Author's Note:Hey everyone đ!This chapter? Hmmm, someone's acting crazy and someone else just doesn't seem to care at all đ Lol đ let's see how long that lastsâŠ
Elena's POV
I opened my eyes, the ceiling above me unfamiliar.Waitâwas I lying on a couch?I blinked.
Did I actually sleep?!
That was almost impossible.Since I was young, I relied on sleeping pills.I don't sleep without them.
And yet, here I wasâno pills, no fearâresting peacefully in a hotel room.With him.
Am I okay?
I looked up toward the bed.
Empty.
But I could hear water running.
He was in the shower.And me?I was starting to panic.
I needed to leave.
Butâno, wait.
I didn't know his name.I didn't know his number.I didn't know anything.
How could I just walk away?
I started pacing, torn between walking out and barging into the bathroom to demand answers.Why am I so drawn to him?
It's the same feeling I had when that mechanic almost ran me over and then vanished.
WaitâNo way...
Could it really be... him?
I rushed out of the room. I needed air, space, anything.
But I didn't get far.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake off the feeling.This guyâŠHe is the one. I just knew it.
And somehow, I found myself back at his door.Swiped the access card.Walked in.
ButâWrong person.
Some other guy stood there shirtless, confused.
"Sorry, wrong room," I said, backing up.
"Hey, beauty," he grinned. "Here to make me happy?"
I froze.Then I snapped.
Slap.
Hard enough to leave his face red.
"Do I look like one of your chicks?" I hissed and stormed out.
I wanted to feel strong after that.But deep downâŠI hated how vulnerable I felt around that guy .
He made me nervous, unsure.But also warm, calm.
And damn, did he look handsome last night.
"Elena, why are you smiling like that?"
That voice dragged me back to reality.
Kira.
My best friend.
"W-What?" I blinked, changing my expression quickly.
"You were smiling~" she teased.
"No, I wasn't!" I replied, walking toward the rooftop pool of our family apartment tower.
"Elenaaa~" she followed again.
"What is it now, Kira?" I muttered, dipping my feet into the pool.
"I heard you left home last night. My brother tracked you down. That's the hotel you were at, right? Tell me everything. Was it fun?"
"It could've been⊠if that idiot didn't ignore me."
"I-Idiot?" she asked, eyebrows raised.
"Yes. The guy I told you about before."
"The mechanic?"
"Exactly. But last night, he was different. Expensive cologne, that robeâoh God. I saw his chest."
"You like him, don't you?" she smirked.
And I couldn't answer.
Because maybe⊠maybe I did.
Jake's POV
"Thanks for your service," a waiter said politely.
I nodded and walked away.
Enough wasting time.
Laz must be back already. I needed to return to work.
There's this one politician holding Ă17 billion across five ghost companies.And my client?He just told me to "try" hacking into it.
Too late. I already did.
The money was now in a one-time wallet I built myself.Encrypted. Disconnected. Anonymous.
I'm not a genius. I just understand things quickly.
Everything started from a live stream on WillyPieâthe social media everyone's addicted to.The masked man was doing a tutorial.
He dropped dark web links.I followed one called "The Web That Makes Us All."
From there, I bought 12 manuals.Mechanics. Surgery. Hacking. Programming. And more.
But hacking and programming?Those were my oxygen.
Now, I plan to build my own AI.
One that can understand me.Talk to me.Work with me.
She'll be the only one I ever trust.
But I can't get too loud.The police don't know who I amâyet.
I have to keep it that way.
When I returned to the hotel room, Laz was back.
Loud music. Girls giggling.
He never changes.
"Your girlfriend gone?" I asked, setting my laptop down.
"My what?"
"The girl who followed me last night."
"Ohhh, that one? Man, she looked like a billionaire's heiress in that dress! I thought she was yours!"
"YeahâŠ" I said, walking to the bathroom.
"She slapped me too," he added. "Can you believe that?"
I didn't bother responding.He talks too much.
Back in the room, I grabbed my headphones.The noise was killing my vibe.Maybe I should build my own pairâadd some AI integration.
Knock knock.
Not again.
I opened the door.
It was her.
Again.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" I asked, voice cold.
Then I slammed the door on her face.
Elena's POV
I couldn't forget him.
I tried.I failed.
Something about him felt familiar, too strong to ignore.
So, I came back.
I knocked. Twice.No answer.
As I lifted my hand to knock a third timeâhe opened the door.
And there he was.
Face.Eyes.Presence.
Everything froze.
But before I could speakâ
SLAM.
He shut the door on me.
My blood boiled.
Did he reallyâ?!
I pulled out the Holandes access card.
Swiped it.
He thinks I'm a joke?
Fine.
I walked in.
I'm not taking this insult again.
He's just a man.
He's justâ
Author's Note:
Wait, wait... hold up âïž
Jake just ignored herâagain??
What is WRONG with this guy đ
This girl is literally falling hard.She even slept peacefully for the first time in years near him.And he's out here slamming doors?! đ©
But hey⊠something's building.Something deep.
And we're not ready for it.
What will Elena do next?Will Jake ever drop his icy shell?
Stick around for Chapter 8 â it's gonna be wild. đđ„