The Bad Boy's Bet

Chapter 2 — The Bad Boy

Adrian Cole had never cared much about what people thought of him.

In fact, he had spent most of his life making sure people had something to talk about.

At Westbridge University, his reputation had become almost legendary.

He was the guy who could walk into a lecture ten minutes late, smile at the professor, and somehow avoid being thrown out.

The guy who had received more warnings from the dean than most students received assignments.

The guy whose name appeared in campus gossip almost every week.

And, according to half the female population of Westbridge...

the guy who was impossible to resist.

Adrian didn't particularly disagree with that last part.

Not because he thought he was perfect.

He simply knew what effect his smile had.

And he knew how to use it.

"You're late."

Adrian stopped outside the lecture hall.

Professor Harrison stood beside the door with his arms crossed.

Adrian looked at his watch.

Then at the professor.

Then back at his watch.

"By three minutes."

"Four."

"That's practically early."

A few students laughed.

Professor Harrison didn't.

"Inside."

Adrian gave him an innocent smile.

"Always a pleasure, Professor."

"Mr. Cole."

"Yes?"

"One day, your charm is going to stop working."

Adrian's smile widened.

"I'll worry about that when it happens."

He walked inside.

Ethan was already sitting near the back.

He moved his backpack from the empty chair beside him.

"Took you long enough."

Adrian sat down.

"I had things to do."

"You overslept."

"That too."

Mason, sitting on Ethan's other side, shook his head.

"How do you survive?"

Adrian leaned back.

"Talent."

"Luck," Mason corrected.

"Same thing."

The professor began the lecture.

Adrian opened his notebook.

He stared at the first slide.

Then the second.

Then the third.

Five minutes later, he was drawing random lines across the edge of his page.

Mason glanced over.

"You're not taking notes."

"I am."

"That's a picture of a car."

"It's educational."

"For what?"

"My future."

Ethan laughed.

"You know, one day your father is going to stop paying your tuition."

Adrian's expression changed slightly.

Only for a second.

Then his usual smile returned.

"He won't."

"You sure?"

"Completely."

Adrian's father had never been particularly concerned about his grades.

He cared about one thing.

The family business.

Cole Enterprises was one of the largest investment companies in the city.

Adrian was expected to eventually take over.

It was a future already planned for him.

A future Adrian had never asked for.

But he had also never bothered fighting against it.

Why bother?

Everything had always come easily to him.

Money.

Friends.

Attention.

Opportunities.

Maybe that was part of the problem.

He had never had to work particularly hard for anything.

And when nothing was difficult to obtain...

nothing felt particularly important either.

The lecture ended.

Students began packing their bags.

Adrian stood.

"Food?"

Ethan immediately agreed.

Mason closed his laptop.

"You two eat like you've never seen food before."

"We're young."

"You're twenty-one."

"Exactly."

They left the building.

Outside, the university courtyard was crowded.

Students sat beneath trees.

Others hurried between buildings.

A group of girls near the fountain noticed Adrian.

One whispered something.

Another looked over.

Then another.

Ethan noticed and laughed.

"You're famous."

Adrian shrugged.

"I try not to let it affect me."

"You love it."

"Maybe a little."

One of the girls walked toward them.

"Hey, Adrian."

He stopped.

"Hey."

She smiled.

"Are you going to the party Friday?"

"Probably."

"You should come."

"I might."

She laughed softly.

"That's not an answer."

"It's the best one I've got."

She smiled again before walking away.

Ethan waited until she was gone.

"You're unbelievable."

"What?"

"You didn't even ask her name."

Adrian shrugged.

"She didn't ask mine either."

Ethan stared at him.

"Everyone knows your name."

"Exactly."

Mason laughed.

They continued walking.

Adrian's phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen.

Dad.

His smile disappeared.

He answered.

"Hello?"

His father's voice came through immediately.

"Where are you?"

"University."

"Do you have classes?"

"Yes."

"Are you attending them?"

Adrian glanced at Ethan and Mason.

"Some."

There was silence.

Then—

"Your grandfather wants to see you tonight."

Adrian frowned.

"Why?"

"Business."

"I'm still in college."

"And you're still his grandson."

Adrian sighed.

"What time?"

"Seven."

"I'll be there."

The call ended.

Ethan looked at him.

"Family?"

"Yeah."

"Everything okay?"

Adrian slipped his phone into his pocket.

"Fine."

He didn't elaborate.

He rarely did.

His friends knew Adrian joked about almost everything.

But they also knew there were certain subjects he never joked about.

His family was one of them.

They reached the parking lot.

Adrian's black sports car was parked beneath a tree.

Ethan whistled.

"Still showing off?"

"It's my car."

"You've had it for two years."

"And?"

"You could drive something normal."

Adrian unlocked it.

"Define normal."

Mason laughed.

"You really are a walking stereotype."

Adrian opened the driver's door.

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I know."

He got inside.

Before starting the engine, Adrian looked across the parking lot.

For a moment, he saw someone familiar.

The girl from the library.

Elena Bennett.

She stood near the humanities building, holding several books against her chest while talking to another student.

She wasn't laughing loudly.

She wasn't surrounded by people.

She wasn't trying to attract attention.

She simply stood there.

Quiet.

Calm.

Completely unlike everyone else.

Adrian watched her for a few seconds.

Ethan followed his gaze.

"Again?"

Adrian looked at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Adrian started the car.

"I was just looking."

"Sure."

Adrian rolled his eyes.

"Don't make it weird."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Ethan grinned.

Adrian drove away.

He didn't know why he'd looked.

And he certainly didn't consider it important.

Elena was just another student.

A quiet one.

A smart one.

A girl who seemed to live in an entirely different universe from his.

And Adrian liked his universe exactly the way it was.

Fast.

Loud.

Careless.

That evening, Adrian arrived at the Cole residence a few minutes before seven.

The massive house looked exactly as it always had.

Perfect.

Expensive.

Cold.

He walked inside.

His grandfather was waiting in the study.

"You're late."

Adrian checked his watch.

"Three minutes early."

His grandfather gave him a stern look.

Adrian smiled.

"Sorry."

"Sit."

Adrian dropped into the chair opposite him.

His grandfather studied him for several seconds.

"Your father tells me you're still wasting your time at university."

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"I'm studying."

"Are you?"

"Occasionally."

His grandfather sighed.

"You'll inherit a company someday."

"I know."

"Then start acting like it."

Adrian leaned back.

"I have plenty of time."

"That's what young people always think."

Adrian didn't answer.

His grandfather pushed a folder across the desk.

"Your internship begins next month."

Adrian looked at it.

"Internship?"

"At Cole Enterprises."

"I thought I had a choice."

"You do."

Adrian looked up.

"Really?"

His grandfather nodded.

"You can either learn how the company works now..."

He paused.

"...or learn later when you're responsible for it."

Adrian looked at the folder again.

For once, he didn't make a joke.

"Fine."

His grandfather nodded.

"Good."

Adrian stood.

"Can I go?"

"Yes."

He walked out.

The moment he stepped into the hallway, his phone buzzed.

A message from Ethan.

Party Friday. Don't disappear.

Adrian smiled.

He typed back.

Wouldn't dream of it.

He slipped the phone into his pocket.

To Adrian, life was simple.

University.

Friends.

Parties.

Cars.

Girls.

Family expectations.

Nothing too serious.

Nothing permanent.

Nothing capable of hurting him.

At least, that's what he believed.

He had no idea that somewhere inside Westbridge University was a quiet girl who would eventually make him question every single one of those beliefs.

And he certainly had no idea that a stupid challenge involving that girl was only a few days away.

For now, though...

Adrian Cole was still the bad boy.

And Elena Bennett was still the nerdy girl.

Two completely different worlds.

Two people who barely knew each other.

And neither had any idea that their story had already begun.