Chapter two: The Name He Shouldn't Know
1166 Words
Lena couldn't focus.
For the first time all semester, Professor Harris's lecture sounded like meaningless background noise.
Graphs filled the projector screen.
Students scribbled notes.
Someone behind her whispered about an upcoming exam.
But all Lena could think about was one thing.
How did he know my name?
She stared at the notebook lying open on her desk.
Alexander Sterling.
The most recognizable student on campus.
The man she had met less than ten minutes ago.
The man who somehow knew her name.
She replayed the encounter in her mind.
Had she introduced herself?
No.
Had one of her books contained her name?
Maybe.
But she wasn't convinced.
Something about the way he had said it bothered her.
Not like he had just read it somewhere.
Like he already knew.
A chill ran down her spine.
Ridiculous.
She was overthinking.
By lunchtime she had almost convinced herself she was imagining things.
Almost.
"Lena!"
Her best friend Maya slid into the seat across from her in the crowded student cafeteria.
"I heard."
Lena sighed.
"Heard what?"
Maya looked horrified.
"Don't tell me you don't know."
"Know what?"
"You and Alexander Sterling."
Several nearby students immediately looked over.
Lena groaned.
"There is no me and Alexander Sterling."
"There was this morning."
"There absolutely was not."
Maya pulled out her phone.
"What?"
"See for yourself."
Lena leaned forward.
Then froze.
A photograph filled the screen.
Her heart dropped.
It was from the courtyard.
She and Alexander kneeling together while collecting her fallen books.
The angle made them appear far more intimate than reality.
A second photo showed him smiling at her.
A third captured the moment their hands touched.
The accompanying caption read:
STERLING HEIR SPOTTED WITH MYSTERY GIRL. NEW GIRLFRIEND?
Over three thousand likes.
Posted less than two hours ago.
"Oh no."
"Oh yes," Maya said.
"Oh no."
The post already had hundreds of comments.
Most were speculation.
Some were jokes.
Others were cruel.
Who is she?
Another social climber.
She won't last a week.
Poor fiancée.
Lena stopped reading.
A strange knot formed in her stomach.
"People are insane."
"Welcome to life around Alexander Sterling."
Lena pushed the phone away.
"It means nothing."
Maya raised an eyebrow.
"You literally became campus gossip in one morning."
"Wonderful."
The rest of lunch passed in uncomfortable silence.
Everywhere Lena looked, people seemed to be staring.
Whispering.
Watching.
By afternoon she couldn't wait to leave campus.
Her shift at the café suddenly felt like a refuge.
No gossip.
No wealthy heirs.
No unnecessary drama.
Just coffee.
Unfortunately, fate seemed determined to ruin her day.
The café bell chimed around five o'clock.
Lena looked up automatically.
And nearly dropped the cup she was holding.
Alexander Sterling had just walked in.
The entire café went silent.
Again.
Apparently that was his superpower.
Students immediately straightened in their seats.
Conversations died.
Heads turned.
Alexander appeared completely unaware of the effect he had.
Or perhaps he was simply used to it.
His gaze swept across the room.
Then landed directly on Lena.
Something unreadable flickered across his expression.
Recognition.
Relief.
Maybe both.
No.
Definitely not relief.
Why would he care?
She looked away first.
A customer approached the register.
Two minutes later she finally glanced up again.
Alexander was standing in line.
Watching her.
Her pulse skipped.
Don't be ridiculous.
He's waiting for coffee.
That's all.
The line moved forward.
Soon he reached the counter.
Lena forced herself into professional mode.
"Welcome. What can I get for you?"
The corner of his mouth twitched.
"A black coffee."
"Anything else?"
"Actually, yes."
She looked up.
His storm-gray eyes met hers.
"I'd like to apologize."
The words caught her off guard.
"For what?"
"The internet."
Lena blinked.
He looked genuinely annoyed.
"The photos."
"Oh."
"People can be intrusive."
That was certainly one way to describe it.
She handed him the receipt.
"It isn't your fault."
"It feels like it is."
For a moment neither moved.
Then he leaned slightly closer.
"Are you alright?"
The question sounded sincere.
Dangerously sincere.
Lena wasn't sure why that bothered her.
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
"Thank you."
A laugh escaped him.
The sound was unexpectedly warm.
Before he could respond, a voice cut through the café.
"Alexander."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Lena felt it before she saw it.
Alexander turned.
A tall man stood near the entrance.
Late twenties.
Perfect suit.
Cold expression.
Everything about him radiated authority.
And disapproval.
The stranger's eyes moved from Alexander to Lena.
Then back again.
The look lasted only a second.
But it made Lena uncomfortable.
Very uncomfortable.
Alexander's posture stiffened.
The easy warmth vanished from his face.
"Excuse me," he said quietly.
He walked toward the man.
They began speaking in low voices.
Lena couldn't hear the conversation.
But she didn't need to.
The tension was obvious.
The older man's expression darkened.
Alexander said something.
The man responded sharply.
Then both looked toward her.
A chill crept down her spine.
Why are they looking at me?
Alexander's jaw tightened.
The older man shook his head.
A warning.
That was what it looked like.
A warning.
Moments later they left together.
The café buzzed back to life.
Students resumed talking.
Orders continued.
Everything appeared normal.
Yet Lena couldn't shake the feeling that something had happened.
Something important.
Something she wasn't supposed to see.
Later that evening, as rain tapped against her apartment window, Lena sat at her desk trying to study.
The textbook remained untouched.
Her thoughts kept returning to the stranger.
Who was he?
A family member?
A business associate?
Security?
And why had Alexander looked so angry?
Her phone buzzed.
A notification appeared.
Unknown Number.
Lena frowned.
She opened the message.
Her blood ran cold.
There was no greeting.
No introduction.
Just one sentence.
Stay away from Alexander Sterling.
She stared at the screen.
The message vanished seconds later.
Deleted by sender.
Lena shot to her feet.
Her heart hammered against her ribs.
What?
Who sent that?
How did they get her number?
She immediately called the number.
No answer.
She tried again.
Disconnected.
The apartment suddenly felt too quiet.
Too empty.
Too dark.
Outside, thunder rolled across the sky.
Lena moved to the window.
Rain blurred the city lights below.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
And for the first time since meeting Alexander Sterling, she wondered if this was bigger than campus gossip.
Much bigger.
Across the city, inside the Sterling family estate, Alexander stood in his father's office.
The warning message had already been sent.
He knew it.
He could see it in his father's expression.
"You had no right," Alexander said.
His father's gaze remained cold.
"I have every right."
"She's done nothing."
"Then she has nothing to fear."
Alexander laughed bitterly.
Both of them knew that wasn't true.
The Sterling family didn't issue warnings unless they considered someone a threat.
And that realization terrified him.
Not for himself.
For Lena.
Because if his family had noticed her already...
Then she was in far more danger than she realized.
- Writer
