Chapter2: Rules of Partnership
1234 Words
The next morning, I arrived on campus twenty minutes early.
Not because I was excited to see Lucas.
Definitely not.
I was early because I had a quiz.
That was it.
At least, that's what I kept telling myself.
I walked into the classroom with an iced coffee in one hand and my notebook in the other.
Nina was already there.
She looked up the moment I entered.
“You're early.”
“I have a quiz.”
“You've never been early for a quiz.”
“I can change.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Is this because of Lucas?”
I almost choked on my coffee.
“No.”
“Sure.”
I ignored her and sat down.
A few minutes later, the classroom started filling up.
I opened my notebook and reviewed my notes.
Then I heard a familiar voice behind me.
“Morning.”
I turned.
Lucas stood beside my desk.
Black polo shirt.
Dark jeans.
Same expensive watch.
Different day.
Same annoying effect on my heartbeat.
“Morning.”
He pulled out the chair beside me.
“You're early.”
“So are you.”
“I had somewhere to be.”
“Where?”
He paused.
“Here.”
I stared at him.
He smiled slightly.
“Don't look so surprised.”
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
“I wasn't.”
“You're a terrible liar.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Did you bring your part of the project?”
“Yes.”
He placed a folder on my desk.
I opened it.
Everything was organized.
Research.
References.
Outline.
Even color-coded sections.
I looked at him.
“You did all this?”
“Some of it.”
“This is more than some.”
“I had time.”
“Apparently.”
He leaned closer.
“Is that a compliment?”
“No.”
“You're getting better at lying.”
I closed the folder.
“Let's make some rules.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“Rules?”
“Yes.”
“For the project.”
“Obviously.”
I pulled out my notebook.
“Rule number one: We split the work equally.”
“Agreed.”
“Rule number two: No disappearing without telling me.”
He looked at me.
Something flickered across his face.
“Fine.”
“Rule number three: We don't interfere with each other's personal lives.”
His expression became unreadable.
“Agreed.”
“Rule number four: No unnecessary meetings.”
“Define unnecessary.”
“Anything that isn't about the project.”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
I held out my hand.
“Deal?”
He looked at my hand.
Then at me.
“Deal.”
He shook it.
His hand was warm.
I immediately pulled mine away.
“Good.”
He leaned back.
“You forgot one.”
“What?”
“No falling in love with your partner.”
I stared at him.
He was smiling.
I narrowed my eyes.
“That's not funny.”
“I thought it was.”
“It wasn't.”
“Noted.”
I turned back to my notebook.
My face felt warm.
I hated him.
I really did.
Later That Afternoon
Our first official project meeting was scheduled at the university library.
I arrived first.
Of course.
I chose a table near the windows, opened my laptop, and started working.
Five minutes passed.
Ten.
Fifteen.
Twenty.
I checked my phone.
No message.
I sighed.
“Rule number two.”
I was about to send him a message when someone dropped into the chair across from me.
“Sorry.”
I looked up.
Lucas.
He was breathing slightly harder than usual.
His hair was messy.
His sleeves were rolled up.
And for some reason, he looked exhausted.
“You're late.”
“I know.”
“You're twenty-three minutes late.”
“I know.”
“Did you forget?”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
He didn't answer.
Instead, he placed his bag on the table.
“Let's work.”
I studied him.
Something was wrong.
But I remembered my own rule.
Don't interfere with each other's personal lives.
Fine.
I opened my laptop.
“Okay.”
For the next hour, we worked.
Surprisingly well.
Lucas was focused.
He barely spoke unless he had something important to say.
Every once in a while, he'd point something out on my screen.
“Change that source.”
“Why?”
“It's outdated.”
“How do you know?”
“I checked it.”
I looked at him.
“You really are serious about this.”
He shrugged.
“You are too.”
“I'm on scholarship.”
His eyes met mine.
“So?”
“So I can't afford to fail.”
Something softened in his expression.
“You won't.”
I smiled faintly.
“That's a lot of confidence.”
“I've seen your grades.”
I froze.
“You checked my grades?”
He immediately looked back at his laptop.
“They were included in the group records.”
“Right.”
Silence.
Then he said quietly,
“You work hard.”
I looked at him.
“Thanks.”
He nodded.
For the first time, neither of us argued.
It was strangely comfortable.
Almost too comfortable.
Then his phone vibrated.
Lucas glanced at the screen.
Everything changed.
His shoulders stiffened.
His face went pale.
He immediately stood.
“I need to go.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“Something came up.”
“You're leaving?”
“Yes.”
“Lucas, we still have—”
“I'll finish my part tonight.”
He grabbed his bag.
I stood.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You look like you've seen a ghost.”
His eyes met mine.
For a second, he looked terrified.
Then his expression hardened.
“I said I'm fine.”
He walked away.
I watched him disappear through the library doors.
I looked at the phone he had left behind.
Then toward the doors again.
He had forgotten it.
I picked it up.
The screen lit up.
One notification appeared.
UNKNOWN NUMBER
You can't hide forever.
My stomach dropped.
Before I could read anything else, the screen went dark.
I stared at the phone in my hand.
That wasn't a family message.
That wasn't a business call.
And it definitely wasn't normal.
A minute later, Lucas came rushing back.
His eyes immediately went to the phone in my hand.
“Give it to me.”
I held it out.
He took it.
Neither of us spoke.
Then I asked quietly,
“Who was that?”
His jaw tightened.
“No one.”
“Lucas—”
“It's nothing.”
“You're lying.”
His eyes met mine.
For a long moment, neither of us moved.
Then he stepped closer.
“Amelia.”
His voice was low.
Serious.
“Whatever you think you saw…”
He paused.
“Forget it.”
I swallowed.
“Why?”
He looked away.
“Because you don't want to know.”
Then he walked away again.
This time, I didn't follow him.
But one thing was certain.
The mysterious rich boy I had promised myself not to care about was hiding something.
And now, whether I liked it or not—
I wanted to know what it was.
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