Once the clock passed five, Elena shut her laptop. She pulled out the flash drive. She stepped outside.

Her destination was Enclave Club, a place close to Bramville University. It only took a little over ten minutes to reach on foot.

Halfway there, a strange feeling crept up on her. Someone was tailing her. She stopped and turned, and two men dressed in black came into view behind her.

One of them leaned closer and murmured, "That's her. Move."

A cold look settled in Elena's eyes. The street was crowded, and cars kept rolling past. She didn't want trouble out in the open, so she picked up her pace. Then without warning, she changed direction and slipped into a narrow alley nearby.

The two men rushed in after her. When they reached the alley, they froze. It stretched ahead of them, long and empty, with no trace of her anywhere.

They halted where they stood, their faces stiff with disbelief.

"Where did she even go? How can she move that fast?"

"She got skills," the other said under his breath. "Now I get why they sent both of us. Let's check inside."

At first, they thought dealing with Elena would be simple. She looked like an ordinary college student. But then she disappeared—like magic, right in front of them.

That stung.

By then, Elena had already lost them. She circled out through another street and continued on her way to Enclave Club.

Still, things refused to go smoothly for her. Not long after she shook off the men who had been chasing her, she ran into the Barnes family right outside the club.

Sophia Barnes noticed her first, and her expression turned sharp right away. "Why are you here? Who told you you could show up?"

Both of them studied at Bramville University. They were in the same year, though they belonged to different departments. Sophia had never liked her.

After hearing that Elena might end up engaged to her brother, that dislike turned into open disgust. Luckily, her family had no plans to push it through. If they had, she wouldn't have been able to stand it.

The evening had been arranged to celebrate her birthday, and his family and friends had gathered to make it lively.

She hadn't thought she would run into Elena.

One by one, people shifted their attention toward Elena. The instant they recognized who it was, their expressions turned openly displeased.

Elena met Sophia's stare without a hint of hesitation. "Does this place belong to your family?"

Before Sophia could answer, her mother, Lise Barnes, approached. Without asking a single question, she spoke with firm certainty. "You really don't understand your position, do you? You even followed us here. Let me be clear, Elena. We already gave your family five hundred thousand before. That matter is settled. As for any engagement with my son, our family will never accept it. He won't marry someone like you! Just stop thinking about it."

In her mind, her son's future wife had to come from a proper background. Someone like Elena had never been part of that picture.

A faint, cold laugh slipped from Elena. "You're overthinking it. I have no interest in your son, especially with all the scandals tied to him."

Sophia crossed her arms and looked at her with a mocking smile. "If that's true, then why show up at my birthday?"

The club stood as one of the city's most exclusive places, known as a playground for the wealthy. Someone with Elena's background clearly didn't fit in a place like this. In Sophia's mind, there was only one reason she came.

With a slight sneer, she continued, "Even if you came for that, it won't help you. My brother isn't even in the country. You won't get the chance to throw yourself at him."

Another woman, dressed in elegant fashion, let out a soft laugh. "She either doesn't know her place, or she's just greedy. Five hundred thousand won't last forever. If she married into your family, everything would change for her. She live comfortably for life. Why would she ever give that up?"

Sophia laughed again, this time with open disdain. "We would never accept someone like that."

Richard Barnes, Sophia's father, looked at Elena, a shadow crossing his face. The sight of her irritated him. After everything that had happened before, he didn't expect her to still appear in front of them.

He turned toward his father, Walter Barnes, and spoke in a steady tone. "Dad, you should go inside. I'll deal with this."

Today was meant to celebrate his daughter. If things turned messy here, it would be their family who ended up embarrassed.

Walter gave no reply at first. He moved closer instead, stopping right in front of Elena. "Elena, your father once helped me when I needed it. Because of that, I agreed to that arrangement so he could rest without worries. Still, there's something you need to understand."

His voice stayed calm, though the chill in it was clear. "You don't suit my grandson. Even so, our family won't leave you without support. If something happens to you later on, you can come to us. I'll make sure it's handled."

Then his tone dropped lower. "But if you stir up trouble here and make us look bad, don't expect it to go well for you."

A surge of disgust hit Elena. Her eyes swept across them, sharp and unyielding. "Do you all struggle to understand what I'm saying, or do you just ignore anything you don't like? I already told you I came to end that engagement the last time. And running into you here wasn't planned. I don't care about any of you."

Years ago, her father had reached an agreement with Walter: once she turned twenty, she would marry his eldest grandson.

She understood what her father wanted. He hoped she'd have someone to depend on. Even so, she never wanted marriage, and she didn't need protection from the Barnes family. That was why she kept her distance from them after arriving in Bramville.

Now that she had turned twenty, she went to their residence a week ago for one reason—she planned to end the engagement. Somehow, they took it the wrong way and assumed she came to claim it. Not only did they refuse to meet her, but they didn't even allow her past the entrance. They even had a housekeeper step in to mock her.

That encounter showed her exactly what kind of people they were.

As for the five hundred thousand they kept bringing up, she had never received any of it, and she had no interest in it anyway.

Her words caused every face there to darken.

No one believed her. To them, she was only trying to save face after being rejected.

Richard let out a cold scoff. "You'd better mean that. If you act properly, I can make sure you stay in Bramville. If you don't, then don't expect me to hold back."

Walter's patience finally wore thin. "That's enough. Let's go inside."

Elena had no reason to stay any longer. Without another word, she turned away and walked toward the club.

Sophia rushed forward the moment she saw Elena continue toward the entrance. "Hold it right there. You're still planning to go inside? Take a look at yourself first. Do you really think you belong here?"

Elena turned her head slightly and glanced at her. Her voice came out cold and sharp. "Get out of my way."

Sophia opened her mouth, ready to fire back, but someone approached before she could speak.

"Miss Harvey," he said, his tone respectful. "We've been waiting for you."

Elena's eyes shifted to him. "Mr. Wells, sorry to keep you waiting."

With a polite smile, Jaycob Wells motioned toward the interior. "Everything's ready. Please come in."

"Alright."

Sophia stood frozen, unable to react for a moment. The manager himself had come out to greet Elena!

Around her, her family and friends exchanged looks. Shock crept across their faces.

Enclave wasn't just any place. Its connections ran deep, and even its manager held a position that most people wouldn't dare underestimate.

The Barnes family didn't carry enough influence to receive that kind of attention. Yet somehow, Elena did.

Color drained from Sophia's face, then returned in a rush of anger. "What the hell is going on?"

One of her friends quickly spoke up. "She's probably working here. I heard she got an internship recently. Maybe she needs the money."

Lise stepped closer to her daughter and placed a hand on her arm. "Forget about her. It's your birthday. Don't waste your time on someone insignificant."

In her eyes, Elena was nothing more than an orphan with no support. Someone like that only showed up in places like this for work, or to get close to rich men. Either way, she had nothing but contempt for it.

Still, Sophia couldn't let it go. She wrapped her arm around her mother's and spoke with clear irritation. "Mom, can't you have her removed from the university? I'm tired of running into her."

"Her father once pulled your grandfather back from the brink. We can't push things too far," Lise said. "Just pretend she doesn't exist. Someone like her isn't worth your time."

Sophia let out a quiet breath. "Still, a lot of wealthy guys at school seem drawn to her. What if she actually snags one of those heirs as her boyfriend?"

"Impossible!" Lise said, her tone sharp with disdain. "With a background like hers, even being kept around for a few days by a rich man would already be more than she should expect."

Sophia fell silent, her lips pressed tight. The bitterness in her chest didn't ease. No matter what it took, she would see Elena gone from Bramville for good.

Inside one of the club's VIP rooms, Henry leaned into the sofa, his posture relaxed yet distant. His eyes held no warmth, and his thoughts were clearly somewhere else.

The two men seated across from him were talking, but he didn't give them a single glance.

Then Ashton stepped in, his face set with tension. He moved straight to Henry, leaning closer as he spoke in a low voice. "She got away. We couldn't catch her."

Henry's expression hardened in an instant. He shifted his gaze toward him. "Say that again."

Ashton stiffened. "That's on me. The men I sent said she moved fast. She slipped past them before they could react. To shake off two trained bodyguards that easily—she's got skills."

Henry spoke in a low, steady tone with a sharp edge. "So she got skills, or your men messed up?"

Ashton didn't know what to say. The two men he had assigned were former mercenaries now working as bodyguards. Even he hadn't expected them to lose track of a college girl.

"Did you review the surveillance nearby?" Henry asked.

"I did," Ashton said. "She never appeared on any of it. She avoided every camera on purpose."

She had shaken off trained guards and stayed out of sight of every camera? A deeper look settled in Henry's eyes. Then a faint smile touched his lips. So the top student from Bramville University's computer science department had more to her than expected.

Jaycob led Elena straight to a private room and pushed the door open. "You can head in."

"I appreciate it," Elena said, stepping past him.

Jaycob followed behind her and announced, "Sir, Miss Harvey has arrived."

From the sofa, Samuel Owen turned at once and rose to his feet. "Elena, glad you made it."

As the future successor of Enclave Club, Samuel had yet to take full control. For now, he focused on running his own tech company.

At work, he was all business—sharp, efficient. Outside of it, he softened. There was a quiet elegance to the way he carried himself.

Their connection had come through Professor James Burton. Samuel respected Elena's skill and had already offered her a place as a partner in his company. Her expertise would serve as her share, and she would have full control over her schedule. Even so, she hadn't made it official yet.

Not far from them, the others in the room turned their attention toward Elena as well.

Under the glow of the crystal lights, her figure stood out in a way that felt almost unreal. Her hair flowed smoothly down her back, her skin caught the light with a soft glow, and her features carried a quiet elegance that drew every eye in the room.

"Mr. Owen," Elena started, offering a small smile.

By chance, her gaze met Henry's. The expression on her face stalled.

It was him—the man from last night!

Why was he here? And what was his connection to Samuel?

For a brief second, Ashton showed a flicker of surprise before lowering his voice. "That's her."

From the moment she stepped inside, Henry had already placed her. His eyes stayed on her, steady and unreadable, giving nothing away.

Without letting anything show, Elena moved toward Samuel and placed the flash drive into his hand. "Everything's been restored. You can check it."

Relief crossed Samuel's face as he took it. "Thanks. I owe you for this."

"It wasn't a big deal."

Leaning back on the sofa, Evan Stewart watched her with clear interest, a hint of amusement in his gaze. "Samuel, care to introduce your guest?"

"Elena Harvey. She's studying computer science at Bramville University," Samuel said. "I'm planning to bring her into the company as an engineer." He turned slightly. "Elena, meet Evan Stewart from Aura Jewels, and Henry Watson, who runs Genesis Group."

Both names carried weight across the city. Anyone who paid attention knew exactly who they were.

A jolt ran through Elena.

So he was Henry Watson! The man from last night, the one she had spent the night with, the same man she had handed a check to, was the wealthiest man in town.

That meant the two men who tried to grab her earlier had been working for him.

Of all the ways things could turn out, she had ended up walking straight into his circle.

When their eyes met again, something in his gaze made her uneasy, though nothing showed on her face. She kept her tone steady as she greeted Evan and Henry.

Evan greeted her with a relaxed smile.

Silence lingered for a moment before Henry spoke, his voice even. "We meet again."

He didn't stress the words, but the meaning was clear.

Samuel glanced between them, curiosity showing. "You've met her before, Henry?"

Elena stepped in before Henry could respond. "We only ran into each other once, and I didn't know who he was back then."

Realization settled on Samuel's face. "Got it."

Henry didn't add anything, and Elena slowly released the breath she had been holding.

From the side, Evan watched the exchange closely, his eyes shifting between them. Something didn't add up. He had never seen Henry strike up a conversation with a woman he barely knew. That alone caught his attention.

A faint grin formed as he leaned forward. "Miss Harvey, can I get you a drink?"

A faint smile appeared on Elena's lips. "I'll pass. I don't drink."

She had already made up her mind. Alcohol wasn't something she would touch again.

Henry's voice cut in, calm and distant. "You don't drink?"

The night before told a different story. She had walked into his room smelling of alcohol, yet now she stood there, acting as if she didn't drink.

Elena didn't react. "I can't. I'm allergic."

"You don't look too good. Are you feeling unwell?" Concern showed in Samuel's eyes as he looked at her.

Elena gave a small cough and shook her head. "I'm fine. I just walked a bit too fast getting here."

Henry's gaze lingered on her, cool and unreadable. She had managed to shake off two trained bodyguards, yet she still ended up right in front of him. This time, he wasn't letting her slip away.

"Don't just stand there," Samuel said. "Sit down for a while."

Elena had no intention of staying. "It's alright. I've already handed over the drive. I should head back to campus."

"Then send me a message once you get there," Samuel said. "I want to know you made it back safely."

"Okay."

Elena's eyes swept briefly over Henry and Evan. She gave them a small nod before turning and walking out.

Evan watched her leave, the corner of his lips lifting. "Samuel, do you always look after your subordinates this closely, or is she an exception?"

A soft smile formed on Samuel's face. "You've got the wrong idea. I treat all my partners the same."

The meaning was obvious. He didn't see Elena as someone working under him.

Without warning, Henry stood up. "You two go ahead. I've got something to handle."

He didn't wait for a reply and walked out.

Ashton moved right after him.

Evan barely reacted, since he was used to it. Samuel, on the other hand, looked unsure, as if wondering whether he had done something wrong.

Noticing that, Evan waved it off. "That's just how he is. Don't take it personally. Come on, have a drink."

He poured a glass as he spoke.

Samuel looked away from the door and gave a polite nod. "Alright."

Only a few steps outside the room, Elena heard someone behind her.

"Miss Harvey, wait a moment," Ashton called out.

Elena stopped and turned. Two tall figures were heading straight toward her. From the moment she realized who Henry was, she already knew last night wouldn't end so easily.

Ashton stepped ahead and opened the door to another private room. "Mr. Watson, no one's using this one."

"Come in." Henry gave Elena a brief look before he stepped inside.

Ashton shifted his gaze toward her. "After you."

Without hesitation, Elena walked in.

The door closed behind them as Ashton entered last.

Henry made his way to the sofa and sat down, one leg crossing over the other. The air around him shifted the moment he settled in. His presence carried quiet authority, the kind that didn't need to be announced.

Most women would have felt the pressure right away.

Elena, however, didn't react to it. She moved forward at an even pace and took the seat across from him. Fear didn't touch her, but she had no intention of provoking someone like Henry Watson either.

Silence lingered for a moment before she spoke. "Mr. Watson, about what happened last night, I owe you an apology. I went too far, and leaving the way I did wasn't right. If the way I handled things upset you, we can talk about how to fix it."

There was no sign of anger on Henry's face. He looked at ease, almost indifferent. "I wasn't sober either. If I gave in to your seduction that night, it wasn't just your fault."

The word "seduction" made heat rise to her ears.

His eyes sharpened slightly. "But after sleeping with me, you walked out and left money behind. That part doesn't sit well with me."

Elena didn't respond. If she had known who he was, she never would have handled it that way.

"What do you want from me?" she asked after a pause.

Instead of answering, Henry studied her in silence, as if weighing every detail.

Something about the way he looked at her made her face warm, even though she kept her expression steady. It was the first crack in her composure.

After letting the silence stretch, he finally spoke. "Marry me."

Elena went still. For a second, she thought she had heard him wrong. "What did you say?"

Off to the side, Ashton struggled to keep his expression in check. Weren't they supposed to settle a problem? How had this turned into a proposal? What was his boss trying to do here?

"I meant what I said," Henry replied, his voice calm and firm. "You'll marry me. It's only a charade. Two years. When that's done, we go our separate ways."

So that was his plan. A contract marriage.

It didn't take long for Ashton to piece it together. The intention behind it became clear.

Elena studied Henry in silence.

Someone had once told her—she couldn't remember who—that Henry's family had always pushed him to settle down, but he'd never shown any interest in women.

That explained everything. He wanted her to deal with his family and to cover for his sexuality?

Holding onto that thought, she looked straight at him. "Why pick me?"

Henry didn't look away. "Do you really need me to go over last night again?"

Elena stayed quiet. A hint of color crept onto her face. "So that's your only reason?"

"You could say that."

He had never tolerated close contact with unfamiliar women. After what happened, she didn't fall into that group anymore.

Elena shifted her focus. "Those two men earlier. The ones who tried to stop me. You were behind that?"

"I was."

So she hadn't been mistaken.

She held her lips tight for a moment. When it came down to it, she had started everything. She was the one who entered his suite and pushed things forward.

Two years didn't sound long. The marriage would exist only in name, with nothing deeper tied to it. What he asked for wasn't out of line. It still beat having him come after her. After all, if he chose to make a move, the consequences wouldn't be small.

Her gaze drifted back to him. Let's be honest—that face made things a whole lot easier. Two years with a guy this good-looking? She could live with that.

After weighing it carefully, she spoke. "I have two conditions."

Henry gave a small nod. "Let's hear them."

"First, you can announce the marriage, but my identity stays hidden. Second, when you need me to cooperate, I will. Outside of that, my personal life stays mine. You stay out of mine, and I'll stay out of yours."

She wasn't about to reveal more of herself than necessary. Two years later, she didn't want to walk away with a label she never asked for.

"That works," Henry said without a pause.

His answer came too easily.

Elena gave a slight nod. "Then we have a deal."

"I'll come by your school tomorrow afternoon," Henry said.

Elena's brows lifted. "Tomorrow?"

Everything felt rushed.

"Yeah, tomorrow," he repeated. Then he added, "Is there an issue?"

It would happen either way. Waiting wouldn't change the outcome. Elena pushed the thought aside. "No. It's fine."

That was how they reached their agreement.

Henry pulled out his phone and glanced at her. "I'll reach out before I show up. Give me your number."

Without hesitation, Elena recited it. Her phone rang almost right after.

Henry ended the call. "That's mine."

"Alright." Elena looked down and saved the contact, labeling it simply as "Watson".

A short silence passed before she stood. "If that's everything, I'll head out."

Henry's eyes followed her. "Ashton can drive you."

"No need. The campus isn't far. I'll walk."

Elena turned toward the door and took a couple of steps when his voice stopped her. "Hold on."

She paused and turned back. By the time she faced him, he was already close. The pressure around him felt immediate. He raised his hand, a check held between his fingers. "Take this. I don't need money like this."

Elena didn't argue. She took the check, turned away again, and left. Her steps grew faster without her noticing.

By the time she reached the dorm building, her phone buzzed.

She took it out and checked the message.

"Void, someone in Bramville is offering a huge payout to find his missing sister. You in?"

Elena answered instantly, "Not this time. I've been tied up with work."

The response came quickly. "Work? What kind of work's got you turning this down? You're really choosing small gigs over this?"

Elena typed back, "Yes."

Another message followed. "What, is your boss that good-looking? Don't tell me you're distracted by a pretty face."

The words lingered. Without warning, Henry's face surfaced in her mind.

She shook her head, didn't reply, and slipped her phone away before pushing open the dorm door.

Back at Enclave Club, Evan ended his call, his expression turning grim.

Void had refused the offer.

Since when did anyone walk away from easy money?

Inside the dorm, only Chloe Walsh was there.

She looked up when Elena walked in. "Good evening."

"Good evening." Elena offered a small smile.

Chloe leaned forward slightly. "Why'd you leave so suddenly last night? And you didn't come back either."

"I had something to deal with, so I left early." Elena glanced toward the bed inside. "Have you seen Hazel?"

Chloe shrugged. "She's probably out with her rich boyfriend. I doubt she's coming back tonight."

A faint chill passed through Elena's eyes, but she didn't press further.

The next afternoon, in a quiet wooded corner of campus, Hazel Ford tried to keep her expression steady, though a flicker of unease showed for a moment. "Elena, why did you ask me to meet here? What's going on?"

Elena looked at her without warmth. She had always known Hazel played both sides, acting one way in front of her and another behind her back. Still, she hadn't expected her to drug her at the party.

"It was your doing."

Hazel's shoulders tightened, but she forced a confused look. "What are you talking about?"