3
966 Words
Once the Business class was over, the lecture hall transformed into a frenzy of excitement. Students surrounded Luke Hudson, clamoring for autographs and selfies.
The air buzzed with admiration as he engaged them with his trademark charm and an easy smile. Even Kate couldn’t resist the pull, rushing over with her notebook in hand.
“You’re seriously not coming?” Kate asked, glancing over her shoulder at Cassie before joining the crowd.
“No, thanks,” Cassie replied tersely, folding her arms. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
Cassie stepped out into the crisp afternoon air, her mood sour. The memory of her family’s hasty evacuation replayed in her mind like a bad dream.
She pulled out her phone and unconsciously searched Luke Hudson’s name.
His profile popped up instantly, and she couldn’t deny the depth of his accomplishments.
‘Luke Hudson, 33 years old, billionaire CEO of Hudson Motherboard Construction Ltd.
He’d founded the company at the age of 21, expanding it into one of the largest construction firms in the country within a decade.
Article after article painted a picture of an innovative, ambitious leader, celebrated for his ability to transform urban spaces.
There were accolades, interviews, photos of him at charity events. He was practically a golden boy.
But to Cassie, he was still the man responsible for uprooting her life.
Her fingers tightened around her phone. “Impressive on paper,” she muttered, “but that doesn’t make him a good person.”
As she sat on a low stone wall outside the building, waiting for Kate when something shiny caught her eye.
A sleek, royal-blue Bugatti was parked nearby, its chrome accents gleaming in the sunlight. The car screamed wealth, power, and excess. Cassie stared at it, her bitterness bubbling over.
Kate emerged from the crowd moments later, gushing about Luke Hudson. “Oh my gosh, Cassie, he’s even better up close! And he’s so polite. And that car, look at it! Isn’t it amazing?”
Cassie glanced at the Bugatti again. “Yeah,” she said slowly, her eyes narrowing. “It probably is.”
An idea sparked in her mind, fueled by her frustration. She knew it was petty and immature, but at that moment, she didn’t care. She wanted to do something to make him feel even a fraction of the disruption he’d caused in her life.
“Wait here,” she said to Kate, slipping her bag off her shoulder. She rummaged through it until she found a small sewing pin.
“Cassie, what are you doing?” Kate asked, her voice tinged with nervous curiosity.
“Just stay there,” Cassie said firmly, walking toward the Bugatti.
She crouched down by the front tire, feeling a bit rebellious. If she couldn’t stop Luke Hudson’s bulldozers, she could at least flatten his tires.
She pressed the pin against the rubber and pushed, but it was harder than she expected. The tire barely dented under the pressure. She adjusted her grip and tried again, gritting her teeth.
The sound of footsteps behind her made her pause, but she dismissed them, assuming it was just another student passing by.
Determined, she leaned in closer, jabbing the pin harder against the unyielding tire.
“Do you need some help with that?”
The deep, amused voice froze her in place. Cassie’s heart sank as she slowly raised her head, her stomach churning with dread.
Luke Hudson stood over her, arms crossed, an eyebrow quirked in faint amusement. Beside him was a campus security officer, who didn’t look nearly as entertained.
Cassie shot to her feet, her cheeks flushing crimson. “It’s not what it looks like, I… wasn’t doing anything!” she stammered, hiding the pin behind her back.
Luke’s piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, she thought he might actually laugh. “Really? Because it looked like you were trying to stab my car’s tire.”
Cassie clenched her jaw, her embarrassment quickly morphing into anger. “He only cares about his car.” she muttered under her breath.
Luke tilted his head, studying her. “You’ve got quite the grudge against me, don’t you?” he said, his tone light but probing.
“You think?” Cassie snapped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I don’t know, maybe it has something to do with you destroying my neighborhood and kicking my family out of our home.”
The security officer glanced at Luke, clearly waiting for instructions. Luke held up a hand, signaling him to stay back, before turning his attention back to Cassie.
“Look,” he said, his voice calm but firm, “I understand that you’re upset, but this isn’t the way to handle it.”
Cassie crossed her arms, glaring at him. “Oh, and what is the way? Should I just sit back and let you ruin people’s lives while you drive around in your fancy car and give motivational speeches?”
Luke sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, he said, “For what it’s worth, I didn’t personally oversee the project affecting your neighborhood. I’m not involved in every single operation my company handles. But I’m willing to talk about it. If there’s a way to make things right, I’ll do what I can.”
Cassie snorted. “Talk? That’s rich coming from someone who doesn’t even bother to warn families before bulldozing their homes.”
Luke’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, the polished CEO facade slipped. “I’ve already apologized for that,” he said, his tone edged with frustration. “But vandalizing my property isn’t going to solve anything.”
Cassie stared at him with warring emotions. She hated him for what he represented, but she wasn’t going to admit he was right.
- Writer
