The rain poured relentlessly, drenching the empty streets and turning the alleyways into rivers of filth. Elena Martinez pulled her hood tighter, shielding her face as she navigated the darkened path home. The scent of damp earth and rotting garbage mixed with the crisp night air, reminding her of the life she was trapped in. In her arms, she clutched a bag of groceries, the weight of her mother’s medicine heavier than the rest. She was used to walking these streets alone, but tonight, something felt different. San Francisco loomed in the night, a city of glass and steel carved into the rugged cliffs of the Pacific. A sound cut through the rain—low, rough, and unmistakably desperate. Elena stopped, her heart hammering against her ribs as she strained to listen. The scuffle of feet, the sharp intake of breath, and then a deep, pained grunt. Slowly, she edged toward the alley behind Wales warehouse, her pulse roaring in her ears. What she saw made her breath hitch. A man was pinned a
Elena's alarm blared through the silence, slicing through her sleep like a blade. With a groggy groan, she reached out blindly, smacking the stop button with more force than necessary. Her body felt like it had been run over by a truck—every muscle heavy, every limb aching from exhaustion. She blinked against the harsh light streaming in through her window, wincing as a dull throb pulsed in her temples. If she could just have five more minutes… maybe even ten… but reality came crashing down when her gaze darted to the clock.Her heart lurched. She was late.Cursing under her breath, she yawned so hard her jaw cracked, then hurriedly tossed her blanket aside. The bed was still warm and inviting, and a traitorous part of her wanted to crawl right back in, but there was no time for that. As she hastily smoothed out the sheets—more out of habit than effort—her mind replayed last night’s events. She vividly remembered how her mother had shivered the day before, leaving the store earlier th
The streets grew busier as she neared the store, people chatting as they sipped their morning coffee, mothers pushing strollers, shop owners flipping their "OPEN" signs. When she reached the storefront, she was met with a small crowd—customers waiting outside, eager to buy baby clothes. Some held their purses tightly, others rocked babies in their arms, their eyes scanning the door impatiently.Elena exhaled, adjusting the strap of her bag before unlocking the door.Her mother had built this business from the ground up after her father passed away, pouring her heart into every sale, every stitch, every conversation with expectant mothers. It wasn’t just a store—it was a place of warmth, of memories, of survival."Good morning, everyone," she greeted, offering a smile as she stepped inside.The familiar scent of fresh cotton and baby powder filled the air as she flicked on the lights. The shelves were neatly arranged with tiny onesies, colorful blankets, and little shoes too small to b
The sky was dipped in hues of deep orange and dusky purple, the last remnants of daylight stretching across the horizon. Elena glanced at the old clock on the wall—6:30 PM. She usually kept the store open until seven, but tonight, an inexplicable urgency gnawed at her. Her mother and Maya were waiting at home, and something told her she needed to be there sooner rather than later.She quickly tallied the day’s earnings, locked up the register, and grabbed her bag. The streets were already shifting into the quiet lull of early evening—shopkeepers and stores putting up the close sign up their glasses, Casino light slowly popping up as the city started having its night vibes.She flagged down a cab, sliding into the backseat as the driver pulled into traffic.As the city blurred past, her fingers absently traced the pages of her small notebook. Nestled among scribbled grocery lists and inventory notes was a single number—Mrs. Kensington’s. Elena had written it down, yet every time she co
Elena woke up before dawn, the weight of the day pressing against her chest. She had barely slept, her mind restless with possibilities.By the time she arrived at Mrs. Kensington’s home, the morning sun was just beginning to streak the sky with soft gold. The estate was massive, a fortress of wealth and influence. She hesitated in front of the towering black gates, unsure how to announce her arrival.Before she could knock, the gates parted on their own.Two security men in black suits stepped forward, their gazes sharp and assessing."State your business," one of them said, his voice firm.Elena swallowed, straightening her shoulders. "I’m here to see Mrs. Kensington. She’s expecting me."One of the men pulled out his phone and made a quick call. A few seconds later, he nodded. "You’re clear. Follow me."She stepped inside, and for a moment, the beauty of the place almost stole her breath—lush gardens, marble fountains, and a driveway so pristine it gleamed under the rising sun. But
"You don't tell me to wait," he said softly, but the weight of authority in his voice was unmistakable. "I could have you out of this job in seconds. Learn how to call for me." His words thickened the air, tension tightening every breath as he turned and strode away without hesitation.Elena stood frozen, words trapped in her throat as the lingering echo of his command seemed to rattle the nearby staff. Even they looked shaken—for her. "Let's go" one of the security guards called, his tone brisk but not unkind.She was led back to her office.Inside the department's small office, Elena rested her head against the cool surface of the desk. Her mother's face flashed in her mind, then Maya’s laughter, but the knock at the door cut through her thoughts. "Fourth complex. Waste disposal. Now," someone instructed, pointing the direction with fingers.Elena walked , pushing aside every thought that threatened to slow her down. As she crossed the marble-floored corridor leading to the service
The air felt electric—charged with a tension that neither of them seemed willing to break. For a heartbeat, silence stretched taut, only the faint hum of distant machinery filling the space.Then Adrian leaned in just enough for her pulse to hammer against her ribs. "Clean it... thoroughly," he murmured, his voice softer this time—almost a whisper, yet the authority behind it was unmistakable.Without another word, he stepped back and watched her do the job.The basement air still carried the faint chill of that unsettling moment, but Elena forced herself to steady her breath as Adrian Blackwood’s gaze bore into hers. His presence alone seemed to weigh down the space, his tailored suit a stark contrast against the industrial walls.“What’s your name?” he asked, the sharp edge in his voice leaving no room for hesitation.“Elena_Boss,” she answered quickly, pulse still uneven. “Elena Martinez,” she added, her voice steady despite the lingering tremor in her chest.Adrian's fingers brush
The faint click of the door locking echoed softly against the walls. The air shifted, thick with a tension that seemed to hum beneath her skin. Elena’s breath hitched as Adrian stepped forward, his polished shoes soundless against the floor. His gaze never wavered—dark, intense, and unreadable—as though the space between them had vanished with the turn of a key.Her pulse pounded beneath her ribs, her mind urging her to move, to speak—to do anything—but her body refused to obey. Heat prickled along her skin as he closed the distance, each step slow and deliberate. The faint scent of his cologne drifted toward her—Without a word, Adrian lifted his hand, the brush of his fingertips feather-light as he tilted her chin upward. The warmth of his skin against hers was electric, igniting a rush of heat that swept through her chest. His thumb grazed the curve of her jaw, tracing a path that seemed to burn beneath his touch as his eyes locked onto hers.His gaze was a storm—dark, consuming, a
Adrian didn’t expect university to feel this new.The place was big, the buildings wide and full of people. Every hallway smelled like paper and strong coffee. He wore his regular jeans and sneakers, trying not to stand out too much. No one knew he was the son of a billionaire—and that was just how he liked it.He was studying Energy and Mineral Resources Management—a course that mixed science and business. They learned about oil, gold, and how to find valuable things deep under the earth. It was hard, but he liked it.He sat in front during classes, always taking notes. Some of his classmates already respected him, not because of who he was, but because he worked hard and asked smart questions.But even with all of that, he still thought about Susan sometimes.He hadn’t seen her since graduation. He didn’t know where she went, or if she still remembered him. Maybe she had moved on. He tried to stop thinking about her, but some people are just hard to forget.One afternoon, after clas
Rafiq, Jonathan, and Susan were standing in the middle of the hallway. Behind them, some students were holding a huge, fancy cake. It looked expensive, and it had bright colors with the words “Welcome Back, Champion!” written in shiny gold icing.Adrian stopped walking and stared. He was shocked—in a good way. Then his eyes landed on Susan. She was smiling a little, her hands behind her back. Something about seeing her there made his heart beat faster.“Thank you! Thank you, all of you!” Adrian said, smiling big.Then he looked right at Susan. Their eyes met, and he held her gaze. She looked down quickly, her cheeks turning pink.“Thank you,” he said again, this time just to her.Classes were put on hold. Music played from someone’s speaker. People laughed, danced, and passed slices of cake around. It felt like a dream.---Days went by, and exams were getting closer. Adrian had something on his mind—Susan.Lately, she had been acting cold. She didn’t wait for him after class. She sto
It was finally time. Adrian sat with his teammates, Luke and Richard, their eyes locked on the other team just a few feet away. The air was thick with tension. No one moved. No one blinked. Even the audience had gone quiet. The announcer stepped up to the mic. “For this final round,” he said, “each team will get their own questions. If you answer all your questions right, you’ll gain the lead. But if you miss any question, you lose points—and your question goes to the other team as a bonus. If both teams get all their questions right, there will be one final question for both of you. First team to answer it wins.” Everyone listened closely. “Right now, both teams are very close in points. So this could go either way. Pay attention and don’t panic.” Adrian nodded slowly, trying to calm the storm in his chest. Luke’s leg bounced nervously. Richard was stiff, focused like a hawk. “Team Solaris, come forward,” the announcer called. Adrian's stomach turned. They wanted the other team
The next question came up on the screen.Before anyone could even breathe, Adrian hit the answer button.“Option C,” he said quickly.The judges blinked, surprised. Nobody had answered that fast since the competition began.The whole room went silent for a moment.“Did he just—?” one of the judges whispered.Luke looked at Adrian with wide eyes. “Bro… are you secretly a robot?”Adrian grinned. “If I am, I need better batteries. These questions are getting harder.”And they were. Each round was tougher than the last. Everyone was thinking harder, breathing faster. Some students looked like they were ready to cry.One by one, teams were knocked out.After about one hour and forty-seven minutes, only four teams were left. Adrian’s team was still in—but just barely. They were now in fourth place. The rest—eleven full teams—were gone.The room felt hotter now. Some students were sweating like they had just run a marathon.Luke wiped his face with his sleeve. “This is crazy.”Richard leaned
As they walked up, Adrian whispered, “Guys… that’s a Fisher equation question. We got this.” The three took their seats. The screen lit up again with the same question. Adrian stared at it. “Alright,” he muttered, grabbing a pencil. “Inflation: 6.2%. Base rate: 4.5%. Real rate = nominal - inflation, right?” Luke nodded, already writing: “That gives us -1.7%. Negative real interest.” Richard added, “That discourages saving, encourages borrowing. Short-term boom, long-term… risky.” Adrian looked up at the clock. Still 18 seconds left. He turned to the judges. “We’re ready.” The room grew quiet. Adrian leaned forward and answered, breaking down the calculation clearly, then linking it to expected consumer trends. He sat back. There was a short pause… then a soft ding. The screen flashed green. Correct. A wave of applause followed. The judges gave approving nods. As the team walked off the stage, Adrian leaned toward Richard. “You still owe me lunch for the last one.” Richa
The hall felt tense. Everyone sat quietly, eyes locked on the stage where three students faced a glowing screen. In front of them was a smaller monitor only they could see, and behind them, a huge screen showed the same thing for the crowd. Before the contest started, the rules had been explained. If a team can’t answer their question and another team gets it right, the team that answers will earn one extra chance if they run out of time later. It was a smart way to keep things fair—and exciting. Right now, it was the Japanese team’s turn. They sat stiffly, eyes focused, fingers tapping the table nervously. The question on the screen was tough. Adrian Scholl sat with his team, waiting. He should’ve been thinking about the competition. But instead, his mind wandered—to home. To San Francisco. To Susan. He didn’t even hear their names being called. “Adrian,” someone whispered urgently. Still nothing. “ADRIAN!” a voice said louder. A quick tap on his shoulder snapped him b
For the next two days, Adrian and Susan were almost inseparable. From him showing up outside her classroom to her stopping by his, from quick chats at the counter to working on assignments together—they were always within reach of each other. Their connection felt effortless, as if an invisible string kept pulling them closer. On the second day, as school ended and students spilled out of the gates, Adrian and Susan strolled toward the waiting area where their drivers would pick them up. The warm evening breeze played with Susan’s hair, and Adrian found himself watching her more than he should have. "Tomorrow, I’ll be leaving for China," Adrian started, his voice carrying a weight she immediately picked up on. "We’ll be lodging there before the main events. You know, it's a long journey." Susan nudged him lightly, her smile teasing. "Make us proud, dude." Adrian chuckled but before he could reply, his phone rang. It was his driver. "Looks like I have to go," he said, glancing
Halfway to Prime Bites, shouting made them stop. Ahead, two junior students—both large for their age—had a smaller kid cornered near the gym. One of them kicked him hard in the ribs.Heat surged through Adrian’s veins. His fists clenched.“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” His voice cut through the air.One of the bullies barely glanced at him. “None of your business, genius.” He drove his foot into the boy’s stomach again.Adrian was on him in seconds. His fist slammed into the bully’s jaw, sending him stumbling. Before the second one could react, Adrian grabbed his collar and shoved him against the gym wall.“Touch him again,” Adrian growled, his grip tightening, “and you’ll regret it.”The first bully recovered and lunged. Adrian dodged and drove his elbow into the guy’s stomach, making him double over. With a swift move, Adrian kicked his legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground.The second bully struggled in his grip. “Let go, man!”Adrian twisted the g
“Well…” Susan lifted her head, her voice calm but distant. “I’ve been really busy. My dad sent me here to study, so I need to stay focused.” She hesitated for a second, then added, “By the way, I heard you got selected for the international competition. Congratulations.” Her tone was polite, but her eyes held no warmth.“Thanks,” Adrian said slowly, stretching the word as he studied her. She was acting cold, but he wasn’t fooled. He took a step closer, his tall frame almost towering over her. His deep eyes locked onto hers. “So, what’s up?” His voice was low, smooth, as if daring her to look away.Susan’s heart skipped a beat. His presence was too strong, too close. She stepped back a little, trying to steady herself, but Adrian’s sharp eyes caught everything. A small smirk tugged at his lips.“Nothing much,” she muttered, turning her face away as warmth rushed to her cheeks. But she knew he saw it.Adrian watched her closely. She was running—not because she felt nothing, but because