ROSE

Adrian Sterling's gaze stayed on me. It wasn't rushed, it wasn't curious it was heavy. The kind of look that made you want to squirm in your seat, as though he already knew something you didn't want revealed.

Then his voice cut through the silence. Low. Calm. Deliberate.

"Do you like cars, Miss Rose?"

The question landed like a thunderclap in my chest.

Cars? Why was he asking about cars? Of all things. My breath caught, and for a split second, I actually considered crawling under the table and disappearing. My mind screamed, he knows. He knows what you did. He's just playing with you.

But I forced a smile, brittle at the edges. "Y-yes... I do. I like cars."

My voice sounded foreign to me, too thin, too high. My palms were damp, and I dug my nails into my skirt beneath the table, willing myself not to look away from him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the administrator frown in confusion. "Mr. Sterling," he started carefully, "I don't quite see what..."

Adrian lifted a hand, a small, controlled gesture that silenced the room instantly. He didn't even glance at the administrator, his eyes stayed locked on mine, steady, unwavering.

"I'd like to speak with Miss Rose alone," he said smoothly.

The administrator blinked, startled, then gave a reluctant nod. "Of course. I'll wait outside."

He gathered his papers and left, closing the door behind him.

The moment the latch clicked, the room felt smaller. Quieter. My heartbeat pounded so loudly in my ears I thought he could hear it.

And still, Adrian Sterling didn't look away.

The silence stretched.

Adrian Sterling leaned back slightly in his chair, his fingers resting against the armrest, his posture composed in a way that made it clear he owned every space he entered. Ethan stood just behind him, arms folded, expression unreadable, though I swore there was the faintest trace of amusement in his eyes.

I swallowed hard, wishing I could shrink into nothing.

Finally, Adrian spoke again, his voice quiet but edged with something I couldn't place.

"You said you like cars."

It wasn't a question, this time it  was a statement. A test.

I forced myself to nod. "Yes, I... I do." My voice cracked on the last word, and I hated it.

His gaze swept over me, steady, clinical, almost as though he were dissecting me with his eyes. "That's interesting."

I tried to laugh, the sound shaky and thin. "Is it?"

One corner of his mouth twitched though whether it was the ghost of a smile or a shadow of irritation, I couldn't tell. He leaned forward just slightly, resting his elbows on the polished table.

"Tell me, Miss Rose," he said, each word deliberate, "if you had the chance to... change something about a car, what would you do?"

My stomach flipped violently. Heat crawled up my neck. Was this a trap? Was he toying with me? Images of his car from yesterday, its four deflated tires, my guilty hands clutching a pocket knife, flashed like neon signs in my mind.

I clenched my hands together in my lap, praying he couldn't see them trembling. "I....I guess... maybe improve its safety? Make it more reliable."

Adrian tilted his head, eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly. "Hm."

Just that. A hum, soft but weighted, like he'd caught the lie hidden between my words.

The silence that followed pressed down on me, suffocating. I wanted to run, to burst out of the room and never look back. Instead, I forced another tight smile, my cheeks aching from holding it in place.

"Why... why are you asking me this?" I finally managed, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

For the first time since entering, his gaze softened but not kindly. No, it was sharper now, more dangerous, like a blade glinting in the light.

"Because, Miss Rose," he said slowly, his voice lowering, "I believe in understanding the people I work with."

Work with. The words snagged in my chest. My stomach sank as realization set in.

The internship.

Did I get it?

The word work echoed in my mind like a warning bell. My lips parted, but no sound came out. My chest felt tight, my pulse racing so fast I thought I might faint right there in front of him.

Adrian Sterling didn't move. He just studied me calm, unreadable, in control. Then, as if he hadn't just unraveled my nerves with a single sentence, he leaned back again, his voice smooth.

"The school submitted a list of candidates for our internship program," he said, pausing long enough for my breath to hitch. "And I've made my choice."

My heart plummeted. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to look away, but my eyes stayed locked on his, caught like a moth in flame.

He let the silence drag, his words sinking in slowly, deliberately. Then he delivered the final blow.

"You."

The room tilted. For a heartbeat, I thought I misheard him. "M-me?"

"Yes." His tone was matter-of-fact, final, as if there had never been another option. "You will be joining Sterling & Co. for the internship."

I blinked rapidly, my throat dry. A dozen excuses rushed to my tongue. I'm not qualified, surely someone else deserves this, I can't possibly but none of them made it out. He had spoken with such certainty that to argue felt impossible.

"But... why me?" The question escaped in a whisper before I could stop it.

Adrian's eyes darkened, though his expression didn't change. "You'll find out soon enough."

That was all. No explanation. No reasoning. Just that cryptic promise that churned uneasily in my stomach.

Ethan shifted behind him, and for the briefest second, I caught what looked like amusement flicker in his eyes. Almost as if he knew something I didn't.

Adrian rose from his seat then, his tall frame commanding the room. "That will be all for today, Miss Rose. Report to Sterling & Co. first thing Monday morning."

And with that, he turned toward the door. Ethan followed, sparing me one last knowing glance before stepping out behind him.

The room fell silent again. I sat frozen in my chair, my thoughts a tangled mess.

He had chosen me. Out of everyone, me.

And yet... something about the way he'd said it, the weight behind his gaze, made my stomach twist.

This wasn't an opportunity.

It was a trap.

ROSE

The moment I stepped out of the administrator's block, my legs felt like lead. Each step was heavy, as if the weight of what just happened was chaining me down.

I spotted Elsie waiting under the shade of a tree, scrolling through her phone. The second she saw me, she waved dramatically. "Finally! What did they want with you?"

I hesitated, forcing my lips into something that vaguely resembled a smile. "You're not going to believe this..."

Her eyes widened instantly. "Don't tell me... you got the internship?" She whispered with a big smile on her lips.

I swallowed, pressing my books tighter against my chest. "Yeah."

Elsie squealed so loudly that a few students passing by turned to stare. She jumped up, almost dropping her phone. "Oh my God, Rose! This is huge! Sterling & Co. doesn't just take anyone! You're officially going to be working with the most powerful company in the city!"

I let out a small laugh, though it sounded awkward, thin. "Y-yeah... lucky me."

She grabbed my shoulders, shaking me with excitement. "Do you realize what this means? For your career? For your future? We're celebrating tonight, no excuses, this is so awesome ahhh my best friend is going to work in the very best sterling co... ahhh ."

Her joy was infectious, but all I felt was a pit forming in my stomach. If she knew the truth, what I did to his car yesterday, the way he looked at me in that office, she wouldn't be cheering. She'd be dragging me to pack my bags and flee the city.

"Elsie," I said softly, trying to calm her down. "What if... what if it's not as good as it sounds?"

She blinked at me, puzzled. "What do you mean? This is the opportunity of a lifetime, Rose. People would kill for this chance."

"I just..." I trailed off, shaking my head. "Never mind."

She narrowed her eyes at me, like she knew I was hiding something, but before she could press further, her phone buzzed. She sighed, glancing at the screen, then pulled me into a quick hug. "I've got to rush to. But listen, Rose... don't overthink it, okay? You deserve this. More than anyone."

I forced a smile as she hurried off, her words echoing in my head.

Deserve? No.

This wasn't luck. This wasn't fate.

This was punishment.

And Adrian Sterling, the kind of man who never forgot, had just chosen me.

By the time I got back to my tiny apartment off campus, my chest felt tight from holding everything in. The moment the door clicked shut, I dropped my bag on the floor and fell onto my bed with a groan.

"Why me?" I muffled into my pillow, then rolled over and squealed into the air, kicking my legs like a child throwing a tantrum. If anyone had seen me, they would've thought I'd lost it. Maybe I had.

The shrill buzz of my phone cut through my meltdown. I reached for it blindly and answered without looking.

"Aunty Jane," I said, already hearing her cheerful voice fill the line.

"My Rose, how are you, my dear?" she asked warmly, the familiar lilt of home wrapping around me like a blanket. "I've just finished preparing some specialties for you to stock up, your uncle will send it to you tomorrow on his way, hmm?"

My uncle, david is not the best person I know but he is definitely not the worst I have met , he is married to Jane it's been a long time since I had seen him not since that day, some memories are meant to be locked up and never looked at again.

My lips lifted despite everything, a chuckle slipping out. "Aunty, you spoil me too much." 

"Nonsense," she said firmly. "You are studying hard. You need strength. Besides, do you want to starve? It's not like you can run home every weekend. The journey is what, five hours? By the time you reach here and go back, all your energy will be gone."

I laughed softly, because she was right. Just the thought of traveling that long, switching buses, the endless road, the exhaustion, was enough to make me clutch my pillow tighter.

"That's true," I admitted. "...Thank you. Really. You're the best I love you "

She hummed happily, then launched into her usual reminders about prayer and staying focused. I murmured along, half listening, half drowning in the storm in my chest.

After we ended the call, silence filled the room again. I lay back, staring up at the ceiling, and that moment in the administrator's office replayed in sharp clarity. Adrian Sterling's voice, calm but heavy, like it had been carved into stone.

I lay still for a moment before Adrian Sterling's words replayed in my mind, low and unshakable,

"You'll start on Monday".

I sat up slowly, dragging my laptop onto my lap. My chest was heavy, my mind a mess, but my hands itched to start making lists, clothes to put together, documents to gather, research about Sterling & Co.

After scribbling a few notes, I caught my reflection in the mirror across the room. My hair was a mess, my eyes wide with exhaustion, and yet I stared at myself like I was meeting a stranger.

I pointed at my reflection. "Okay, Rose," I muttered. "You're going to walk into Sterling & Co. on Monday, smile, and survive. Even if your boss looks like he eats interns for breakfast."

The girl in the mirror didn't look convinced.

"Fine," I sighed, tugging at my hair. "You'll survive... or at least, you'll fake it till you do."

And with that, I flopped back on the bed, groaning again, but this time with the tiniest smile tugging at my lips.

Because, my aunt's food was on the way, and her prayers were wrapping around me...

This wasn't just food delivery.

This was survival prep.

And Monday was already waiting.

ROSE

Saturdays were supposed to be for breathing, no rushing to class, no professors lurking with assignments but today my chest still felt tight. Elsie had dragged me out for brunch, insisting we celebrate her internship news, and I couldn't exactly say no.

When I got to the café, she was already there, waving like she owned the place.

"Finally!" she grinned as I slid into the seat across from her. "If you had been any later, I would have ordered for you and pretended to eat both."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Please, like you need an excuse to eat two plates."

Her mock gasp earned a chuckle from the waiter who came over to take our order. Elsie, true to herself, asked for waffles and a side of fries, while I stuck with pancakes and iced tea.

As soon as the waiter left, she leaned forward, her eyes dancing with excitement. "So... guess who got accepted into B&S Law Firm for her internship?"

I blinked. "Wait.....you?!"

"Me!" she squealed, covering her mouth as a few people glanced over at us. "Can you believe it? They actually want me. This is like... top tier."

A genuine smile spread across my face. "Elsie, that's amazing. Congratulations."

"Thank you," she said, practically glowing. "But what about you?  tell me how prepared you are for sterling & Co."

My fork paused halfway to my mouth. The knot in my stomach twisted tighter. I forced a small smile, trying not to sound as nervous as I felt. "Yeah... Sterling & Co."

Her jaw dropped as she studied me. "Wait. Why don't you look excited? This is every business student's dream. You should be screaming, not... frowning into your food."

I tried to laugh it off. "Maybe I'm just overwhelmed."

The truth was, I wanted to dig a hole under the café table and hide. All I could see was Adrian Sterling's piercing eyes, the way he'd looked at me like he already knew I'd slashed his tires. And now... now I was going to be working under him.

"Overwhelmed?" Elsie scoffed, snapping me out of my spiral. "Girl, if I were you, I'd frame that acceptance letter. I mean. Sterling & Co.?" She leaned back with a dreamy sigh. "This is history."

I smiled weakly and sipped my iced tea, praying she wouldn't notice how shaky my hands were.

History, yes. Just not the kind Elsie was imagining.

I laughed weakly, but the knot in my stomach only grew tighter.

"Alright spill the tea, what's going on" she said suddenly, her grin fading. 

I hesitated. She was my best friend, and it was hard hiding everything from her. But how could I admit that I'd vandalized the CEO's car just days ago?

"I just..." I toyed with my straw. "I met someone from Sterling before. It... wasn't a pleasant encounter.Now I'm scared they'll remember me and hold it against me."

Elsie blinked, then waved it off with her usual boldness. "Rose, come on. Big executives meet hundreds of people. Why would they remember one random student?"

"Yeah," I murmured, trying to smile, though my chest felt heavy.

Elsie reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "Listen. You deserve this. So don't psych yourself out before you even start, okay?"

I nodded, grateful but still unsettled.

History, Elsie  had called it. And she was right. I just didn't know if mine was about to be written in gold or in fire.

When we were done eating, Elsie leaned back in her chair, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.

"Let's go shopping," she announced suddenly, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I blinked. "Shopping?"

"Yes, shopping. You're about to start at Sterling & Co., and I'm about to start at B&S. We need clothes that scream future power women. Plus..." she added with a dramatic flip of her curls, "retail therapy is good for the soul."

I laughed, shaking my head, but deep down I couldn't help admiring her.

Elsie always carried this lightness with her, like the world couldn't weigh her down. She had a way of walking into a room and filling it with energy. Her big brown eyes seemed to sparkle with mischief, framed by a cascade of curls that bounced with every movement.

She wasn't just "pretty." Elsie had this quiet kind of allure, cute and sweet, yes, but there was something undeniably captivating about her, almost seductive without even trying. She could be silly one moment and enchanting the next, and she never even noticed the effect she had on people.

"Come on, Rose," she tugged at my wrist as we left the café. "We're buying at least one outfit each. No excuses."

And even though my mind was still tangled with nerves, I found myself smiling.

Because with Elsie, it was impossible not to.

The city center was alive with weekend chatter, couples holding hands, families strolling, friends weaving in and out of boutiques. Elsie practically dragged me from one shop to the next, her curls bouncing as she yapped about fabrics and colors like she owned the place.

"Try this on!" she squealed, shoving a cream blazer into my arms.

I groaned. "Elsie, I'm not even sure I can afford all this."

"Rose." She gave me the most serious look she could muster, which only lasted three seconds before her lips curled into a grin and pulled up a card that was clearly her dads. "This isn't spending, it's investing. Big difference."

I laughed, rolling my eyes, but still slipped into the fitting room. The blazer hugged me perfectly, giving me a sharpness I didn't feel on most days. When I stepped out, Elsie gasped dramatically and clutched her chest.

"My friend, the future executive," she said, bowing like she was at a royal court.

"Stop," I said, fighting a smile.

She twirled in her own choice a fiery red dress that hugged her curves and made heads turn, even from strangers passing the shop window. Elsie didn't even notice the stares. She was too busy striking silly poses in the mirror, puckering her lips like a model.

That was Elsie completely at home in her own skin. Her beauty wasn't just in the way her curls framed her face or how her brown eyes seemed to light up every space. It was in how effortlessly she carried herself. She was cute, enchanting, playful, and magnetic all at once. People wanted to be near her, to bask in her glow. And here I was, quietly tagging along, wondering if I'd ever learn to be that free.

By the time we staggered out of the fifth shop, both of us carrying more bags than we'd planned, Elsie looped her arm through mine.

"See?" she chirped. "Successful women need their armor. And clothes are armor."

I smiled softly. "You really think so?"

"I know so." She tapped my shopping bag. "Besides, you're going to need every bit of confidence when you step into Sterling & Co."

Her words made my stomach clench, but I forced a nod. "Yeah... I guess you're right."

We spent the rest of the afternoon strolling, sipping bubble tea, and laughing over silly things. For a while, I almost forgot about Adrian Sterling, about the tires, about the way his eyes had felt like they could strip away my excuses.

But when I finally got home that evening, laying my new clothes across my tiny bed, the weight returned. 

Tomorrow was one day closer to Monday. And Sterling & Co. suddenly felt like both a dream and a trap.