The morning sunlight slanted through the tall classroom windows, catching dust motes in the air as the hum of chatter filled the room. Students were still buzzing about Steven's return after his sudden absence. Most hadn't dared to ask directly what had happened, but whispers and half-baked theories had floated around for weeks.
Steven leaned back in his chair, Veronica sitting beside him, quietly scrolling through her tablet for notes. On his other side, Leon leaned over Lisa's desk, the two of them exchanging small jokes that made Lisa's cheeks pink.
"Feels like you were gone forever," Leon said, turning toward Steven. His tone was light, but there was an underlying sincerity. "Good thing you're back before I got too used to being the star student in your absence."
Steven smirked. "Star student? You mean you finally learned how to add fractions without Lisa explaining it to you?"
Lisa covered her mouth with a giggle. "He's getting better, actually. Don't bully him."
The small circle of four shared a laugh, the kind of natural rhythm that had grown ever since Leon's change of heart. They weren't the kind of group that shouted their presence across the classroom, but together, they carried an ease that others noticed.
That ease, however, was soon interrupted.
The door slid open and a tall boy with sharp features stepped inside, the teacher trailing behind him. His uniform looked freshly pressed, his posture confident in a way that edged toward arrogance.
"This is Ryan Cross," the teacher announced. "He's transferred here from Westbridge Academy. Treat him well."
Ryan gave the class a brief nod before scanning the rows of students, his gaze pausing on Steven a second longer than anyone else. Then, without waiting for an invitation, he dropped into the empty desk a few rows ahead.
Class began as usual, but by lunch break, Ryan had already made himself known. He wasn't loud, but his comments carried weight, sharp and pointed.
"I heard Charlestown has its… prodigy," Ryan said casually, glancing toward Steven's table where Veronica was unpacking her lunch. His voice wasn't hostile, but the undercurrent was obvious. "The one with a restaurant and some gaming company, right? Interesting. But, really, does that matter outside a small town like this?"
The surrounding tables quieted. Even those not directly involved leaned closer.
Steven lifted his gaze slowly, his expression calm. "It matters to me. That's enough."
Ryan leaned back in his chair. "Sure. But fame built in a pond doesn't mean you can swim with sharks. I've seen dozens like you—meteoric rise, then collapse overnight. Without strong foundations, all that glitter fades fast."
Leon frowned. "You don't even know him, and you've already decided he's going to fail? That's rich."
Lisa added softly, though firmly, "Steven's not someone you should underestimate."
Ryan shrugged, unconcerned. "Look, I'm just being honest. Academics, for one—aren't those the true foundation? From what I've heard, he hasn't been in class much lately. And running a little company doesn't mean much if you can't even keep up in school."
The jab was clear, and a few students exchanged uncertain looks. Some nodded faintly, as if Ryan had voiced a suspicion they hadn't dared say aloud.
Veronica's hand brushed against Steven's under the table. A small, quiet reassurance.
Steven finally straightened, meeting Ryan's gaze head-on. His tone was steady, free of the need to raise his voice. "If you think academics are my weak point, then let's settle it. The mock SATs are coming up. I'll get a perfect score."
A murmur ran through the classroom.
Ryan's lips curved faintly. "A perfect score, huh? Bold. I won't claim perfection, but I'll get higher than you. Let's see if the 'prodigy of Charlestown' can back up his reputation with something more than talk."
The challenge hung in the air, unspoken tension pulling the room taut.
Leon broke it with a chuckle, though his eyes carried steel. "Careful, Ryan. You might have just poked a lion."
Lisa nudged him lightly, but her gaze lingered on Steven with quiet confidence.
Steven said nothing more, but his calm smile was enough. The room shifted back to its usual chatter, but the undercurrent was clear: a new rivalry had just begun.
And for the first time in weeks, Steven felt something stir in him again—not anger, but anticipation.
That evening, the sprawling halls of Crimson Hill Estate glowed under soft amber lights. The vast study room was quiet except for the faint crackle of the fireplace. Steven sat at the long oak table, his bandages gone, dressed in a crisp shirt. Before him stood his six assistants: Alex, Harry, Robert, Nathan, Lisa, and Ruby.
He tapped a finger lightly against the polished wood. "Lis, report on the SmartSustain Charlestown Project."
Lisa Bloomheart might have been his classmate, but this Lisa, the one he called Lis—the sharp, efficient assistant standing before him—was someone entirely different. To avoid confusion, he had started calling her Lis. She straightened her tablet and spoke clearly.
"Nearly one-third of Charlestown has been transformed, sir. Roads in the downtown district have been replaced with piezoelectric tiles, and most of the old steel benches are now swapped with LIQUID3 photobioreactor benches. The energy capture is exceeding our projections, and air purification levels have improved by fifteen percent in those zones. Feedback from residents is extremely positive. We've also received proposals from several neighboring city leaders who want to implement the same system."
Steven's lips curved faintly. "Good. It's time to push the other projects." He leaned back in his chair. "Launch the NextGen Operating System project—codename Eva—through Griffin Technology Studio. And from Odin Industries, accelerate the Starion project. A luxury car line. Sleek, powerful, unforgettable. Use the USB drives I provided before as design references."
Lis nodded, tapping notes into her device with swift precision.
Steven then turned to Alex. "Buy the Third Estate of Crimson Hills for me. Quietly. It's time my father and mother enjoy a life of comfort."
Alex bowed his head slightly. "Understood, sir. I'll have the paperwork handled within the week."
The room fell quiet again, the air heavy with purpose. Steven glanced at his team—each one capable, loyal, and efficient. To his classmates, he was just the boy who ran a restaurant and a gaming company. But here, in this estate, he was the master of corporations and projects that could shift entire cities.
He exhaled softly, leaning back in his chair. "Good work, everyone. Let's make sure Charlestown isn't just a small pond anymore."
The assistants bowed and dispersed, their footsteps echoing through the grand hall.
Steven remained for a moment longer, looking out through the tall windows at the city lights below. Tomorrow, he would return to school, where Ryan's words still lingered in the air.
A sleeping lion had been poked. And Steven Blake was never one to sleep for long.