The Scholarship Girl
Lia spent nearly forty minutes staring at her closet.
Which would've been less pathetic if she actually had choices.
A black dress hung crookedly near the back, buried beneath sweaters and folded jeans. She pulled it out carefully and held it against herself in the mirror.
Simple.
Sleeveless.
Slightly too tight around the waist now.
But wearable.
Probably.
She hadn't worn it since freshman year during a university banquet she almost skipped because she couldn't afford transportation home afterward.
Funny how people at Blackthorne assumed every student lived glamorous lives.
Most of them had never worried about rent.
Or skipped meals so tuition money stretched longer.
Lia smoothed invisible wrinkles from the dress before glancing toward the umbrella still resting beside her door.
You should wear your hair down tonight.
She hated that she remembered the exact way Adrian said it.
Calm.
Certain.
Like he already knew she would listen.
Annoyed with herself, Lia grabbed a brush and headed for the bathroom mirror.
—
By seven o'clock, rain covered the city again.
Black cars lined the entrance of the Monteverde building downtown, headlights reflecting against wet marble streets.
Lia stepped out carefully from the university shuttle and immediately felt underdressed.
The building towered above the city skyline like something untouchable.
Glass.
Steel.
Power.
MONTEVERDE HOLDINGS glowed in silver lettering across the front entrance.
Every person walking inside looked expensive.
Designer heels.
Tailored suits.
Luxury watches.
Meanwhile Lia clutched the straps of her small bag tightly and tried not to look intimidated.
"Breathe," Sienna whispered beside her.
Lia glanced over. "Why did I agree to come?"
"Because your creepy billionaire likes you."
"He does not like me."
Sienna raised an eyebrow.
"He literally remembers your class schedule."
"That doesn't mean anything."
"It means he either wants to date you or lock you in a basement."
Lia nearly laughed despite herself.
Inside, the lobby looked even more overwhelming.
Massive crystal chandeliers hung overhead while soft piano music echoed across polished floors. Employees moved quickly through the space carrying tablets and folders, all dressed like they belonged in magazines.
Nobody looked stressed.
Nobody looked tired.
Nobody looked like they checked bank accounts before buying coffee.
Lia suddenly became hyperaware of her cheap heels.
"This place smells expensive," Sienna muttered.
"She's not wrong."
Lia froze.
Adrian Monteverde stood several feet away near the elevators.
Black suit.
No tie tonight.
The top buttons of his dress shirt left undone just enough to look effortless.
Several executives stood nearby speaking to him, but Adrian's attention landed directly on Lia the second she entered.
Like always.
The conversation around him slowed almost immediately.
Lia hated how aware she became whenever he looked at her.
His gaze moved slowly over her appearance.
Not inappropriate.
Not rushed.
Careful.
Observant.
"You wore your hair down."
Heat climbed instantly into her face.
Sienna made a choking noise beside her.
Lia crossed her arms slightly. "Apparently you notice everything."
"Yes."
That simple answer should not have affected her as much as it did.
One of the executives nearby smiled politely.
"Mr. Monteverde, the investors are waiting upstairs."
"In a moment."
Again.
Everyone waited for him.
Adrian stepped closer toward Lia.
Close enough now that she could smell cedarwood and something darker beneath it.
Rain, maybe.
"You almost didn't come."
Lia blinked. "How would you know that?"
"You hesitated getting off the shuttle."
Her stomach tightened slightly.
God.
"You analyze people for fun?"
"No." His eyes held hers steadily. "Only when they matter."
Silence followed.
Sienna looked seconds away from passing out beside them.
Before Lia could think of a response, another woman approached Adrian smoothly.
Tall.
Elegant.
Beautiful in the polished way magazine models were beautiful.
She touched Adrian's arm lightly.
"There you are. Your uncle's been looking everywhere for you."
Then she noticed Lia.
A pause.
Subtle.
Judging.
"Who's this?"
The question sounded harmless.
But Lia recognized the tone instantly.
Rich girls always spoke like that around people they considered beneath them.
Adrian's expression cooled slightly.
"Lia Valencia."
The woman waited.
As if expecting more explanation.
When none came, she smiled thinly.
"I'm Celeste Laurent."
The surname alone sounded expensive.
Lia offered a polite nod.
Celeste's gaze lingered briefly on Lia's dress.
On her shoes.
On the tiny signs of someone who didn't belong here.
Then she smiled again.
"You're one of the scholarship students."
Not a question.
A category.
Lia straightened slightly.
"Yes."
"How inspiring."
Sienna nearly rolled her eyes into another dimension.
Adrian's voice turned colder.
"Celeste."
The warning in it was subtle but immediate.
Celeste looked unconcerned.
"I was complimenting her."
"No," Adrian replied calmly. "You weren't."
The silence afterward felt sharp enough to cut skin.
Lia looked between them carefully.
Interesting.
Celeste laughed softly and stepped away from Adrian.
"You've become strangely protective lately."
Her eyes flicked briefly toward Lia again before she disappeared toward the ballroom.
Sienna stared after her.
"I already hate rich people again."
Lia elbowed her lightly.
But Adrian remained quiet.
Watching Celeste disappear.
Something unreadable moved behind his eyes.
Not emotion exactly.
Calculation.
"You should avoid her," he said eventually.
Lia frowned. "Why?"
"She enjoys making people uncomfortable."
"She seems charming."
"That's usually when she's most dangerous."
The honesty startled Lia again.
He spoke about people like chess pieces.
Like he'd already studied every possible move they could make.
Before she could respond, the elevator doors opened beside them.
Adrian stepped aside slightly.
"Come upstairs."
Lia hesitated.
"You're asking?"
"No."
Sienna snorted loudly.
"I'm obsessed with him already."
Lia shot her a look before reluctantly stepping into the elevator.
The doors closed softly behind them.
Silence settled immediately.
Too close.
Too quiet.
Adrian stood beside her while the city lights reflected against mirrored walls around them.
Lia became painfully aware of every inch of space between them.
"You're nervous," he observed.
"I'm surrounded by billionaires."
"You're surrounded by insecure people pretending they matter more than others."
She blinked.
"That's... surprisingly self-aware."
The corner of his mouth lifted faintly.
"I never said I excluded myself."
Sienna burst into laughter.
The sound startled even Lia.
Because Adrian almost smiled.
Almost.
And somehow that felt more dangerous than when he looked cold.
The elevator reached the top floor moments later.
The doors opened into a massive ballroom glowing gold beneath crystal chandeliers.
Music floated softly through the room while waiters carried champagne across crowded conversations.
Everyone looked important.
And somehow—
every person there seemed to know Adrian.
People greeted him immediately.
Investors.
Executives.
Politicians.
Their entire demeanor shifted the moment he approached.
Respect.
Fear.
Admiration.
Lia noticed all of it.
And Adrian noticed her noticing.
"You dislike this environment."
She glanced at him. "It feels fake."
"It is."
"Then why participate in it?"
His eyes settled on her carefully.
"Power is easiest to control from the center of the room."
The answer sent a strange chill down her spine.
Before she could respond, a waiter passed by carrying champagne glasses.
Adrian picked one up and handed it to Lia.
Their fingers brushed again.
That same warmth spread instantly through her chest.
Dangerous.
Everything about him felt dangerous.
But worse—
a small part of her was starting to look forward to it.