Felipe worked diligently behind the camera, capturing a cinematic scene with precision. The couple, both strikingly attractive, appeared as though they had stepped straight out of a film, guided by his professional direction. In his quest for perfection, he called out excitedly, "Khai, you're supposed to be a couple! Holding her isn't enough—try to show some emotion."
"Maybe you don't know this since you've never dated," he added, "but why don't you take my direction? Lean in closer, and let me capture a few angles. I promise it'll turn out intimate and thrilling."
Khai Howell, inexperienced in romance, followed the advice. His lips grazed dangerously close to Maeve Riley's ear before landing on her neck. She felt his breath against her skin, making her shoulders tingle and her cheeks flush.
"Hey, that tickles," Maeve giggled nervously, shifting slightly, which sparked a reaction from Khai, already at his limit. His gaze clouded with desire as he softly whispered, "Stay still."
As he spoke, his lips barely brushed her smooth shoulder, sending shivers through her. "Alright, alright, I won't move," she relented, "but can we hurry this up? I'm on a tight schedule."
Her urgency grated on Khai slightly. How could she think of anything else while he was holding her, even if it was only for show? As a mild reprimand, he playfully nipped at her exposed shoulder—not enough to hurt, but enough to feel like a soft kiss.
Maeve squirmed, trying to push him away, but he held her tighter. One arm wrapped around her waist, while the other gently cupped her head. "Behave," he murmured, "we haven't hit the ten-minute mark yet."
She suspected he was using this as a pretext to misbehave. Enveloped in his embrace, her mind was racing, and her face felt hot against his chest. She anxiously counted down the seconds.
As soon as the time was up, she lightly punched his shoulder, exclaiming, "Time's up! Let go!"
Khai had never imagined that holding a woman could feel like this. The experience was so alluring that he hesitated to release her. If this woman indeed entered his life for good, he wouldn't mind making her a significant part of it.
Seeing his reluctance to let go, Maeve sprang away in frustration, "You liar! You promised ten minutes, and you overdid it!"
Faced with her indignant accusation, Khai watched her animated expression with a faint smile. His throat moved involuntarily, wanting to say something, but his usually sharp mind was in disarray.
His intense gaze made her even more flustered. "I'm leaving, Khai Howell!" Maeve declared, her voice holding a hint of a warning, "If you follow me, I'll bite you every time I see you!"
Her fierce demeanor reminded Khai of a feisty, ruffled kitten. Maeve stormed off without a backward glance. It wasn't until she'd slammed the door that she realized she had forgotten the check!
This oversight almost made her explode with frustration.
Just then, her phone rang.
"Maeve! Are you coming to work or not?"
"Mr. Lewis, I'm stuck in traffic, but I'll be there soon!" Maeve quickly assured, apologizing profusely until her boss's anger subsided.
With her mind focused on making money, she dashed into the subway station, hurrying to her next engagement.
In a dimly lit bar, Khai stood elegantly, wiping his lips with his thumb, still feeling the lingering essence of her presence. Everything that had happened tonight felt surreal, like an untouchable dream to him.
Each encounter with her left him feeling both exasperated and captivated. He found himself wanting to win this wildcat and understand her.
Nearby, Felipe had quickly edited the footage into a short video. Even without music, it was the kind of clip that could easily go viral. He handed the phone to Khai, apologizing, "I haven't filmed in a while, so I'm a bit rusty. I could have focused more on capturing Maeve's hand around your waist to enhance the emotional depth."
Khai glanced at the video, feeling a rush of heat. He wanted to watch it again but restrained himself, maintaining his composure as he casually said, "It's fine. You've done well. Your salary will double next month."
Felipe was moved almost to tears. "Thank you, Khai! I promise to work even harder and meet your expectations in every way."
Khai, slightly irked by his emotional outburst, commanded, "That's enough! Find out everything about Maeve Riley and have it in my inbox by tonight."
Felipe suppressed a groan and went back to his task, knowing he had to quickly gather all the details about Maeve Riley.
After Felipe left, Khai captured a screenshot from the video—one of him nuzzled against her neck—and sent it to someone named Harper. Although he intended to send the full video, he held back. Such a suggestive clip was for his eyes only.
Having sent the image, he blocked Harper, deciding not to waste any more time on another woman.
In an upscale lounge, a woman in an elegant Victorian-style dress was adjusting her appearance in the mirror. Her poised and graceful demeanor was that of a refined young lady. However, when her phone buzzed, her gentle facade was replaced by jealousy and rage.
In her chat with Khai, an intimate photo of him with a woman captured her attention. She recognized him instantly—it was Khai Howell, the man she had admired for years. They were supposed to discuss the next steps in their engagement today.
So what was this? Sending her a picture of himself with someone else? What did this mean?
Was there some femme fatale who dared to challenge her?
Her left hand gripped the small mirror so tightly that the intricate designs on it cut into her fingertips, drawing blood. Yet, her heart ached even more. Khai Howell was hers, Maeve thought. He was the most exceptional man in the world, and he belonged to her!
"Khai, did you make a mistake?" She restrained her emotions and sent him a voice message, only to be met with an automated response: "You are not friends with this user." Her emotions shattered completely.
With a loud crash, she hurled her phone to the floor, creating a dent in the wall.
A waiter burst into the exclusive private coffee room, eyes wide with concern. "Miss Maeve, are you alright? Is everything okay?"
The Coffee & Roses Lounge catered exclusively to the elite. Each waiter was trained to recognize the faces of every distinguished guest so they could serve them better in the future.
Maeve’s face was twisted with anger, but her refined upbringing reminded her to maintain her composure in public. She discreetly pinched the edge of the table, then shook her head with a soft smile. "Sorry for alarming you. I just spotted a cockroach and got so startled that I threw my phone. Could you please pick it up for me?"
Ah, so that was it, the waiter thought, silently applauding their establishment's cleanliness. Someone like Miss Maeve certainly wouldn't lie.
Returning the phone to Maeve, she apologized, "Miss Maeve, the screen is cracked. It was our oversight that startled you. How about I arrange for a replacement phone?"
Maeve declined. "No need, it was my fault. You can leave now."
The waiter complimented Maeve for her beauty and kind nature before closing the door behind her.
Sitting at the table, Maeve clutched her phone tightly, her gaze piercing through the phone's screen at the woman's silhouette displayed there. No, she couldn't just sit idly by. Even if Khai refused to see her, she had to find a way to confront this woman luring her man away!
Khai was hers! No one else was going to take him from her!
---
At a five-star hotel.
In the early hours, Maeve Riley, exhausted from work, settled onto the temporary bed in the employees' dormitory.
She should have gone home after her shift, but she feared that Aliza George, that ticking time bomb, might have people waiting for her at her apartment. For her safety, Maeve decided to stay at the hotel for a couple of days.
Lying in bed, she checked the time and realized the results of the research report she submitted earlier would soon be announced. These results were crucial for her. If selected, she would receive a $10,000 grant and a scholarship to further her studies in the US next semester.
Since she wasn’t scheduled to work the next day, she planned to visit the school bulletin board to confirm the outcome.
As she closed her eyes and drifted into sleep, she unexpectedly dreamt of Khai. In the dream, Khai discovered Eli wasn’t his son. Enraged, he locked her in a dark basement and aimed a gun at her, ready to pull the trigger.
At the moment the bullet was fired, she awoke in terror, wiping the sweat off her brow, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
The dream felt all too real. Khai’s expression when he found out the truth—like he wanted to devour her—left her deeply unsettled.
No, she needed to earn the money to leave the country immediately, taking Eli far away!
---
The next day.
After a complimentary breakfast at the hotel, Maeve took the subway to her school.
Along the way, various young students cast curious looks her way, some even wearing smug smiles. Maeve remained unfazed; the school no longer matched her ambitions. Her aim was the stars and to conquer the world's most prestigious schools, so she had no intention of wasting time on trivialities that only annoyed her.
Cambridge University was one of the most prestigious institutions in the city.
The campus was vast, and Maeve walked quite a distance to reach the bulletin board. Shockingly, her name was absent from the list of award-winning research projects from their department!
What stunned her even more was seeing Aliza George’s name printed on the list!
Impossible!
That clueless girl lacked any significant proficiency in pharmaceutical research. She only got into Cambridge thanks to her father’s donation of a building. Aliza even managed to score zero on her Level 4 English exam. How could someone so academically inept produce a scholarly report in perfect English?
Something was definitely off!
Maeve tore the document down and stormed into the department head’s office, throwing open the door.
“Professor Johnson, I demand to know what research Aliza George submitted to win this award! Could I have the honor of reading it?”
She slammed the award list onto the desk.
Professor Johnson adjusted his glasses, as if fully expecting Maeve’s confrontation. He glanced at the printed name and said, "Maeve Riley, you should knock before entering. Didn’t your teachers teach you that?"
Maeve gritted her teeth, "Aren’t you my teacher? If you want my respect, you should act like a proper educator first!
All project submissions from our department passed through your hands, and there are only two pharmaceutical laboratories. I went hundreds of times and never saw Aliza’s face. So, tell me, what did she do to win this award?”
Professor Johnson chuckled coldly, rising to his feet. With no one else in the office, he dropped all pretense. "Maeve Riley, property here is extremely valuable. If you want to establish yourself in this bustling city, you must be pragmatic. Aliza, burdened by family obligations, is lacking in certain credits, which could affect her graduation. This international award can compensate for that. If you allow her to claim it, helping her graduate, I can arrange a high-paying position for you."
Maeve raised her eyebrows, "I don’t need it!”
Professor Johnson sighed, “You’re as stubborn as ever. Listen to your teacher’s advice. Don’t aim solely for Yale or Harvard. The cost of living abroad is high, and given your family’s situation, how could you afford it?
It’s better to stay in the country. By helping Aliza, she won’t treat you badly. Future opportunities at George Holdings would offer more than going abroad.”
“Professor Johnson, don’t take us for fools. Don’t think I don’t know how many benefits Aliza has offered you over the years! Look up at the plaque in your office, ‘Model Teacher’? Are you worthy? I spit on you!”
From Johnson's deceitful demeanor, Maeve could almost guarantee he and Aliza conspired to steal her work, crediting it under Aliza’s name, robbing Maeve of her rightful glory.
Did they take her for a pushover? Past minor annoyances could be tolerated, but not this time. She refused to stand down. Absolutely not!
Michael Reyes had wielded his influence for so long that he could barely stomach any opposition.
"In this world, talking won't get you far; it's all about resources, connections, and power. Look at yourself—what do you have to offer? Do you really think your mediocre skills will change the world? Before I reconsider, you'd better choose to leave on your own. We'll act like this never happened. You're set to start your internship later this year. I'll ensure you get into Hamilton Industries and give you five grand to keep quiet."
"Just sign this contract if you agree. If not, you're just chasing rainbows." Michael slammed a confidentiality agreement on the desk with disdain.
Maeve Riley listened to his pompous tirade, feeling a surge of nausea. Five grand to stay silent? Did he think she was a charity case?
"Professor Reyes, have you been in this office so long you've forgotten how you used to grovel for Mr. Hamilton?"
"What are you implying?"
Her eyes filled with contempt. "I used to see you as a human being, so I advised you to act like one."
"You impudent...! Say one more word, and I swear I'll make sure you don’t graduate," Michael fumed, his face twisting in anger.
"I know you have the leverage to find any excuse to stop my graduation. But guess what, I'm throwing that threat right back at you."
Maeve suddenly pointed to the small black necklace around her neck.
"See this? It's a camera. I wasn’t planning on using it, but your prized protégé, Aliza, taught me it's best to keep up with technology when dealing with someone like you. So, go ahead, talk more trash, and I’ll post a video of your antics on the university forum. Let's show everyone who Michael Reyes really is!"
Michael hadn’t expected Maeve to have such a backup plan. He lunged forward to snatch it, but Maeve's hand went to the necklace.
"Easy now," she warned. "If you scare me and I accidentally hit this switch, the video goes public on my cloud."
Michael was sweating profusely, his fingers pressing down on the desk as he growled through clenched teeth, "Maeve Riley, what will it take for you to delete that video?"
"It's simple. What's mine stays mine. Even if I have to toss it, I'm not giving it to Aliza. Write a statement, tell everyone Aliza used dirty tricks to steal my spot. I want my scholarship and my chance to study abroad reinstated, and I'll delete it."
Michael responded with a mocking grin. "Have you been living under a rock? After all this, do you think Oxford would still take you?"
"What do you mean?"
Michael tossed his phone in front of her. "See for yourself. The 'esteemed' university student selling out for cash and even livestreaming it. You've tainted the school’s reputation."
Maeve picked up the phone and saw the forum flooded with trending posts. The video at the top featured a scene from that night—Aliza with some sleazy guy. Only now, the girl's face had been swapped with Maeve’s.
The comments were full of slurs.
"This is the real footage of the scandal. The previous one was doctored by the campus queen to frame Aliza. Everyone, come see the real sleazy nature of our so-called 'queen'! Let her have it!"
"I’m disgusted. Maeve seemed so innocent, but she’s actually vile. Apparently, she even flirted with that old man, clearly not her first time."
"Poor Aliza almost got slandered the other day. She's been heartbroken, recovering at home."
Maeve read through several pages; seventy percent of the comments defamed her while the rest sympathized with Aliza.
Maeve had a gut feeling that Aliza orchestrated this mess.
Just as Maeve was about to act, the door swung open. Aliza, heavily disguised and limping slightly, entered the office.
As soon as she saw Maeve, fury lit up her eyes.
"Maeve Riley, how dare you show your face here?!" Aliza’s eyes were red with anger, ready to tear Maeve apart.
Maeve eyed her coolly. "Why shouldn't I come to school? If I'm in the mood, I might even dance on your grave."
"You miserable..." Aliza spat through gritted teeth.
Maeve shrugged nonchalantly. "Looks like your star student needs you, Professor Reyes."
Michael: "..."
One sentence managed to repel both of them.
Aliza had only come for an award she didn’t even want, especially after Maeve had bested her the previous night. Maeve always cared about awards, so Aliza had planned to flaunt them. Who would've thought she'd run into this wretched woman in Michael's office?
Seeing her rival fueled her anger.
Maeve spoke first, "Aliza, you're behind those forum posts, aren't you? Cozying up to that old man, but you used AI to swap faces and pin it on me. Impressive move!"
Aliza was ready to retaliate, but Michael signaled her to halt.
"She has a camera. Be honest. You don’t want to end up like me, saying things in the heat of the moment you’ll regret."
Aliza's eyes narrowed beneath her sunglasses. Thankfully, Michael had warned her; otherwise, she’d be falling into Maeve's trap again. Shifting her tone, Aliza spoke with fake hurt.
"Michael, you have to help me. Maeve has always been against me, envious of my family background. She constantly tries to frame me. Even when she turns to sleazy videos for money, she uses my face! Luckily, a savvy computer science student caught the manipulation and saved my name. Otherwise, she'd ruin me completely!"
To ensure Maeve’s camera caught her act, Aliza moved closer but reached empty air.
Maeve tucked the necklace back into her shirt with a flick of her hair. "Sorry, the battery costs money too. I'm not wasting it on your awful performance."
"I'm not acting! I swear I’m telling the truth. You’ve made my life miserable..." Aliza pretended to cry.
But the composed woman in front of her spoke softly, "Cry all you want now because soon enough, I'll make sure you regret ever shedding those tears."
Aliza locked eyes with Maeve, and a chill tickled her spine. What on earth was this woman planning now?
