LenaCarter hated being noticed.
Which was ironic… because the moment she stepped onto campus, it felt like everyone was staring.
The university was bigger than anything she had imagined. Tall glass buildings. Expensive cars. Students laughing like they didn't have a care in the world.
She adjusted the strap of her bag, trying to ignore the feeling creeping up her spine.
You don't belong here.
"Hey! Wait!"
Lena turned as a girl rushed toward her, slightly out of breath.
"You're new, right?" the girl asked, smiling. "I'm Maya."
"Lena," she replied softly.
Maya's eyes lit up. "Let me guess—first year, nervous, already regretting your life choices?"
Lena let out a small laugh. "Something like that."
"Relax," Maya said, looping her arm through Lena's. "You'll survive. Just avoid one person."
Lena raised a brow. "Who?"
Maya's smile faded slightly.
"Adrian Voss."
The name meant nothing to Lena.
Yet.
"Who is he?" Lena asked.
Maya hesitated.
Then she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice.
"The guy you don't look at… don't talk to… and definitely don't fall for."
Lena frowned. "That sounds dramatic."
Maya didn't laugh.
"I'm serious."
Before Lena could ask more
The air shifted.
It was subtle. Almost unnoticeable.
But suddenly, the noise around them quieted.
Students moved aside.
Conversations stopped.
And then—
He walked in.
Tall. Sharp. Dressed like he didn't belong in a classroom but in a boardroom somewhere far away.
His expression? Empty.
Cold.
Untouchable.
Lena felt it instantly.
That strange pull.
Like something about him didn't make sense… but she couldn't look away.
"That's him," Maya whispered.
AdrianVoss.
He didn't look at anyone.
Not the girls staring.Not the people moving out of his way.
Not even—
Lena.
Until…
She stepped forward.
And walked straight into him.
Her books fell instantly, scattering across the ground.
"Oh my gosh—I'm so sorry—"
He didn't help her.
Didn't move.
Didn't react.
Just stood there, looking down at her like she was… nothing.
Lena's apology died in her throat.
Something inside her snapped.
"Excuse me?" she said, standing up. "You could at least say something."
Silence.
Then finally—
His eyes met hers.
Dark. Sharp. Unreadable.
"Watch where you're going," he said.
Cold.
Flat.
Like her existence didn't matter.
Lena blinked, stunned.
"Maybe you should too," she shot back.
A pause.
A flicker.
Something changed in his expression—
So small… most people wouldn't notice.
But she did.
And for the first time…
Adrian Voss looked at her like she wasn't invisible.
Like she was… interesting.
Dangerous.
"Careful," he said quietly.
Lena frowned. "About what?"
He stepped closer.
Close enough for her to feel it—that tension, that weight, that something she couldn't explain.
"Getting involved in things you don't understand."
Her heart skipped.
"Then maybe you should explain."
Another pause.
Then—
A faint smirk.
Gone in a second.
"I don't repeat myself."
And just like that…
He walked away.
Leaving Lena standing there, confused, annoyed—
And somehow…
Curious.
Maya rushed to her side. "Are you insane?!"
"What?" Lena said.
"You just talked back to Adrian Voss!"
Lena crossed her arms. "He's not that scary."
Maya stared at her.
Then shook her head slowly.
"You have no idea what you just walked into."
Lena looked in the direction he disappeared.
Her chest tightened slightly.
That feeling again.
Strange.
Unfamiliar.
Unavoidable.
Who is he… really?
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