Chapter 6: Forced Partnership
578 Words
Ada thought their unexpected conversations would stop after the mysterious text exchange.
She was wrong.
Very wrong.
The next morning, her lecturer announced something during class.
“Students, listen carefully. For your upcoming semester project, I’ve partnered with a local startup company for real-life experience.”
The class immediately began whispering excitedly.
Ada barely paid attention.
Until the lecturer continued —
“Selected students will be assigned to work directly with the company representatives for the project.”
Ada sighed softly.
Group assignments again.
Great.
“Your teams and assigned company mentors will be posted on the board.”
Everyone rushed forward to check.
Ada slowly walked behind the crowd, waiting for the noise to calm down.
Suddenly —
“Tola! We’re assigned together!” one student shouted happily.
Tola turned around excitedly.
Ada smiled slightly — happy for her friend.
Then she moved closer to the board to check her own name.
Her eyes scanned the list carefully.
Team 4.
Members: Ada, two other students…
And —
Company Mentor: Daniel Kareem.
She blinked.
Read it again.
Her heart skipped.
“No way…” she whispered.
She checked the name once more.
It was clearly written.
Daniel Kareem.
Her mentor.
Her eyes widened.
“This must be a mistake,” she muttered.
“Is there a problem?”
That voice.
Behind her.
She froze.
Slowly turning around…
There he was.
Daniel.
Standing calmly with his hands in his pockets, reading the board like he already knew.
“You?” she asked in shock.
He glanced at the board briefly.
“Yes.”
She pointed at the names.
“You’re my assigned mentor?!”
“Seems like it.”
Ada crossed her arms immediately.
“Why would they assign you? You’re a CEO — not a lecturer.”
He replied calmly, “My company agreed to participate. I chose to supervise one team personally.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Why my team?”
He looked at her directly.
“Random selection.”
She didn’t believe that.
Not for a second.
“Be honest.”
His expression remained unreadable.
“I requested it.”
Silence.
Her heartbeat suddenly felt louder than usual.
“You requested it?” she repeated slowly.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he studied her reaction carefully.
“Because I want to see how serious you are.”
Her eyebrows furrowed.
“Excuse me?”
“Your performance will reflect directly on my company’s evaluation.”
She felt slightly offended.
“So this is about business?”
“Of course.”
His tone was professional.
But his eyes… told a different story.
It felt personal.
Before she could respond, a group of students started whispering nearby.
“Isn’t that Daniel Kareem?”
“Why is he talking to her?”
“Do they know each other?”
Ada heard the murmurs.
She felt uncomfortable under everyone’s attention.
“People are staring,” she whispered.
Daniel glanced around briefly.
Then he stepped slightly closer — reducing the distance between them.
“Let them.”
Her breath caught for a second.
His voice dropped lower.
“From today onward, we work together.”
She swallowed.
“Strictly project-related,” she replied quickly.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
“Of course.”
But neither of them truly believed it would stay that simple.
Because now…
They were forced to see each other regularly.
And proximity has a way of changing everything.
- Writer
