Adrian Blackwood sat in his pristine office, the faint scent of leather and aged books surrounding him. The quiet hum of the air conditioner did little to calm the storm brewing in his mind. His assistant, Liam, stood before him, holding a stack of documents that painted an incomplete yet curious picture of Elena Harper, the student who had unknowingly piqued his interest.
“Sir,” Harvey began cautiously, “I’ve traced the origin of those photos. They were uploaded from a device connected to the university’s network.”
Adrian’s fingers tapped against his mahogany desk, the rhythm steady but ominous. “And the person responsible?”
Liam hesitated. “I’m still narrowing it down, but what’s interesting is that these photos were posted shortly after Ms. Harper’s arrival on campus. It’s almost as if someone wanted to target her.”
Adrian leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on the documents. “Target her? Or is she simply using this attention to her advantage?” His tone was cold, skeptical.
Liam cleared his throat. “Her background doesn’t suggest she’s that kind of person. She’s from Meadowbrook-a small town, modest upbringing. Her grades are good, and Marcus, the history professor, recently praised her performance.”
Adrian’s lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. “Marcus always sees the best in people. But tell me, Liam, why would a girl like her suddenly find herself in the center of attention here? Gabriel and Andrew don’t exactly hover around just anyone.”
“I can’t say, sir,” Liam replied, shifting uncomfortably. “But there’s no concrete evidence that she’s involved in anything manipulative.”
Adrian waved him off, his mood darkening. “Keep digging. I want to know who uploaded those photos and why. And leave no detail about Elena Harper’s life untouched.”
As Liam left, Adrian’s thoughts drifted. His mother’s gentle voice echoed in his mind-a memory of her reading to him when he was a child, her fingers running through his hair as she whispered about kindness and integrity. Kingston University bore her family name, and he had taken it upon himself to ensure it remained a beacon of excellence.
His jaw tightened. Would she approve of someone like Elena Harper being part of this institution?
Elena Harper sighed as she leaned against a stone bench in the university courtyard. Her phone buzzed incessantly in her bag, her father’s name flashing on the screen. She let it ring, her chest tightening with every vibration.
Her father’s voice from their last call haunted her. “You’re wasting your time there, Elena. Come back home. Your family needs you.”
She closed her eyes, her mind traveling to a time when things were simpler when her father would lift her onto his shoulders, his laughter filling the small house. Those days felt like a distant dream now, replaced by cold words and heavy expectations.
“Hey, you okay?” Gabriel’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
She looked up to see him standing a few feet away, his hands stuffed into his pockets. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by genuine concern.
“I’m fine,” she lied, forcing a small smile.
“You don’t look fine,” he countered, sitting down beside her.
Before she could respond, Andrew joined them, his expression equally worried. “What’s going on, Elena? You’ve been distracted lately.”
“I’m just tired,” she murmured, avoiding their gazes.
Andrew frowned. “If it’s about Mia spreading rumors, don’t worry. Everyone knows she’s full of it.”
Gabriel nodded in agreement. “Yeah, and if she tries anything else, she’ll have to deal with us.”
Elena managed a small laugh, their protective nature easing some of the weight on her shoulders. But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that their attention was only making things worse.
Adrian strode into the lecture hall the next day, his presence commanding immediate silence. The students straightened in their seats, their chatter ceasing as his sharp gaze swept over them.
“Good morning,” he began, his voice cold and measured. “I trust you’ve all done the reading for today.”
Elena sat between Gabriel and Andrew, her heart sinking as Adrian’s eyes briefly lingered on her. She could still feel the weight of his anger from the previous day, and the last thing she wanted was to draw his attention again.
But fate had other plans.
“Ms. Harper,” Adrian called out, his tone slicing through the silence.
She froze, her cheeks heating as every pair of eyes in the room turned toward her. “Yes, Professor?”
“Stand up,” he instructed, his gaze unwavering.
Elena rose slowly, her legs trembling.
“Since you seem to enjoy scribbling in your notebook more than paying attention to my lectures, perhaps you’d like to share your thoughts with the class,” he said, his words dripping with sarcasm.
“I-I was just taking notes,” she stammered, clutching her notebook tightly.
“Is that so?” Adrian’s eyebrow arched. “Then please, enlighten us. What are your thoughts on the use of symbolism in modern literature?”
Elena’s mind went blank. She knew the answer she’d read the assigned material but the pressure of his gaze and the laughter she heard whispered around her made it impossible to think.
“I… I…”
“Sit down,” Adrian said curtly, his disappointment can be seen.
Gabriel leaned over, whispering, “Don’t let him get to you.”
Andrew, on her other side, glared at Adrian, his jaw tight with restrained anger.
Adrian noticed their reactions but ignored them, continuing his lecture as if nothing had happened.
After class, Elena lingered behind, her notebook clutched to her chest. She wanted to apologize, to explain, but as Adrian packed up his things, he didn’t spare her a second glance.
“Professor Blackwood,” she began hesitantly.
He looked up, his expression unreadable.
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry for…..”
“Don’t waste my time with apologies, Ms. Harper,” he interrupted, his tone icy. “If you want to prove yourself, do it through your work, not your words.”
Elena nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. As she turned to leave, she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d ever be able to change his opinion of her or if she even wanted to.
Adrian watched her go, his mind a storm of conflicting thoughts. There was something about Elena Harper that didn’t add up, and he was determined to figure out what it was.
And when he did, he’d know if she truly belonged at Kingston or if she was just another distraction this university didn’t need.