The rain had stopped by morning, but the ground remained wet, reflecting the glimmer of sunlight like shattered glass. Stephanie stood by the window of her shared apartment, watching as a few students crossed the street with umbrellas still in hand, just in case the clouds above changed their mind again.
She had barely slept. Her mind kept replaying the awkward car ride with Raymond Carter—how he barely looked at her, how his tone was firm, distant, and yet how his sudden offer to take her home contradicted his cold exterior. There was something in his eyes, something unreadable that made her uneasy.
"Still thinking about Mr. Ice Prince?" Katherine teased as she stepped out of the bathroom, towel around her neck, already in her loose monochrome shirt and vintage jeans.
Stephanie turned. "He's not worth thinking about."
"But you are thinking about him," Katherine said with a grin, tossing her towel onto the chair and heading toward the mirror. "I mean, come on. Billionaire. Brooding. Drives a Bugatti. That's every Wattpad girl's dream."
"I'm not every girl," Stephanie murmured. "And besides, he's rude."
"Hot and rude. My favorite combination," Katherine giggled, then eyed her best friend. "But really, what happened last night?"
Stephanie crossed her arms. "He just offered me a ride. That's it. I was cold. He had a warm car. Nothing romantic."
Katherine turned fully toward her. "But you blushed when you got in. And when you came home, you looked like you were on cloud nine."
"I did not!"
"You did," Katherine said, sitting on the edge of her sewing table. "But I get it. You're cautious. He seems like someone who doesn't do emotions."
Stephanie sighed. "Exactly. I don't even think he remembers my name. He just said 'pay her off' the first time we met. Then we met at the gala and he acted all confused like he didn't care. Then yesterday…"
"He drove you home," Katherine finished for her. "You've been in his car. In his space. Don't downplay it, Steph. Whether he's cold or not, you made an impression."
"I'm not going to read too much into it," Stephanie replied, walking over to her desk and picking up her science notes. "I have a life to live and exams to pass. Billionaire or not, he's not my focus."
Katherine smiled quietly, admiring Stephanie's strength. "I hope you keep saying that when things get more complicated."
---
Later that afternoon, Stephanie walked through the science faculty building toward her Molecular Biology class. Her bag slung over her shoulder, she greeted a few classmates but kept to herself mostly. Her thoughts wandered—what kind of man Raymond really was, and why someone like him would even notice her.
She shook the thought off.
Focus.
The lecture went on, but Stephanie found herself tapping her pen on her notes. Her professor's voice sounded muffled in her ears. No matter how hard she tried, the memory of his sharp jawline, the intensity of his eyes, his subtle scent in the car—it all lingered like a dream she couldn't wake from.
—
Meanwhile...
At Carter Enterprises, Raymond was seated behind his massive blackwood desk, eyes glued to the report in front of him, but his mind elsewhere.
His assistant entered with his schedule. "Sir, your afternoon board meeting has been rescheduled to Friday."
"Fine," Raymond muttered, dismissing her with a flick of his fingers.
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
Stephanie.
The girl was still dancing through his mind like an unanswered question. She was nothing like the women he had met—she didn't flaunt, didn't try to impress. She was quiet but not timid, smart without being arrogant. And something about the way she held herself, independent yet fragile, irritated him. Not because she was weak—but because she made him feel something he couldn't afford to feel.
A knock broke his thoughts. His father, Gregory Carter, stepped in.
"You didn't stay long at the charity event."
"I had meetings."
"Or maybe you were too busy chasing that girl from the gala," his father said coolly, taking a seat without being asked.
Raymond's jaw twitched. "It's none of your business."
Gregory leaned in. "Everything you do is my business. Don't forget that your marriage to Dina is what's keeping things steady with the AwWurora Group. Her father is a slippery man. One misstep and we lose everything we've rebuilt."
"I haven't forgotten," Raymond said coldly.
"Good. Then stay focused," his father said, standing again. "One year. That's all. Do your part and walk away clean."
Raymond remained silent as his father left. He turned toward the tall glass window behind him, watching the city below.
One year.
Just one year with a woman he didn't love.
So why did he feel his life was about to spiral out of control?