The Contract
1105 Words
Elyana's POV
I spent the entire bus ride staring at the acceptance email.
Even after reading it at least twenty times, I still couldn't believe it.
A full scholarship. Tuition. Accommodation. Meals. Living expenses. Everything.
It sounded too good to be true. Maybe it was.
But what choice did I have? If I stayed where I was, I'd lose everything. If I came to Blackmore Academy, at least I'd have a chance.
Two weeks ago, I’d been worried about passing my exams.
Now I was starting over in a school I’d never even heard of.
I whispered to myself.
“Please let this work.”
The bus slowed to a stop in front of a pair of towering black iron gates.
BLACKMORE ACADEMY
The words were carved into polished stone. Behind the gates stood the most beautiful campus I'd ever seen.
Ancient buildings stretched across acres of land. Students walked through perfectly trimmed gardens while fountains sparkled under the morning sun. This place looked more like a palace than a school.
My stomach twisted. Do I really belong here?
"Miss Steve?"
A woman wearing a navy suit smiled at me.
"I'm Mrs. Carter from Admissions."
I quickly picked up my suitcase.
"Hi."
"We've been waiting for you."
There was that sentence again. Waiting for me.
I forced a smile.
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
She nodded politely.
"We're happy to have you."
Somehow, her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
She led me across the courtyard. Students glanced at me as we passed. Some wore expensive watches.
Others stepped out of luxury cars that were still parked near the entrance. Everyone looked confident.
I suddenly became aware of my faded sneakers and old backpack.
I lowered my eyes. Maybe once classes started, no one would notice me.
That was all I wanted. A chance to study. Nothing more.
The admissions office was busier than I expected. Students hurried in and out while staff carried stacks of folders across the room.
Mrs. Carter led me to a desk.
"Normally orientation takes most of the day, but we're on a tight schedule."
"A tight schedule?"
She glanced at her watch.
"Your scholarship must be finalized immediately."
"Oh."
She placed a thick stack of papers in front of me.
"I'll need your signature."
I looked down. There were so many forms. Enrollment Agreement. Housing Policy. Medical Consent. Library Registration. Emergency Contacts. Scholarship Acceptance.
I sighed in relief.
"Normal paperwork."
Mrs. Carter tapped the desk impatiently.
"We're running behind."
"I'd like to read them first."
"I'm afraid there isn't time."
I looked up.
"What?"
"The scholarship offer expires today."
My heart skipped. "Expires?"
She nodded.
"If the paperwork isn't completed within the next fifteen minutes, your place will be offered to another student."
I swallowed hard. Fifteen minutes? I stared at the papers.
It didn't feel right. Mom had always told me never to sign anything without reading it. But if I insisted, I'd lose everything. Again.
Mrs. Carter slid a pen toward me. "The decision is yours."
I closed my eyes. "I'm sorry, Mom."
One by one, I signed every page. When I finished, Mrs. Carter collected the documents almost immediately.
"Perfect." Just like that. It was over.
She handed me a keycard. "Dormitory C."
I smiled for the first time all morning.
"So I'm officially a student?"
"You are."
Relief washed over me. Maybe this really was my fresh start. Maybe things were finally getting better.
I reached for my suitcase.
“Can someone show me where the dormitory is?”
“In a few minutes.” She closed the folder.
"There's just one more thing."
My smile faded. "What is it?"
Mrs. Carter opened one of the folders I'd just signed. She removed a single page.
"I'd like to explain your participation in Blackmore Academy's Image Protection Program."
I blinked. "My what?"
"The Image Protection Program."
"I've never heard of that."
"It's outlined in Section Twelve."
I frowned. "I don't remember reading Section Twelve."
She looked at me calmly. "You signed it."
A strange feeling settled in my stomach.
"What exactly did I agree to?"
Mrs. Carter folded her hands. "As part of your scholarship conditions, you've agreed to participate in a public relations arrangement designed to protect the reputation of Blackmore Academy."
"I don't understand."
"You'll be pretending to date another student."
For a moment, I thought I'd misheard her. "… Excuse me?"
She slid the signed page toward me. At the bottom, my signature stared back at me.
My hands started shaking. I looked at the paper again. Then again.
My signature was there, clear as day.
"This has to be a joke."
"I'm afraid it isn't."
"I never agreed to date anyone!"
"You signed the contract voluntarily."
"I signed scholarship papers!"
"You signed all the papers."
I pushed my chair back so fast it nearly fell over.
"This is insane. I won't do it."
Mrs. Carter remained perfectly calm. "If you refuse to fulfill the agreement, your scholarship will be terminated immediately."
My blood ran cold. "What?"
"The contract is legally binding."
"You can't do that."
"We already have."
I stared at her in disbelief. "So you're blackmailing me?"
"We're enforcing the agreement you signed."
I couldn't breathe. Everything happened so fast.
For one second, I actually considered running. I could leave, walk out.
Forget Blackmore Academy ever existed. But then what?
Go back to an apartment I couldn’t afford?
Lose another chance to finish school? I already knew the answer. I was trapped.
"Who is he?" I asked quietly.
Mrs. Carter smiled. "Kaden Norm."
The name meant nothing to me. "Should I know who that is?"
Her eyebrows lifted slightly. "He's Blackmore Academy's hockey captain."
"I don't watch hockey."
"He's also the future Alpha of Blackmore Pack."
I frowned. "The future what?"
Mrs. Carter paused for half a second before correcting herself.
"The future leader of one of our academy's founding families."
Something about the way she corrected herself felt strange. I opened my mouth to refuse again.
Before I could speak, someone knocked on the office door.
Mrs. Carter looked toward it.
"Perfect timing."
The door opened.
A tall young man stepped inside wearing a black hockey jacket with CAPTAIN stitched across the sleeve.
His dark hair was slightly messy, as though he'd just come from practice.
Sharp blue eyes landed on me. He looked me up and down once.
Then looked back at Mrs. Carter.
"So…" His voice was calm. "This is the girl?"
I folded my arms. "And you must be the jerk who's ruining my life."
A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
Then… He smiled.
- Writer
