The year 2045 had been nothing short of extraordinary for Ross.
His empire grew at an almost frightening pace as he acquired yet more companies across industries ranging from tech to fashion to renewable energy.
He purchased them all and all these businesses thrived in his hands.
Every acquisition felt less like a gamble and more like destiny; whatever Ross touched seemed to flourish.
At the same time, he somehow found the hours to star in and produce another blockbuster film, breaking not just box office records but also proving, once again, that his charisma could dominate any screen.
And as though conquering business and Hollywood wasn't enough, Ross secured yet another championship ring in the NBA, leading his team with the same fire that had defined his career since the beginning.
It was a year of expansion, of dominance, of victories stacked one upon another, until 2045 closed and 2046 opened with the world once again watching, waiting, and wondering—what would Ross Oakley do next?
The answer came soon enough.
That year, Ross shifted focus to education, announcing an initiative that stunned the nation: ten thousand full scholarships for deserving students per university.
Though student loans were an option for many, Ross knew their weight.
Debt was a chain that clung to graduates long after they left the classroom, delaying dreams, crushing ambition, and forcing them into cycles of repayment instead of progress.
A full scholarship, however, meant freedom—freedom to chase opportunity, freedom to build wealth early, freedom to shape futures unburdened.
Ross wanted to give that gift, not to one or two, but to thousands.
And so, he embarked on a national tour of colleges and universities, standing before overflowing auditoriums packed with students, faculty, and even media eager to catch a glimpse of him.
His speeches went beyond the usual platitudes.
Ross spoke of failure, of grit, of relentless ambition.
He told stories of the nights he worked without sleep, the risks that nearly broke him, the lessons he learned in victory and defeat alike.
He made them laugh, he made them think, and above all, he made them believe.
After every speech came questions—dozens, sometimes hundreds.
Students asked about business strategies, about sports, about filmmaking, about relationships, about philosophy, even about the simple daily routines that kept him moving.
Ross answered each one with patience and clarity, never brushing off even the smallest query.
To those who listened, he seemed less like a celebrity and more like a mentor—a man who had conquered everything but still had time to guide others.
Reporters called him a phenomenon. Students called him a role model.
Parents called him hope.
But for Ross, it was more personal.
With every stage, every audience, he felt the weight of his legacy growing heavier, sharper.
He wasn't simply living for himself anymore; he was shaping the lives of thousands, perhaps millions.
It thrilled him, but it also reminded him of the loneliness that sometimes came with standing so high above the rest.
And then, during one of these tours—on an otherwise ordinary afternoon in a crowded lecture hall—something unexpected happened.
As Ross scanned the audience, taking in the sea of eager faces, one stood out.
It wasn't just beauty, though beauty was there.
It wasn't just curiosity, though curiosity shone in those eyes.
It was something else—something magnetic.
A presence that tugged at him, pulling his attention as surely as gravity itself.
And just as he had felt so many times in the past, Ross felt his heart skip.
In that instant, as cameras flashed and students leaned forward to ask questions,
Ross Oakley—business tycoon, NBA champion, movie star, legend—found his gaze locked on someone who might just change the course of his life again.
Ross smiled for he knew that this was going to be a good hunt.
***
"Sigh..." A beautiful woman let out a quiet breath, her chest rising and falling as she sat stiffly in the crowded auditorium.
Ross stood on stage, captivating the room with his voice, every word echoing with charisma and power.
But she wasn't listening. Her eyes weren't on him.
Her gaze, instead, was fixed a few rows ahead.
There sat a young man whose presence lit up the space around him.
He was handsome in a way that seemed effortless—broad-shouldered, confident, with the kind of smile that made people gravitate toward him.
His laughter carried above the buzz of the crowd, and his hand was draped casually around the girl beside him.
That girl.
She was beautiful too, in her own way, but it wasn't beauty that made the woman's stomach twist—it was the way she flaunted herself.
A skirt cut higher than necessary, a top that clung too tightly, showing off her body as if daring the world not to look.
She leaned against him, pressed close, her giggles loud, her touches frequent, making it obvious to anyone watching that she belonged to him.
Another sigh escaped the woman's lips, heavier this time, almost trembling.
That boy wasn't just another face in the crowd. He was her boy—her best friend.
They had grown up together, side by side, sharing secrets, trading jokes, supporting each other through scraped knees, awkward teenage years, and endless school days.
He had always been there, her constant, her anchor.
And somewhere along the way, without realizing it at first, her feelings had shifted.
The warmth of friendship had deepened into something else, something that left her heart racing every time he smiled her way.
She had fallen for him.
Piece by piece, moment by moment, her heart had been claimed.
And yet, the foolish boy never noticed.
To him, she was the dependable one, the confidante, the safe presence he could always count on.
He never saw the longing in her eyes, never realized how much her chest tightened when his hand brushed hers, never guessed how deeply she loved him.
And now... now he was here with her.
Of course he was.
He was the star quarterback of the school, admired and celebrated.