The heavy classroom doors swung open repeatedly as the rest of the students began trickling into the lecture hall filling the empty rows with a low ambient hum of chatter.

Alexander ignored the growing noise pulling out his smartphone to browse the encrypted TMC network.

He scrolled through the active mission boards looking for a suitable contract to take on next.

As he swiped through the listings a high-priority notification popped up.

It was an automated update regarding yesterday’s chaotic canceled assignment.

The system indicated that a follow-up request had been officially resent and Ethan had already accepted it on his behalf for that very evening at ten o’clock sharp.

Alexander tapped the coordinates to view the location but the address didn’t ring a bell.

He opened the digital map zooming out until he saw the marker positioned well past the city limits. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

It was located out in the countryside situated at a sprawling private event ranch—a rustic luxury country house used for exclusive high-end parties.

"Alex" a soft voice murmured breaking his concentration.

He looked up as Sophie smoothly slid into the adjacent seat setting her notebook down "Professor Isabella wants you to report to her office again today because of your absence yesterday" said Sophie adjusting her glasses "Since I’m the class delegate it’s my responsibility to make sure you actually go so I’ll be escorting you there after this."

Alexander locked his phone turning his head to look at her properly.

He offered her a warm genuine smile that cracked through his usual distant exterior "Thank you" said Alexander his voice low and smooth "I really appreciate your concern.

You truly are incredible Sophie."

As he spoke he casually reached over and gave her thigh a soft reassuring pat before pulling his hand back.

Sophie’s breath hitched and a deep crimson blush instantly exploded across her cheeks.

Her fingers tightened around her pen.

No man had ever crossed her personal boundary or touched her like that before but Alexander’s sudden quiet assertiveness felt completely natural leaving her heart hammering against her ribs.

Desperate to change the subject and hide her burning face she pointed quickly at the festival pamphlet on his desk "Are... are you planning to participate in the festival?" asked Sophie her voice a bit higher than usual "I heard from some of the upperclassmen that you’re considered the best actor in the whole school.

It would be really amazing if you took part in our classroom’s booth."

Alexander let out a soft thoughtful sigh leaning back in his chair "I would love to" said Alexander looking down at the survey sheet "But since I’m already part of the theater club it’s highly likely they will force me to participate in their main production.

I don’t think I’ll have enough time to properly prepare for two separate events.

However I’ll still help out with whatever the class chooses.

It’s a man’s duty to support common causes."

Sophie looked at him completely captivated by his old-school sense of responsibility.

Before she could say anything more the professor stepped up to the podium and the room fell dead silent as the lecture officially commenced.

For the next two hours the classroom was filled with nothing but the dry rhythmic scratching of pens as the professor covered complex formulas of applied statistics.

Alexander took precise notes his mind effortlessly processing the data while his muscle memory kept his pen moving smoothly.

When the dismissal bell finally rang the students immediately began packing up their belongings eager to escape the stuffy hall.

Alexander slid his notebook into his leather bag and stood up slinging it over his shoulder.

Sophie immediately hurried to his side her blush finally gone but her eyes still bright with focus "Alright let’s go" said Sophie gesturing toward the front doors "Professor Isabella is waiting for us."

Alexander nodded falling into step right beside her as she led him out of the building and back toward the faculty offices.

Sophie knocked lightly on the heavy mahogany door.

"Come in" a sharp commanding voice called out from inside the office.

Both of them stepped through the threshold.

Professor Isabella didn’t even look up from her massive executive desk her eyes fixed firmly on the documents spread out before her as her pen danced across the lines signing her name with flawless precision.

"Professor Isabella I’ve brought Alex as you requested" said Sophie standing politely near the entrance.

"Thank you Sophie.

You may leave" replied Isabella her voice a flat professional monotone her gaze never shifting away from her paperwork.

Sophie gave a brief nod glanced at Alexander one last time and quietly closed the door behind her as she exited the room.

The moment the latch clicked shut Alexander walked directly over to the plush leather armchair across from the desk.

He didn’t wait for an invitation.

He sat down sinking comfortably into the expensive cushions completely making himself at home.

He casually leaned back crossing one leg over the other and reached across the polished wood to pick up a stack of legal documents resting near the edge.

He began to leisurely leaf through the heavy contracts his eyes scanning the dense clauses with a calm indifferent focus.

Isabella’s pen stopped moving.

She slowly lifted her head her sharp piercing gaze locking onto him as her eyes narrowed slightly "Do you honestly think you are sitting in your own living room right now?" asked Isabella her voice dropping into an icy dangerous register.

Alexander didn’t look up from the page he was reading "Am I not sitting with my woman?" asked Alexander a trace of a smirk playing on his lips.

Isabella raised a single perfectly sculpted eyebrow her lips parting slightly as she found herself momentarily at a complete loss for words.

She simply didn’t know how to reply.

Dealing with someone as entirely assertive and unfazed as Alexander was uncharted territory for a highly polished professional woman of her status.

Usually when men stepped out of line she utterly crushed them under the weight of her immense financial power her massive political connections complex legal lawsuits and cold hard numbers.

Nobody ever dared to speak to her in such a casual intimate tone.

She took a slow deliberate breath leaning back in her executive chair to regain her composure "Why didn’t you show up yesterday?" asked Isabella folding her hands neatly over her desk.

Alexander casually flipped to the next page of the legal document in his hands "I was admitted to the hospital" stated Alexander his tone completely nonchalant.

He finally looked up pointing his finger at a specific clause on the paper "This document is actually quite interesting.

I had absolutely no idea you legally represented the Ashford family."