The cool night air felt like a shock to Lili's system as they stepped out of the club. The distant thumping of the bass was replaced by the quiet hum of the city streets. Luca kept his arm firmly around her shoulders, his face a mix of guilt and anger.
"I'm so sorry, Lili," Luca said for the tenth time as they walked toward the car. "I only left you for a minute. If my brother hadn't been there..."
"It's okay, Luca," Lili whispered, though her hands were still trembling slightly. "I didn't even see him coming. It happened so fast."
Maya and Rohan walked beside them, unusually quiet. The excitement of the party had vanished, replaced by the realization of how quickly things could have gone wrong. But as they reached the car, Lili's mind wasn't on the boy who had harassed her. It was on Leo.
She remembered the look in his eyes when he threw that punch—the cold, calculating fury. He hadn't just been a businessman in that moment; he had been a protector. She thought about the way he looked at her afterward, his voice dropping to that low, velvet tone as he asked if she was hurt.
"Why was he even there, Luca?" she asked as they climbed into the back seat. "He said he had board meetings and work."
Luca sighed, looking out the window at the passing streetlights. "Leo owns a stake in that club. He says he goes there for 'business networking,' but I think he just likes to keep an eye on things. He's always been like that—watching everything from the shadows."
Lili leaned her head against the window, watching the city blur past. She felt a strange, magnetic pull toward the memory of him. He was mysterious, powerful, and now, he was her hero. She looked down at her hands and realized she was still holding the soda he had saved her to get.
As she drifted off to sleep in her own bed later that night, she didn't dream of the bullies at college or the loud music of the club. She dreamed of a man in a black silk shirt and the way it felt to be seen by someone who could command a whole room with just a glance.
The next morning, the bright sun spilled through Lili's window, but she didn't feel like the "New Girl" anymore. As she got ready for college, her mind kept replaying the events at the club. She could still see the cold fury in Leo's eyes and feel the way the air seemed to charge when he stepped toward her. She tried to focus on her skincare routine and picking out her outfit, but every time she looked in the mirror, she wondered if he was thinking about her too.
At college, the day passed in a pleasant, rhythmic hum. Maya and Rohan were back to their usual joking selves, and Luca was extra attentive, bringing Lili a coffee before their first lecture even started. They sat through their classes together, a solid unit that no bully dared to approach anymore.
However, during their final period, the professor made an announcement that changed everything.
"For the mid-term project, you will work in assigned groups of four," the professor stated, tapping the chalkboard. "You are to analyze urban sociology trends within this city. I expect a full report and a presentation by next Friday."
Lili looked at her friends. Luck was on their side—Lili, Luca, Maya, and Rohan were placed in the same group.
"We need a quiet place to work," Maya said as they walked out of the classroom. "My dorm is a disaster zone, and the library is always packed."
Luca grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Why don't we go to my place? We have a huge library and plenty of space. Plus, the snacks are way better than anything on campus."
Lili's heart gave a sudden, violent thud against her ribs. Luca's house. That meant Leo's house, too.
"Is... is that okay?" Lili asked, trying to keep her voice casual. "I don't want to intrude."
"Of course it's okay," Luca insisted, waving off her concern. "My parents are traveling, and Leo is usually buried in work at the office until late. We'll have the whole place to ourselves."
They made a plan to meet there at five o'clock. As Lili walked back to her apartment to grab her laptop, she felt a mix of excitement and a strange, suspicious nerves. She told herself she was just going there for schoolwork, but a small part of her kept wondering: What if Leo at home.
At five o'clock sharp, the group met at the front gates of the family estate. It wasn't just a house; it was a masterpiece of modern architecture, tucked behind tall stone walls and manicured hedges.
"Whoa," Rohan whispered, looking up at the glass-and-steel structure. "I knew you were rich, Luca, but this is 'James Bond' level."
Luca laughed and swiped his keycard. They entered a grand foyer with marble floors that shone like ice. Everything was minimalist, expensive, and silent. As they settled into the massive dining room with their laptops and notebooks, Lili couldn't help but look around. The house felt like Leo—intimidating, beautiful, and a little bit cold.
"Alright, let's get to work," Maya said, opening her textbook.
For the next two hours, they were actually productive. They mapped out their research and divided the chapters. Lili found herself relaxing, caught up in the flow of the project and Rohan's constant jokes. She almost forgot where she was.