THE BILLIONAIRE´S NEW TARGET
1356 Words
Chapter Three
Elena's POV
I almost threw the envelope into the trash.
It had been sitting on our tiny table for nearly ten minutes, and every time I looked at the gold Westbridge Academy seal, it irritated me all over again.
Who did Lucien Vale think he was?
One conversation.
One ridiculous encounter.
And suddenly he thought he could decide where I went to school?
I picked up the envelope again.
A full scholarship.
Tuition.
Books.
Accommodation if needed.
A monthly allowance.
It was the kind of opportunity people dreamed about.
So why did it feel more like a trap?
"Elena?"
Noah's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I looked up just as he stepped into the apartment, his school bag hanging from one shoulder.
His face lit up the moment he saw me.
"You're home early."
"Barely."
He dropped his bag by the door before noticing the envelope in my hand.
"What's that?"
"Nothing."
His eyes narrowed.
"If it's nothing, why are you staring at it like it insulted you?"
I couldn't help smiling.
"Maybe because it did."
Noah frowned.
He walked over, took the envelope from my hand before I could stop him, and turned it over.
His eyes widened.
"Westbridge Academy?"
I reached for it.
"Give it back."
Instead of listening, he opened it.
"Noah."
He ignored me completely.
His eyes moved across the page, reading faster with every line.
When he finally looked up, I barely recognized the expression on his face.
It was hope.
Real hope.
"Elena..."
"What?"
"This is a full scholarship."
"I know."
"They're paying everything."
"I noticed."
He looked down at the letter again.
"Tuition..."
He turned the page.
"Books..."
Another page.
"A monthly allowance?"
I sighed.
"You're reading it like you won the lottery."
His head shot up.
"Didn't we?"
I laughed.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not accepting it."
The excitement disappeared from his face.
"What?"
"I already turned it down."
"You... what?"
"I declined it this morning."
For a few seconds, he simply stared at me.
Then he laughed.
I blinked.
"What's funny?"
"You."
"I'm serious."
His smile slowly faded.
"Oh."
"You really are."
He carefully folded the letter and placed it back on the table.
"Can I ask why?"
I crossed my arms.
"You remember the school I delivered food to yesterday?"
"The rich one?"
"That's the one."
"The scholarship came from them?"
"Not from the school."
I paused.
"From someone I met there."
Noah frowned.
"What happened?"
I hesitated.
Then I told him.
Not everything.
Just enough.
The crowd.
The frightened boy.
The four boys.
Lucien.
How he'd looked at me as if he expected everyone to obey him.
How he'd told me I'd be attending Westbridge.
By the time I finished, Noah was quiet.
"So..."
"That's why I said no."
He looked at the letter again.
"You think he's trying to control you."
"I know he is."
"But he helped that boy."
"After I challenged him."
"Still..."
I shook my head.
"I don't trust him."
Noah didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he walked toward the tiny kitchen counter and poured himself a glass of water.
When he spoke again, his voice was softer.
"Our principal made another announcement today."
I looked at him.
"What announcement?"
"They're changing the school uniforms next term."
I frowned.
"So?"
"They're compulsory."
My stomach tightened.
"How much?"
He quietly told me the price.
The smile disappeared from my face.
That was almost everything I'd earned this week.
I walked to the drawer beside the bed and pulled it open.
A few folded notes.
Some coins.
That was all.
I counted them twice.
It didn't make any difference.
I still didn't have enough.
I closed the drawer before Noah could see my face.
"I'll figure something out."
"You always say that."
"Because I always do."
He smiled sadly.
"I can keep wearing the old one."
"It barely fits."
"I'll manage."
"No."
I turned to him.
"You won't."
He lowered his eyes.
"I don't want you worrying because of me."
I walked over and ruffled his hair.
"You've never been something I have to worry about."
He looked up.
"You worry about everything."
I smiled.
"That's my job."
He didn't smile back.
Instead, his eyes drifted toward the scholarship letter again.
"You know..."
"I think Mom would have wanted you to go."
The room became painfully quiet.
That wasn't fair.
He knew it.
I knew it.
Mom always believed education could change a person's life.
She used to say no opportunity was too small if it brought you closer to your future.
I looked away.
"This isn't about school."
"I know."
"It's about him."
"Yes."
Noah nodded slowly.
"But what if you're letting one bad person stop you from accepting something that could change both our lives?"
I didn't answer.
Because for the first time...
I wasn't completely sure I was right.
I looked at the scholarship letter again.
Just looking at it annoyed me.
It wasn't the paper.
It was what it represented.
Lucien Vale.
He barely knew me.
Yet somehow, he had already inserted himself into my life.
I hated that.
Noah walked over and sat beside me.
"You know what I think?"
"I'm almost afraid to ask."
"I think you're scared."
I looked at him.
"I'm not scared."
"A little."
I laughed.
"You've become very bold."
"I learned from you."
That made me smile.
Unfortunately, it also made him right.
Was I scared?
Not of Westbridge.
Not even of Lucien.
I was scared of owing him something.
People like him didn't do favors for strangers.
Not without expecting something in return.
"I don't like feeling like someone's project," I admitted.
"You won't be."
"You don't know that."
"No."
He shrugged.
"But you won't know unless you go."
I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling.
The apartment suddenly felt smaller than usual.
The walls needed painting.
The fan squeaked every few seconds.
Rain had stained one corner of the ceiling months ago, and I still hadn't saved enough to fix it.
This was my reality.
Not Westbridge.
Not expensive uniforms.
Not luxury cars.
This.
Noah followed my gaze.
"We'll be okay, you know."
"I know."
"We always are."
I reached over and squeezed his hand.
"Thanks for believing that."
"I have to."
"Why?"
"Because you do."
His answer caught me off guard.
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed.
I picked it up.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Almost.
"Hello?"
"Good evening. Am I speaking with Miss Elena Reyes?"
"Yes."
"This is the admissions office at Westbridge Academy."
I closed my eyes.
Of course it was.
"We're calling to confirm that you declined your scholarship offer this morning."
"That's correct."
"May I ask if there was a problem with the offer?"
"No."
"It was very generous."
"Then... may we ask why you declined?"
I glanced at Noah.
He was watching me carefully.
"It's personal."
"I understand."
The woman paused before speaking again.
"Miss Reyes, opportunities like this don't come often."
"I know."
"If you change your mind, we'd be happy to reconsider your application."
My heart skipped.
"What?"
"The scholarship hasn't been withdrawn."
I frowned.
"It hasn't?"
"No."
"You still have until tomorrow evening to accept."
Tomorrow.
Just one day.
After that...
The offer would disappear.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
"We hope to hear from you."
The call ended.
I slowly lowered the phone.
Noah didn't speak.
He didn't need to.
He already knew.
"You have another chance."
I nodded.
He smiled.
"I think that's a sign."
I laughed softly.
"Or a coincidence."
"Maybe."
He stood up and picked up the scholarship letter again.
Then he placed it gently in my hands.
"Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Don't say no because you're angry."
I looked down at the envelope.
The gold seal caught the light from the window.
For the first time...
It didn't look like a trap.
It looked like a choice.
A difficult one.
I traced my finger across the academy's name.
Westbridge Academy.
Tomorrow.
I had until tomorrow.
I took a slow breath.
Maybe...
Just maybe...
I owed it to Noah to think about it one more time.
- Writer
