The photo was blurry, taken from across the street, but the silhouette was unmistakable. The dark jacket. The way I carried my bag. The ti stamp: 8:04 AM.
Who is the mystery guy dating Sofia Aldridge?
I stared at the screen, my thumb hovering over the comnts. They were already exploding.
Wait, is that a student?
No way. She dates billionaires, not frat boys.
I saw that guy at the gym yesterday. He was benching 225.
Looks like the quiet kid from Econ. Jake sothing?
My stomach dropped. Jake sothing.
I wasn’t invisible anymore. I was viral.
I shoved the phone in my pocket as Sofia walked out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, her hair damp. She looked relaxed, happy. She had no idea.
"Everything okay?" she asked, noticing my expression.
"Yeah," I lied smoothly. "Just checking emails. Boring stuff."
She walked over and kissed my cheek. "Co back to bed. The emails can wait."
I forced a smile. "In a minute. I just need to... make a call."
She frowned slightly but didn’t push. "Don’t be long."
As soon as she closed the bedroom door, I pulled my phone back out. The post had jumped to the top of the feed.
[Social Threat Detected]
[Exposure Risk: High]
[Objective: Control the Narrative]
I couldn’t delete the post. I couldn’t hack the app. But I could control how people reacted.
If I denied it, I looked guilty. If I confird it, I beca a target for every jealous guy on campus and every tabloid reporter in the city.
I needed a third option.
...
The next morning, walking onto campus felt like walking into a minefield.
Heads turned. Whispers followed . People who had never looked at twice were suddenly staring.
"Is that him?"
"No way. He’s a nobody."
"But look at the jacket. It’s the sa one."
I kept my head up, my expression neutral. The System humd in my ear.
[Passive Skill: Emotional Composure (Level 2) Active]
[Social Pressure: High]
I walked straight to the coffee shop. The line was long, but as I approached, it seed to part. People moved out of my way. Not out of respect, but out of curiosity.
I ordered my black coffee. The barista, a girl nad Maya who usually ignored , lingered as she handed the cup.
"So," she said, lowering her voice. "Is it true?"
I looked at her. "Is what true?"
"The post. About Sofia Aldridge."
The entire shop went quiet. Everyone was listening.
I took a sip of my coffee, calm, deliberate.
"Sofia Aldridge is a client," I said. "I do consulting work for her firm."
It was the truth. Technically.
Maya blinked. "Consulting? You’re a sophomore."
"I’m good with numbers," I said. "And she pays well."
I dropped a five-dollar bill in the tip jar and walked out.
The whispers exploded behind .
Consulting?
He’s lying.
No, dude, I heard he crushed the midterm. Maybe he’s a genius.
[Narrative Shifted: Mystery -> Competence]
[Respect Gained: 10]
[Suspicion Remaining: Moderate]
I had bought myself so ti. But I knew it wouldn’t last.
I found Ethan in the library. He was staring at his phone, his mouth open.
"Dude," he hissed as I sat down. "Tell you saw The Chirp."
"I saw it."
"Is it you?" He looked at , eyes wide. "Be honest. Is that you leaving her building?"
I looked at the young man who i now called a friend. I couldn’t lie to him. Not about this.
"Yeah," I said quietly. "It’s ."
Ethan choked on air. "You’re dating Sofia Aldridge? The billionaire? The shark?"
"We’re... seeing each other."
"Seeing each other? Jake, she’s on the cover of Fortune! She eats people like us for breakfast!"
"She’s actually pretty chill," I said, opening my laptop. "She likes hot dogs."
Ethan stared at for a long mont, then started laughing. He shook his head in disbelief. "You’re a legend. An absolute legend. How did you even... never mind. I don’t want to know. But you realize everyone is going to be gunning for you now, right?"
"I know."
"Especially Brad," Ethan warned. "He’s been telling everyone you’re a liar. That you probably just deliver her dry cleaning."
"Let him talk," I said. "Brad is irrelevant."
But Brad wasn’t irrelevant. He was a problem.
That afternoon, I was walking to the gym when he blocked my path. He had two of his lacrosse buddies with him. They ford a wall of muscle and entitlent.
"Well, well," Brad sneered. "If it isn’t the consultant."
I stopped. "Move, Brad."
"Or what?" He stepped closer, looming over . "You gonna call your sugar mommy?"
The guys laughed.
"I heard she pays you to walk her dog," Brad continued. "Is that it, Jake? You her little pet?"
The System flashed red.
[Social Conflict: Escalation]
[Opponent: Brad (Rank: Alpha - Threatened)]
[Objective: Assert Dominance]
[Reward: Campus Hierarchy Shift]
I didn’t get angry. Anger was weakness.
I looked at him, calm, bored.
"You seem really interested in my personal life, Brad," I said. "Is your own that boring?"
His smile faltered. "Watch your mouth, freshman."
"I’m a sophomore," I corrected. "And you’re blocking the door."
He shoved . Hard.
I stumbled back a step but caught my balance. The gym lobby went silent. People were watching. Phones were out.
This was it. The mont that would define my standing.
I straightened my jacket. I didn’t shove back. I didn’t throw a punch.
I stepped into his space. Close enough that he had to look down at .
"Touch again," I said, my voice low and steady, "and I’ll have your scholarship revoked by noon tomorrow."
Brad froze.
"You think I’m joking?" I continued, holding his gaze. "You think Sofia Aldridge doesn’t have donors on the athletic board? You think she doesn’t know who you are?"
It was a bluff. Mostly. Sofia didn’t care about college lacrosse. But Brad didn’t know that.
Fear flickered in his eyes. He looked at his friends, then back at . He saw the confidence. The clothes. The reputation.
And he blinked.
"Whatever," he muttered, stepping aside. "You’re not worth it."
He walked away, his friends trailing behind him.
The lobby was silent for a heartbeat, then the whispers started again. Different this ti.
Did you hear that?
He threatened his scholarship.
Dude, don’t ss with him.
[Social Rank Updated: Contender -> Alpha (Provisional)]
[Respect Gained: 25]
[Intimidation Skill Level Up]
I walked into the gym, my heart pounding, but my face impassive.
I had won the battle. But the war for the campus had just begun.
And sowhere in the city, Sofia was watching.
User Comments
0 comments from readers