Adrian Blackwood’s morning began as it always did-calm, efficient, and meticulously planned. He sat at his sleek glass desk in his penthouse office, scrolling through files on his tablet. Today, however, his focus wasn’t on the stocks or expansion projects of Blackwood Industries. Instead, it was on Kingston University.
Harvey Langston, his trusted assistant, entered the room and placed a thick folder on the desk. “Here’s everything you requested about Kingston University,” Harvey said, his tone as professional as ever. “This includes staff details, upcoming events, and a list of notable students.”
Adrian didn’t look up immediately. Instead, he sipped his black coffee, savoring the quiet moment before diving into the day’s work. “Notable students?” he repeated, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, sir. These are individuals who’ve drawn attention for various reasons academic achievements, social influence, or, in some cases, scandals.”
“Scandals,” Adrian echoed, his voice laced with disdain. “Let me see.”
Harvey flipped open the folder and pointed to a section labeled Student Profiles. Adrian’s sharp gray eyes scanned the pages until one name caught his attention: Elena Harper.
Her photo was simple. She wore a plain white blouse, her dark brown hair falling loosely around her face. Her eyes, big and expressive, carried a softness that could fool anyone into thinking she was untouched by the harshness of the world. Her profile stated she was from a small town, a scholarship student excelling in literature and arts.
“Small-town girl,” Adrian murmured. His gaze lingered on her picture for a moment longer than he intended.
“She’s become quite popular on campus,” Harvey added, sensing Adrian’s interest. “But not just for her academics. She’s caught the attention of two of the most prominent students Gabriel Kingsley and Andrew Harrington.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Kingsley and Harrington? Those two are practically royalty in the university.”
“Indeed, sir. And Miss. Harper seems to be the center of a lot of rumors. There’s even this…” Harvey hesitated before sliding a printed photo across the desk.
Adrian picked it up, his jaw tightening as he studied it. The photo showed Elena and Gabriel at the beach near the university. She was laughing, her cheeks flushed with happiness as Gabriel leaned close to her, his arm resting casually on her shoulder.
“They look quite… close,” Harvey noted carefully.
Adrian didn’t respond immediately. His sharp gaze remained fixed on the photo, taking in every detail the carefree smile on her face, the way Gabriel looked at her, and the undeniable intimacy of their pose.
“What a target she’s made herself,” Adrian finally said, his voice cold and sharp. “From a small town, looking all sweet and innocent, and yet here she is, cozying up to the elite.” He tossed the photo back onto the desk.
“Are you suggesting…”
“She’s no different from the others,” Adrian interrupted. “Using her so-called innocence as a weapon. Honey traps like her know exactly what they’re doing.”
Harvey didn’t dare argue. Adrian’s judgments, once made, were rarely reversed.
Adrian leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. “She might have fooled those boys, but not me. I’ve seen enough of these games to know better. When I join Kingston, I’ll make sure I keep an eye on her.”
Harvey nodded, understanding the conversation was over. He gathered the folder and left the room, leaving Adrian alone with his thoughts.
Adrian’s gaze flicked back to the photo on the desk, and a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “So much for a small town innocence,” he muttered, standing up and walking to the window.
The city stretched out before him, a world of power and deception a world he had mastered. If Elena Harper thought she could play games at Kingston University, she was about to learn the hard way that Adrian Blackwood wasn’t someone easily fooled.
Adrian turned away from the towering view of the cityscape outside his office window, his mind lingering on the image of Elena Harper. There was something about her a contradiction he found hard to ignore. On the surface, she appeared simple, perhaps even unassuming. But the rumors surrounding her and the attention she garnered suggested a different story entirely.
Sliding the photo back toward himself, Adrian’s lips pressed into a thin line. Her smile in the picture, so carefree and genuine, grated on him. How could someone from such a modest background climb so quickly in a place like Kingston University, known for its elite and Famous for Study and well mannered?
“It’s always the ones who seem harmless,” he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
Adrian reached for the rest of the documents Harvey had left behind. His fingers deftly flipped through her records. Scholarship details, academic achievements, extracurricular activities it all painted a pristine picture of a hardworking, intelligent student. But then came the notes at the bottom of her file:
Social Influence: Gaining popularity among peers. Frequently seen in the company of Gabriel Kingsley and Andrew Harrington.
Adrian’s brow furrowed. Gabriel Kingsley the golden boy of Kingston University. Handsome, charming, and heir to the Kingsley Hotel Empire. And then there was Andrew Harrington, the brooding and enigmatic son of a tech tycoon. Both boys had reputations that preceded them, and yet here they were, seemingly enchanted by a small-town girl who had no business being in their orbit.
He scrolled through the attached media files on his tablet. Another image appeared, this one from a university charity gala. Elena stood between Gabriel and Andrew, her light blue dress modest yet elegant. She looked uncomfortable under the spotlight, her hands clasped nervously in front of her.
“She knows how to play her cards,” Adrian remarked with a bitter edge.
The more he thought about it, the more it infuriated him. Women like Elena were everywhere pretending to be innocent while using their looks and charm to climb social ladders. His mother had warned him about people like that, back when Kingston University was just an idea she’d shared with him during quiet evenings at home.
Adrian’s expression darkened at the thought of his mother. The university was her legacy, a tribute to the Kingston name that she had proudly carried until the day she passed. For him, it was more than just an institution. It was sacred ground, a place he would protect at all costs.
And now, here he was, preparing to step into the very halls she had envisioned. Not as Adrian Blackwood, the ruthless billionaire, but as a professor a decision he had carefully made to honor her memory and understand her world.
Adrian straightened, his resolve hardening. “No one will tarnish what she built. Not even someone like Elena Harper.”
There was a knock at the door, interrupting his thoughts. Harvey entered, carrying his tablet.
“Sir, I’ve also pulled the class rosters for the courses you’ll be teaching. Elena Harper is enrolled in one of them.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. “Of course, she is,” he said dryly.
“It’s a popular elective Creative Expression. A mix of literature, art, and personal development.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow. “Creative Expression?”
“Yes, sir. It’s one of the university’s most sought after courses, particularly among scholarship students. It’s meant to encourage individuality and free thinking.”
Adrian couldn’t hide his smirk. “Individuality and free thinking,” he repeated mockingly. “Let’s see how much free thinking Miss. Harper actually does when faced with real challenges.”
Harvey hesitated before speaking again. “If I may, sir, are you sure you want to approach the university as an ordinary professor? Your name carries weight…”
“No,” Adrian cut him off. His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “I’ll arrive as a professor. The students and faculty don’t need to know about my ties to the board or my family’s history with the university. I want to see it for what it is, not through the lens of privilege.”
“Yes, sir,” Harvey replied, bowing slightly before exiting the room.
Adrian leaned back in his chair, folding his arms as he stared at the folder on his desk. Elena Harper was a puzzle, one he intended to solve. But he had no intention of being charmed or fooled like the rest of the university seemed to be.
With a determined glint in his eye, he closed the folder and stood. There was much to prepare before his arrival at Kingston University. He was entering as a professor, but he would watch everyone and everything closely.
As for Elena Harper, Adrian decided she was already on his radar. Her small-town charm and innocent demeanor might fool others, but Adrian Blackwood had no patience for pretenders. She would reveal her true self soon enough. And when she did, Adrian would be ready.