Close Second

Chapter 4

CLOSE SECOND

Chapter 4 — Priya Knows

Everest's POV

By eight the next morning, I had already decided I hated the word marriage.

It followed me everywhere.

It was there when I brushed my teeth.

When I chose my clothes.

When I sat in the car.

Even when I opened my laptop to check my Ashfall ranking, the word somehow managed to appear in my thoughts.

Marriage.

To Kaelan Voss.

I stared out the car window as Manhattan blurred past.

"You're quiet."

I glanced toward the driver's seat.

"I'm thinking."

"That's dangerous."

I looked behind me.

Priya was sprawled across the back seat, eating a pastry she'd apparently brought with her.

"You weren't invited."

"I know."

"Then why are you in my car?"

"Because your driver has heated seats."

I rolled my eyes.

She took another bite.

"So..."

"No."

"I haven't asked anything."

"I know what you're going to ask."

"Then save us both time."

I sighed.

"Fine."

Priya swallowed.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

She stared at me.

I stared back.

Three seconds passed.

"You're terrible at lying."

"I've had a long morning."

"That doesn't answer my question."

I looked out the window again.

"I found out my parents want me to meet someone."

Her eyebrows rose.

"Someone?"

"Yes."

"A man?"

"Unfortunately."

"Is he cute?"

I gave her a look.

"Priya."

"What? If your parents are going to interfere with your life, we should at least establish whether they have good taste."

I tried not to smile.

"He's Kaelan Voss."

She nearly dropped her pastry.

"Kaelan Voss?"

"Keep your voice down."

"You're meeting Kaelan Voss?"

"Apparently."

"The Kaelan Voss?"

"How many are there?"

Priya leaned closer.

"The billionaire heir?"

"Yes."

"Voss Corp?"

"Yes."

"Gray eyes?"

"Yes."

"Looks like he could ruin someone's life without raising his voice?"

I looked at her.

"That's surprisingly accurate."

She grinned.

"Oh, this is interesting."

"It's not."

"It absolutely is."

"Priya."

"What?"

"I don't want to marry him."

"Good."

I blinked.

"Good?"

"Yes. Because you don't even know him."

"Exactly."

"But you should meet him."

I frowned.

"You sound suspiciously like my mother."

"I'm not saying marry him."

"Then what are you saying?"

"Meet him. Decide for yourself."

I crossed my arms.

"I already decided."

"You decided based on what?"

"I don't know him."

"Exactly."

She smiled.

"Meet him before you hate him."

"I already dislike him."

"Why?"

"Because he's a Voss."

Priya stared at me.

"That's your reason?"

"Our families have been competing for years."

"That's business."

"I know."

"And you're not your father."

I didn't respond.

That was the problem.

Everyone expected me to become exactly like him.

One day, I was supposed to take my place inside the Calloway Group, attend board meetings, make decisions worth millions and eventually become the woman running the empire.

But I didn't know if that was what I wanted.

Sometimes I wondered whether anyone had ever bothered to ask.

Priya nudged my shoulder.

"Hey."

I looked at her.

"You don't have to decide today."

I smiled faintly.

"Thanks."

"Of course."

She paused.

"Now, speaking of things you don't have to decide today..."

"What?"

"When are you going to beat Kai?"

I groaned.

"There it is."

"You can't escape him forever."

"I don't want to escape him."

"You want to destroy him."

"Correct."

She smiled.

"That's my girl."

---

Westbridge International University

Professor Whitfield's lecture hall was already half full when Priya and I arrived.

I took my usual seat near the middle.

Priya sat beside me.

I opened my laptop.

A few seconds later, whispers started.

I didn't need to look up.

I already knew who had entered.

Kaelan.

He walked into the lecture hall with Marcus Chen beside him.

Marcus was the complete opposite of Kaelan.

Where Kaelan was controlled and polished, Marcus was relaxed.

He wore a dark hoodie, sneakers and a grin that made it obvious he found almost everything amusing.

Kaelan scanned the room.

His eyes landed on me.

Again.

For some reason, I noticed.

He didn't look away immediately.

Neither did I.

Then Marcus said something to him.

Kaelan finally looked away.

Priya leaned toward me.

"He's looking at you."

"I noticed."

"And you're looking at him."

"I was not."

"You were."

I whispered, "Stop talking."

She smiled.

Professor Whitfield entered.

"Good morning."

Everyone settled down.

He placed his notes on the desk.

"Today we're discussing systems architecture and strategic information management."

I opened my notebook.

For the next forty minutes, I managed to forget about Kaelan.

Until Professor Whitfield said:

"Before you leave, I have an announcement."

Everyone looked up.

He adjusted his glasses.

"For your next assessment, you'll be working in pairs."

Groans filled the room.

Professor Whitfield smiled.

"You're welcome."

He began reading names.

I wasn't worried.

There were plenty of people in the class.

My chances of being paired with Kaelan were—

"Everest Calloway."

I looked up.

"Yes?"

"Kaelan Voss."

The room went silent for half a second.

Then whispers erupted.

I closed my eyes.

Of course.

Of course this would happen.

Priya slowly turned toward me.

Her expression was far too amused.

I mouthed:

Don't.

She smiled.

Across the room, Kaelan looked equally unimpressed.

Professor Whitfield continued reading names as though he hadn't just detonated a bomb in the middle of the lecture hall.

When class ended, I packed my laptop.

Kaelan approached my desk.

"Everest."

I looked up.

"Kaelan."

His gray eyes held mine.

"So."

"So?"

"Looks like we're partners."

"For the project."

"I assumed that was obvious."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Just making sure."

The corner of his mouth lifted.

"Do you always assume the worst about people?"

"Only when I have a reason."

"And do you have one?"

"Our families."

He studied me.

"That's not exactly my fault."

"I know."

"Good."

He held out his phone.

"Let's exchange numbers."

I hesitated.

Then entered my number.

His name appeared on my screen.

Kaelan Voss.

I stared at it for a moment.

He took his phone back.

"I'll send you the project requirements tonight."

"Fine."

He turned to leave.

Then stopped.

"Everest?"

"Yes?"

"About tomorrow."

My body stiffened.

"The meeting?"

"Yes."

He gave me a calm look.

"I don't want this any more than you do."

I blinked.

That wasn't what I expected.

"Good."

"I thought you should know."

He walked away.

I watched him go.

Priya appeared beside me.

"Well?"

I picked up my bag.

"What?"

"He doesn't seem terrible."

"I haven't changed my mind."

"You liked him."

"I did not."

"You definitely did."

I rolled my eyes.

"We're working on a project together. That's it."

Priya smiled.

"Sure."

I followed her out.

Neither of us noticed Marcus watching Kaelan from across the hallway.

Marcus folded his arms.

"You didn't tell her."

Kaelan looked at him.

"Tell her what?"

Marcus smiled.

"That you already know more about her than she thinks."

Kaelan's expression remained calm.

"She doesn't need to know."

"Yet."

Kaelan glanced toward the hallway where Everest had disappeared.

His phone buzzed.

He looked down.

A notification from Ashfall.

ASHEN has entered the training arena.

For the first time that morning, Kaelan smiled.

"Not yet."

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

"You're playing?"

Kaelan slipped his phone into his pocket.

"Of course."

He walked away.

And somewhere across campus, Everest was doing exactly the same thing.

Neither knew the person they were about to face online was the person they'd just agreed to work with in real life.

Their worlds were getting closer.

Much closer.

And neither of them was ready for what would happen when they finally collided.