Marcus sat in his office, a pile of papers ignored on his desk. When Andrew and Gabriel walked in unannounced, he knew something was wrong.
“What’s going on?” Marcus asked, leaning back in his chair.
Andrew’s face was tense. “It’s Elena. The rumors about her and us are everywhere. Mia’s behind it.”
Gabriel’s voice was cold. “She’s spreading lies and twisting everything. Posting pictures, writing captions to humiliate Elena. She doesn’t deserve this.”
Marcus studied them, surprised at how shaken they were. “And what do you want me to do about it?”
Andrew’s fists clenched. “We need advice. If we confront Mia, it’ll only make things worse for Elena.”
“Good choice,” Marcus said. “Confronting her won’t help. Mia loves creating drama. You need to stay calm and outsmart her. Gather proof messages, witnesses, anything that shows her involvement.”
Gabriel’s voice softened. “Elena’s already dealing with so much. Now this? She doesn’t even know how bad it is.”
“She’s strong,” Marcus replied. “But no one can handle everything alone. Be there for her. And remember, you two are the stars of this university. What you do will reflect on her.”
Andrew’s jaw tightened. “We’ll protect her. But Mia won’t stop unless someone stops her first.”
Marcus leaned forward, his tone sharper. “Leave Mia to me. She’s made plenty of enemies, and I know how to handle her. But don’t act recklessly her family has influence.”
Andrew and Gabriel exchanged a glance, silent but determined.
As they left, Marcus called out, “Keep an eye on Adrian.”
Gabriel paused. “Adrian? Why?”
“He’s… invested in Elena’s well-being,” Marcus said carefully. “He might act impulsively.”
Later, Marcus walked to the practice field. Adrian stood on the sidelines, distracted, his focus clearly not on the game.
“Lost in thought?” Marcus asked, approaching with a smirk.
Adrian shot him a glance. “Not now.”
Marcus laughed. “Relax. You’re glaring at that ball like it insulted you.”
Adrian sighed. “It’s Elena. The rumors, the photos-it’s a mess.”
“And what are you doing about it?” Marcus asked, crossing his arms.
“I already told Mia to back off. It didn’t work.”
“Mia doesn’t respond to words,” Marcus said. “She needs consequences. You can’t just ask her nicely.”
Adrian hesitated. “Does Elena know how bad it’s gotten?”
Marcus’s expression softened. “She knows enough, but not everything. She’s strong, but she needs support. From you, too.”
Adrian looked away, guilt flashing across his face.
“You believed the rumors at first, didn’t you?” Marcus asked, his tone lighter but teasing.
Adrian didn’t answer.
Marcus smirked. “Feeling guilty? Good. Make it right. And keep an eye on Mia she’s dangerous, more than you realize.”
As Marcus walked away, his gaze landed on Mia and her group, laughing and whispering on the other side of the field. A slow smile spread across his face. “Enjoy it while you can, Mia,” he muttered. “Your time is running out.”
The meeting room was filled with tension as the university’s Director, Mr. Hamilton, took his seat at the head of the table. Professors Marcus and Adrian sat on one side, their expressions stern, while Professors Martha and Rachel occupied the other, whispering quietly.
Clearing his throat, Mr. Hamilton began, “We need to address the situation involving Elena, Andrew, and Gabriel. This scandal is spreading fast, and it’s damaging the reputation of this institution.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened, but it was Marcus who spoke first. “Director, we all know who’s responsible for this-Mia and her gang. They’ve been targeting Elena relentlessly. This is not just a small misunderstanding; it’s deliberate harassment.”
Professor Martha frowned, her tone defensive. “Let’s not jump to conclusions, Marcus. Mia comes from an influential family. We can’t accuse her without proof. And besides, isn’t it unusual for a scholarship student like Elena to be so close to Andrew and Gabriel? It does raise questions.”
Adrian’s hands balled into fists, but he kept his voice calm. “Elena is a talented, hardworking student. Her friendship with Andrew and Gabriel is her personal matter, and it doesn’t justify these baseless rumors. The issue here is Mia’s behavior, not Elena’s character.”
Rachel, sitting next to Martha, sighed. “While I agree with Adrian, we do need evidence before making any decisions. Without it, Mia’s family could create more problems for the university.”
Mr. Hamilton raised his hand to silence the room. “Evidence or not, this needs to stop. I want every professor here to ensure their students understand the consequences of spreading false rumors.” He turned to Marcus. “What’s your take on this?”
Marcus leaned back in his chair, his eyes sharp. “Mia’s been untouchable for too long. She thinks her family’s influence shields her. But if we don’t set an example now, this kind of behavior will only escalate.”
Martha scoffed. “Are you suggesting we punish her without proof, Marcus? That’s reckless.”
Marcus smirked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, I’m sorry, Martha. I didn’t realize you were Mia’s personal defense attorney. Maybe you can explain why she’s the common factor in every rumor and conflict on campus.”
Adrian interjected, his tone serious. “This isn’t about picking sides. It’s about protecting a student who’s being targeted unfairly. Elena’s health is already affected, and if this continues, it could harm her future.”
Rachel nodded thoughtfully. “I agree with Adrian. We need to take this seriously, but we also need to proceed carefully. Perhaps a private investigation into Mia’s actions is the best course of action.”
Mr. Hamilton tapped his pen on the table. “Fine. I’ll authorize an investigation. But until then, I expect all professors to keep a close eye on their students. No more incidents.”
As the meeting concluded, Marcus and Adrian lingered behind.
“Adrian,” Marcus said quietly, “you were unusually quiet during the meeting. What’s on your mind?”
Adrian hesitated. “Mia’s behavior it’s worse than we thought. I overheard her planning something dangerous.”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed. “And you didn’t say anything in the meeting?”
Adrian sighed. “I need more proof before bringing it up. But trust me, she’s not stopping at rumors.”
Marcus nodded slowly, his voice low. “Then we better make sure Elena is ready for whatever comes next. And Adrian, keep an eye on Mia. If she’s planning something dangerous, we can’t afford to wait.”
Adrian’s expression darkened as he nodded, his mind already racing with plans to protect Elena. Meanwhile, Marcus’s gaze lingered on the now-empty chair where Martha had sat, his lips curving into a faint smirk. He knew this wasn’t over not by a long talk.