Zayden watched Riley's retreating figure, her long strides filled with defiance. He'd expected a typical scholarship girl—someone shy, desperate to fit in, maybe even flattered by his attention. But Riley Morgan? She was fire in a gasoline world. And he wasn't sure if he wanted to tame her—or get burned.
He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin as murmurs filled the cafeteria.
"You're slipping, Zay," his friend Marcus said, dropping into the seat Riley had just vacated. "That girl just blew you off in front of everyone."
Zayden shrugged. "She's different."
"Different? She almost broke your nose and dented your car."
"And she didn't even flinch when I cornered her. Tell me that's not rare."
Marcus laughed. "You're crazy. No girl has ever said no to you, and now you're obsessed with the one who did."
Zayden didn't reply. His mind was already spinning with possibilities.
This wasn't about conquest. Not anymore. Riley wasn't a game—she was a challenge.
And Zayden Adrian never backed down from a challenge.
Meanwhile…
Riley shoved her tray into the return slot, her jaw tight. She couldn't believe the nerve of him—sitting across from her like he owned her seat, her air, the whole damn school. Which, in a way, he did.
She'd looked him up after their first run-in. Zayden Adrian. Son of Dominic Adrian, CEO of a global tech empire. The Adrian name was everywhere—from sports arenas to hospitals, plastered across the city like royalty. And now, here she was, in his world, bumping heads with the crown prince himself.
This wasn't what she came to Crestwood Elite Academy for. She wanted to focus, graduate with top grades, and prove that she was more than a scholarship case from the wrong side of town.
Falling into a battle of wits with a billionaire playboy? Not part of the plan.
But she couldn't deny it. There was something about the way he looked at her. Like he saw more than the tomboy exterior and biting sarcasm. And that scared her more than she wanted to admit.
—
Later That Day
Practice was brutal. Crestwood's track team didn't mess around, and Riley was determined to earn her spot. She sprinted until her lungs burned, her legs screaming with every step.
But when she rounded the final curve, she stopped short.
Zayden stood near the fence, arms folded, watching.
"What now?" she snapped, pulling off her jacket and wiping sweat from her brow.
"You run like you're running from something," he said calmly.
"I'm running toward something. You wouldn't understand."
He raised an eyebrow. "Try me."
Riley shook her head. "I don't have time for games, Zayden."
"I'm not playing," he said. "But you're going to keep seeing me. So you might as well get used to it."
She turned away, forcing her breath to steady.
"Why?" she asked softly, not facing him. "Why me?"
There was a pause.
"Because you're the only one here who's not afraid to push back," he said. "And I think I need that."
For a moment, the tension softened. Just a flicker.
Then Riley spoke, her voice cold and clear.
"Don't mistake fire for invitation, Adrian."
She walked off the field without another word, leaving Zayden staring after her, more intrigued than ever.