The second week of Jayden's internship began with exhaustion sitting behind his eyes.
Balancing university lectures and corporate analysis wasn't easy.
But exhaustion didn't scare him.
Poverty did.
Jayden adjusted the strap of his bag as he crossed the university courtyard. The air was sharp that morning, cold enough to bite exposed skin. Students gathered in clusters, laughing, complaining, living ordinary lives.
He walked past them without slowing down.
His phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
He ignored it.
Right now, he didn't have time for anything that didn't move him forward.
Inside the lecture hall, he chose a seat near the middle row.
Not too visible.
Not invisible either.
Michael arrived seconds later.
"You look like you didn't sleep."
"I didn't," Jayden replied calmly.
Michael leaned closer. "Internship?"
"Yes."
"Worth it?"
Jayden's jaw tightened slightly.
"Yes."
Before Michael could continue, someone dropped heavily into the seat behind them.
A familiar voice followed.
"Some of us don't need internships to survive."
Jayden didn't turn around.
He recognized that voice.
Ethan Keller.
Top student.
Wealthy family.
Arrogant.
Michael shifted uncomfortably.
Ethan continued, louder this time.
"I heard some people here are on full scholarship. Must be stressful, wondering if one bad grade sends you back to the streets."
A few students chuckled.
Jayden's fingers tightened around his pen.
He still didn't turn.
Ethan leaned forward slightly.
"Tell me, Cross… is it true you grew up without parents?"
The air shifted.
Michael whispered, "Ignore him."
Jayden slowly turned in his seat.
Ethan's expression carried a smug smile.
Jayden's voice remained controlled.
"Is it true your father bought half your grades?"
The class reacted instantly.
Ethan's smile disappeared.
"Watch your mouth."
Jayden stood up slowly.
"I earned my place here."
Ethan stood too.
"On charity."
The word landed like a slap.
Jayden didn't think.
He moved.
His fist connected with Ethan's jaw before the room fully processed what was happening.
Gasps filled the hall.
Chairs scraped loudly across the floor.
Ethan stumbled backward but recovered quickly, swinging back.
The punch hit Jayden's cheek.
Pain exploded across his face.
But Jayden didn't step back.
He grabbed Ethan's collar and shoved him against the desk.
"Say it again," Jayden growled.
Ethan struggled.
"You're nothing without scholarships!"
The classroom door opened abruptly.
Silence crashed down.
Professor Ashford stood there.
Roman's eyes swept across the chaos.
Students frozen.
Desks displaced.
Jayden holding Ethan by the collar.
Blood at the corner of Ethan's mouth.
Roman's voice was calm.
"Release him."
Jayden's breathing was heavy.
For a second, he didn't move.
Then he let go.
Ethan stumbled away.
Roman stepped fully into the room.
"Both of you. Outside."
No raised voice.
No anger.
Just authority.
---
The hallway felt colder than the classroom.
Students inside whispered loudly.
Roman closed the door behind him.
His gaze moved first to Ethan.
"What happened?"
Ethan wiped his mouth dramatically.
"He attacked me."
Roman turned to Jayden.
Jayden's cheek was swelling slightly.
"And you?"
Jayden's voice was steady.
"He insulted me."
Roman's eyes sharpened.
"Insults justify violence?"
Jayden held his gaze.
"Some do."
Silence.
Heavy.
Controlled.
Roman's jaw tightened almost invisibly.
"This institution does not tolerate physical altercations."
Ethan crossed his arms.
"He should be suspended."
Jayden didn't react.
Roman looked at Ethan calmly.
"And what exactly did you say to provoke him?"
Ethan hesitated.
Roman stepped closer.
"I asked what you said."
Ethan shifted slightly.
"Nothing serious."
Roman's tone cooled further.
"Repeat it."
Ethan stayed quiet.
Roman looked back at Jayden.
"Go to the infirmary."
Jayden didn't move.
"That is not a request," Roman added.
Jayden turned and walked down the hallway.
He didn't look back.
---
The nurse cleaned the cut near his eyebrow.
"You boys and your tempers," she muttered.
Jayden stared at the ceiling.
His chest still felt tight.
Not from the punch.
From the word.
Charity.
He hated that word.
He worked too hard to be called charity.
His phone buzzed again.
This time he looked.
Adrian Cole.
Jayden answered.
"Yes?"
"You're late," Adrian said bluntly.
"I'll be there in thirty minutes."
"Make it twenty."
The line disconnected.
Jayden exhaled slowly.
No time to process emotions.
Money first.
Always.
---
When he arrived at Ashford Strategic Holdings, Adrian noticed the bruise immediately.
"What happened to your face?"
Jayden placed his bag down.
"Nothing important."
Adrian didn't look convinced.
"Director Ashford doesn't tolerate distractions."
Jayden's eyes flickered briefly.
"I'm not distracted."
Adrian dropped another file on his desk.
"Good. Because today is worse."
Jayden opened it.
International logistics company.
Higher stakes.
Bigger numbers.
Adrian leaned slightly against the desk.
"This one matters."
Jayden glanced up.
"How much?"
Adrian's lips curved faintly.
"Hundreds of millions."
Jayden felt something shift inside him.
Excitement.
Hunger.
Pain faded.
Bruises didn't matter.
This did.
He sat down and began reading.
---
Hours passed.
Data.
Charts.
Market comparisons.
Jayden lost himself in it.
At some point Adrian returned.
"You're bleeding again," he said casually.
Jayden wiped the small reopened cut near his brow.
"It's fine."
Adrian studied him carefully.
"You fight like you work?"
Jayden didn't look up.
"I finish what I start."
Adrian nodded once.
"Interesting."
---
Later that evening, Adrian stood in Roman's private office.
"He's aggressive," Adrian said.
Roman reviewed Jayden's report quietly.
"Is that a problem?"
"Depends," Adrian replied. "He works like he's starving."
Roman's hand paused briefly on the page.
"And?"
"He's good."
Roman closed the folder.
"Push him harder."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"He's already balancing school."
Roman's expression remained unreadable.
"If he wants this world, he needs to survive it."
---
Back at his desk, Jayden stared at the city skyline through the glass walls.
His cheek throbbed.
His knuckles hurt.
But his report was finished.
He printed it.
Placed it neatly on Adrian's desk.
Then leaned back in his chair.
They could call him scholarship student.
They could call him orphan.
They could call him charity.
But one day
They would call him powerful.
And Jayden Cross would make sure of it.