking entirely too comfortable in a job he clearly hadn't mentioned in any of their previous encounters and conversations. *The nerve*

Devi bounded ahead, seemingly oblivious to the tension now crackling between the two. "Morning, Garrett! You ready to roll?"

Garrett's face barely flinched, though Cara noticed the slight tightening of his jaw as he nodded. "Always, Miss Devi." He glanced at Cara, his expression carefully blank. "Morning, Ms. Bennett."

Cara tilted her head, arms crossed. "Garrett. I didn't expect to see you here."

Devi, now leaning into the backseat of the car, gave them a curious look but seemed unfazed. "Oh, you two know each other? That's perfect! Garrett's the best chauffeur. Right, Garrett?" She beamed at him like he was a prize she had personally won at a county fair.

Garrett's lips pulled into a tight smile. "I try."

Cara had to bite back a smirk. *Oh, this is going to be fun.* She could already feel the wheels in her head turning as she watched him struggle to maintain composure.She always knew Garrett because of her sense of discerning people. Garrett had always been smooth, always quick with a lie—but now? Now, he was cornered.

Devi slid into the backseat, patting the leather beside her. "Come on, Cara! Garrett's car is way more comfortable than any cab you'd find around here."

For a split second, Cara hesitated. Being in close quarters with Garrett, pretending not to know his whole dirty backstory on her sister would be awkward. But then a sly smile curled on her lips.

*No, this could be fun.*

After all, she didn't have to let him off easy. Not after what he pulled on Mara—Maya and her.

"Of course," she said sweetly, sliding into the car. She barely glanced at Garrett as she settled in, but she could feel his eyes watching her, probably trying to figure out how much she knew about his ended relationship with Mara and what she intended to do with that information.

Garrett closed the door behind her, and soon they were on the road. The car glided smoothly through the streets, but inside the air was anything but smooth.

Devi, bless her oblivious heart, leaned forward in her seat, her voice full of admiration. "Isn't Garrett great? I mean, he's so reliable, and he always knows the best shortcuts through traffic. Ethan for once did something nice by hiring a chauffeur and I am really lucky to have him."

Cara fought the urge to roll her eyes. Instead, she smirked at the rearview mirror, where Garrett's eyes briefly flicked to meet hers before darting away.

*Oh, this is too good.*

"Reliable, huh?" Cara said, her tone dripping with false sweetness. "Well, that's one way to describe him."

Devi, missing the tension entirely, nodded enthusiastically. "Right? He's been with us for a while now, and he's always on time. It's so nice to have someone we can count on."

Cara hummed, eyes still locked on Garrett in the mirror. "I bet he's full of surprises."

Garrett kept his gaze firmly on the road, his knuckles white as they gripped the steering wheel. "Just doing my job, Ms. Bennett."

"Oh, I know you do," Cara replied, her voice low but pointed. "You've always been good at telling people what they want to hear, haven't you?"

The silence that followed was thick and uncomfortable, and Cara relished it. She could practically hear Garrett's internal gears turning, trying to figure out just how much she knew and how much she was willing to say in front of Devi.

Devi, bless her, just kept chatting away. "Garrett's always got everything under control. It's like nothing rattles him!"

Cara couldn't resist the opportunity. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, I can think of a few things that might rattle him."

Garrett's eyes briefly flicked toward her again, a silent warning that only made her smile more.

Devi, already distracted by her phone, barely looked up when they arrived at her highschool, she called out to Cara, "See you later, Cara! And thanks again, Garrett. You're the best!"

After dropping Devi at school, Cara wanted to go to club Fuego to get her bike, but Richie cold and told he'd used it to drop Mara at home, when she has started nagging Ethan Graves at the club.

They arrived at Cara's apartment building far sooner than she'd have liked. The trip had been a delightful mix of tense silence and the few minutes ago Devi's oblivious praise for Garrett, had only fueled Cara's internal amusement.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Cara wasted no time sliding out of the backseat. She could feel Garrett's eyes on her, but he remained silent, waiting for her next move.

The street was eerily quiet, the only sound the soft purr of the engine as Garrett stood by the driver's side.

"You told Mara you worked at Hills Technology and software development," Cara said casually, crossing her arms over her chest. "That was a lie."

Garrett's face remained stoic, but his eyes flickered with something unreadable. "It's complicated."

"Oh, I'm sure it is." Cara took a step closer, her voice low and dangerous. "Do you have any idea how much crap Mara went through yesterday because of you? The lies? The sneaking around a few days ago? You had her twisted in knots, Garrett. We all thought you were this gentleman, big-shot tech guy, and it turns out you're a chauffeur?"

Garrett's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He stared straight ahead, as if hoping that ignoring her would make her disappear.

"Well," Cara continued, her tone dripping with venom, "I suppose driving a car for rich families is an honest job, but it's the lying that really grates on me, you know? The deception of wasting my sister's time. The fact that you thought you could get away with it."

Garrett finally turned to face her, his expression stony. "It wasn't like that."

Cara raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Enlighten me, then. How was it, Garrett? How were you going to explain this to Mara? Or were you planning on ghosting her like the spineless liar you are? Of which I'm 100% sure you didn't bother to come clean even yesterday."

He took a breath, his face softening just slightly. "I didn't want to hurt her. I just... I couldn't tell her the truth. It wasn't the right time."

Cara snorted. "Right. The 'right time.' Let me guess—you were waiting for that magical moment where being a fraud suddenly seemed okay? Good luck finding that."

She could see Garrett's patience wearing thin, but she didn't care. He deserved every ounce of venom she could throw at him.

But before Garrett could respond, Cara noticed something—a subtle, almost imperceptible twitch in his face. His hand went to his stomach, pressing lightly as if trying to hide the fact that he was in pain.

"Garrett," she said, narrowing her eyes, "what's going on?"

"I'm fine," he muttered, clearly not wanting to admit anything.

Cara stepped forward, her eyes scanning him. "You're not fine. What's wrong?"

"I said I'm fine," Garrett snapped, though the way he doubled over slightly told a different story.

Cara rolled her eyes.

"Great. A liar *and* an idiot." She pulled out her phone, dialing for an ambulance as Garrett swayed on his feet.

"What are you doing?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

"Saving your sorry ass," Cara replied. "You're not fooling anyone. You need help."

Garrett muttered something under his breath, but he didn't argue any further.

As they waited for the ambulance, Cara stood over him, her arms crossed, an evil smirk playing on her lips. "You know, if you'd just been honest from the start, maybe you wouldn't be here right now because I was planning to come after you, and you know what I do to those who play with my family. But then again, I suppose karma has a way of catching up with people like you."

He didn't respond, he was too focused on the intense pain in his abdomen.

When the ambulance finally arrived, Cara watched as the paramedics loaded Garrett onto a stretcher. She stood there, arms still crossed, as they secured him into the back of the ambulance.

"See you around, Garrett," Cara said sweetly, leaning in just enough for him to hear her. "Hope you enjoy your time off work. Pity it'll be a while."

She watched the ambulance drive away, a small, satisfied smile on her face. As much as she loathed Garrett, she couldn't help but enjoy the turn of events.

*Liar or not, he got what was coming to him.* And with that, Cara turned and headed back into her apartment, feeling lighter than she had in days.