The University of Milan was a labyrinth of ancient stone and modern ambition, but to Jax, it was just a shooting range with too many obstacles. He stood leaned against a cold marble pillar outside Kaida's lecture hall, his arms crossed over his massive chest. Though he looked like a statue of a high-end bodyguard, his mind was racing at a speed no one could track.
Every time the heavy oak doors opened and a male student walked past Kaida, Jax's eyes narrowed behind his dark lenses. He didn't just look at them; he dissected them. He saw the way their eyes lingered on the curve of her waist or the way they tried to adjust their hair when she walked by.
Whenever a boy got too close—closer than the five-foot "danger zone" Jax had mentally drawn around her—Jax would simply shift his weight. He didn't have to say a word. He would just drop his chin, letting the sunlight glint off his glasses, and stare. The sheer, suffocating pressure of his gaze was enough to make the boys stumble, look at the floor, and hurry away in a cold sweat.
Run along, little boys, Jax thought, his tongue clicking against the roof of his mouth. She is a sun you aren't allowed to bask in. She belongs to a monster you can't even dream of.
He watched Kaida through the glass partition of the classroom. She was taking notes, her brow furrowed in concentration. She looked so innocent, yet so sharp. My intelligent Princess, he mused. You have the brain of a lawyer and the soul of a queen. I picked the perfect flower to transplant into my dark garden.
The Trap is Set
Across the hall, Kaida was huddled with Sofia and Elena. She wasn't listening to their gossip about the professor; she was watching Jax out of the corner of her eye. She saw him scaring off the guys, and it fueled her fire.
"I need to get him fired today," Kaida whispered, her eyes flashing. "If I can get him into a situation my father finds 'unprofessional,' he's gone."
Just then, a tall, handsome student named Julian approached their group. He was the captain of the rowing team and used to getting whatever he wanted. He didn't notice the dark shadow leaning against the pillar ten yards away.
"Hey, Kaida," Julian said, flashing a charming smile. "My parents are out of town this weekend. I'm throwing a massive house party at the villa in Lake Como. Everyone's going. You should come. I'll even save a VIP spot for you."
Kaida's heart skipped a beat—not because of Julian, but because of the plan that instantly formed in her mind. A house party. Alcohol. Crowds. Chaos. The perfect place for a bodyguard to fail.
"I'd love to, Julian," Kaida said loudly, making sure her voice carried over to Jax. She flashed a bright, fake smile that she knew would drive Jax insane. "Count me in. I'll be there."
The Lunch Break
As the bell rang for the lunch break, the hallways flooded with students. Kaida walked straight toward Jax, her heels clicking a rhythmic challenge on the stone floor. She stopped right in front of him, so close she could smell the expensive, smoky scent of his cologne.
She looked at his face, trying to see past the glasses. For a moment, her anger flickered. She noticed the slight stubble on his jaw and the way his lips were set in a firm, masculine line. Despite her hate, a small part of her couldn't deny that he was the most beautiful man she had ever seen.
"It's lunch break, Jax," she said, her voice softer than she intended. "Are you going to eat, or do you survive on glares and shadows?"
Jax looked down at her, surprised by the sudden drop in her hostility. "I will eat later, Miss. My priority is your safety, not my stomach."
Kaida felt a strange tug in her chest. Even though she wanted him gone, her natural kindness—the part of her that her father called a "weakness"—started to leak through. She didn't like the idea of someone going hungry because of her, even if that someone was a man she planned to ruin.
"Don't be ridiculous," she muttered, looking away so he wouldn't see the slight blush on her cheeks. "There's a cafe in the courtyard. Go get something. I'm just going to be sitting with my friends; I'm not going to vanish in thin air."
Jax stayed silent for a long moment. He saw the flicker of care in her eyes, a tiny spark of warmth in the middle of her icy storm. It was the first time she had looked at him like a human being instead of a nuisance.
You're far too kind for your own good, Kaida, Jax thought, his heart thudding once, hard, against his ribs. That kindness is exactly what I'm going to use to keep you.
"If it pleases you, Miss," Jax replied, his voice dropping an octave, sounding almost intimate. "I will grab something quickly. But don't think for a second that I won't be watching you."
Kaida turned around quickly, her heart racing. "Whatever, Jax. Just... just eat something."
As she walked away, Jax let out a long, slow breath. He reached up and touched the spot where his earpiece sat, his eyes tracking her every step. She was trying to play him, he knew that. He knew the house party was a trap.
But as he watched her walk away, he realized he didn't mind being trapped—as long as she was the one holding the cage.