I was walking through the hallway of my new school, trying to navigate the maze of lockers and unfamiliar faces, when I suddenly bumped into something solid. No, scratch that—I walked straight into a brick wall. Or at least, that's what it felt like."Watch where you're going... buttercup." The voice that rumbled above me was deep, almost a growl, with a hint of amusement. Buttercup? Seriously?A flush of embarrassment crept up my cheeks as I realized he was referring to the tiny buttercup on my crop top. Who does that? I glanced up—well, more like craned my neck up—because this guy was towering over me like a walking Eiffel Tower. And, damn it, he was gorgeous. The kind of gorgeous that should come with a warning label.Stay focused, Scarlet."Maybe you should watch where you're going," I snapped back, trying to keep my voice steady despite my racing heart.He tilted his head slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "You walked into me, buttercup. Now, say sorry and I’ll let you go. You really don’t want to mess with me, sweetheart."He leaned in just enough for me to catch the sharp glint in his eyes. Arrogance radiated off him like heat waves.I met his gaze, refusing to be intimidated. "I'm not going to apologize to an arrogant ass like you."Without giving him a chance to respond, I turned on my heel and walked away, feeling the tension of his stare burning into my back. But before I could get too far, I felt a strong hand grab my wrist, yanking me back with surprising force.He shoved me against the nearest wall, his face inches from mine. The playful smirk was gone, replaced by something much darker, more intense. My heart pounded in my chest as his eyes bore into mine, a silent challenge hanging in the air between us.