Heart Thief

0004 Professional Ethics

The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, Skye was jolted awake by the insistent buzz of her intercom. She'd been up late binge-watching "Friends" reruns, and the thought of getting out of bed felt like torture. Skye buried her face in her pillow, trying to ignore the world.

After half an hour of relentless buzzing, Skye finally snapped. She slapped the intercom button by her bed, grudgingly allowing entry to her persistent visitor.

"I knew you'd still be in bed, you lazy bum," Lily's voice filtered through the speaker. "Get up! You're going to be late! At least show up for attendance. You can sleep through the rest of your classes, but today you need to be there."

"No way," Skye mumbled. "I'll skip it." She'd only enrolled at NYU for fun, not to be tied down by schedules. Her lack of formal education didn't mean she needed a degree to make a living.

"I'll make your favorite New York classics for lunch - pizza, hot dogs, bagels..." Lily coaxed, ticking off items on her fingers as she perched on the edge of Skye's bed.

"And cheesecake," Skye added, peeking out with bleary eyes.

Lily chuckled. "Deal. Now get up."

Skye inwardly sighed. Selling out for good food wasn't her proudest moment, but Lily's cooking was irresistible. Life could be so unfair.

Fueled by morning grumpiness and resentment towards Professor Hamilton, Skye raced to campus with Lily in tow, leaving her housekeeper pale-faced and shaken.

"Hey, isn't that Lily? New ride? Sweet BMW," a voice called out as Lily stumbled from the car. A group of blonde, blue-eyed jocks sauntered over.

Lily frowned, stepping back. These were the notorious trust fund babies of the school, throwing their weight around campus. She wasn't impressed by their act. This Ivy League was full of privileged kids, all with their own agendas.

Seeking help, Lily turned to find Skye fast asleep at the wheel. Apparently, she'd sleep-driven the whole way. Furious, Lily yanked open the door and launched into a tirade that left the would-be Casanovas slack-jawed.

"You're never driving again, it's too dangerous!"

"Maybe we should just sell the car..."

"How could you drive like that..."

Under Lily's verbal assault, Skye finally surrendered. She stood up abruptly, ignoring the lecturer mid-sentence, and tossed her keys to Lily before gracefully exiting the hall. Peace at last, Skye thought. It was a miracle she'd endured Lily's nagging for so long. The power of good food was truly remarkable.

Strolling solo through Manhattan, Skye closed her eyes contentedly. How long had it been since she'd explored the city on foot? It felt good.

Brooklyn Bridge bustled with pedestrians, Broadway theaters overflowed with eager patrons, and the neon glow of Times Square pulsed with the city's endless energy. From her vantage point on a pedestrian bridge, Skye smiled at the busy crowd below. In this world, true leisure and freedom were rare commodities. Life was short - why spend it in constant hustle? She'd fought for twenty years to achieve this freedom, and now she was savoring every moment.

"Lily's looking everywhere for you." The familiar voice interrupted Skye's reverie as she posed for an artist in Central Park.

She turned to see Jake, dressed casually, with a new bombshell on his arm. The woman glared possessively at the admiring glances Jake attracted, while he maintained his trademark charming smile, unfazed by the attention.

"Looking for me?" Skye raised an eyebrow. She'd already handed over the car keys - surely Lily wasn't expecting her to meet potential buyers? Then again, it was nearly lunchtime. The promise of Lily's feast perked her up instantly.

Jake noticed Skye's fleeting interest before she returned her attention to the artist. Amused, he whispered something to his date before approaching Skye. He leaned in close, hands resting on the back of her chair. "Aren't you curious why she's looking for you?" he murmured.

Skye maintained her pose, smiling faintly. "Lunch time, I assume."

Jake laughed, his sun-kissed charm tinged with a hint of mischief. The sound drew admiring glances from nearby women. His date frowned, tugging at his arm. "Jake, let's go."

Jake's smile faded as he turned to her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I don't like disobedient girls, you know." The woman's eyes widened anxiously. "I didn't mean-"

Jake raised an eyebrow, and the sultry bombshell meekly retreated, waiting obediently.

Several women approached, attempting to catch Jake's eye. He noted the variety - innocent ingenues, seductive vixens, a flavor for every taste. But these easy conquests held little appeal. Common, readily available prizes weren't his style. Still, he couldn't resist the opportunity to showcase his charm in front of this woman who seemed immune to his allure. He politely declined each advance with gentlemanly grace.

After a while, he glanced down to find Skye still focused on her pose, utterly unaffected. A glimmer of intrigue flashed in Jake's eyes, realizing his performance had fallen flat. He studied her for a moment, then said with a hint of frustration, "Lily said you stormed off angry. She's worried sick."

Skye looked up at Jake in genuine confusion. Angry? News to her.

Jake raised an eyebrow at Skye's first show of emotion beyond cool detachment. If even she was in the dark, this situation just got a lot more interesting.