Aria's POV
The silence stretched between us longer than it should have.
I stood frozen at the doorway, one hand still on the handle, my heart racing for reasons I didn't want to examine too closely. Noah stood a few steps away, dressed too well for comfort, like he belonged here in a way that made the space bend around him.
Of course he did.
This was his world.
"I'm sorry," I said quickly, breaking the moment. "I thought this was the restroom."
I took a step back, already planning my escape.
"Wait."
His voice wasn't loud, but it stopped me anyway.
I turned reluctantly.
"Where are you heading?" he asked, his tone casual, almost polite. "This place is confusing. I can help."
"I'm fine," I replied immediately. Too immediately. "I'll figure it out."
I reached for the door again.
It was a lie.
The event center was massive. Endless hallways, identical doors, people moving in clusters like they knew exactly where they were going. I'd already walked in circles once. But admitting that to him felt impossible.
"I really don't need help," I added, avoiding his eyes.
Noah studied me for a second, like he knew exactly what I was doing.
"Suit yourself," he said calmly.
I stepped out into the hallway, heels clicking faster than before. My breath grew shallow, urgency building with every step.
You can do this, I told myself. Just find a sign.
I turned a corner.
Nothing.
Another hallway.
Still nothing.
My stomach clenched painfully.
Great.
I stopped walking.
There was no point pretending anymore.
Swallowing my pride, I turned back.
"Noah," I said quietly.
He looked at me, one eyebrow lifting slightly.
"I—" I exhaled. "I actually do need help."
A small, knowing smile tugged at his lips. "Thought so."
"I'm trying to find the restroom," I muttered.
"Follow me."
He didn't tease me. That somehow made it worse.
We walked side by side, the music fading as we moved deeper into the building. The hallway lights were softer here, the crowd thinner.
"So," he said after a moment, "who invited you?"
The question made me hesitate.
"I came with my mom," I said carefully.
"And she…?"
"She works here."
He glanced at me then, surprised for the first time that evening.
"Really?"
I nodded. "She's part of the finance team."
Interesting flickered across his face, but he didn't comment.
I cleared my throat. "What about you?"
He didn't hesitate. "My dad's the CEO."
I stopped walking.
He noticed instantly.
"You didn't know," he said.
"No," I admitted quietly. "I didn't."
That explained everything.
The confidence.
The authority.
The way people moved when he spoke.
We resumed walking, my thoughts tangled.
"So," he continued lightly, "guess that means we're both supposed to be here."
"I guess," I said.
We reached the restroom area at the end of the corridor. Relief washed over me so hard I almost laughed.
"There," he said, gesturing.
"Thank you," I replied sincerely.
I turned toward the door, ready to disappear again.
"Aria."
I paused.
He looked at me, eyes steady, expression unreadable --but softer than usual.
"You look… stunning."
The word landed heavier than I expected.
My breath caught for half a second.
"Thank you," I said quietly, then pushed the door open and stepped inside.
As it closed behind me, I leaned against the wall, heart pounding.
This was bad.
Very bad.
Because Kingsford Academy was one thing.
But this?
This was real life.
And somehow, I had walked straight into his.
---
Noah's POV
I won't lie.
When I saw her, it took me a second to register that it was her.
The girl who walked into that hallway didn't look like the quiet new student everyone had been whispering about all day. The blue dress caught the light with every step she took, hugging her perfectly, like it was made for her alone. For a brief moment, I forgot where I was.
I almost didn't recognize Aria.
Almost.
She froze when she saw me, surprise flashing across her face before she masked it. I watched her apologize quickly, already stepping back like she was trying to disappear again.
Typical.
I stopped her before she could leave.
I knew she needed help. I'd noticed it the moment she turned her movements stiff, her legs twisting slightly like she was fighting urgency. Anyone paying attention would've caught it.
But she refused.
Of course she did.
She always did that thing where she pretended she didn't need anyone.
I let her go.
Not because I believed her but because I wanted to see how long she'd last.
Not long, apparently.
When she turned back and quietly admitted she needed help, I almost smiled. Almost. I kept it neutral, calm, like this wasn't exactly what I'd expected.
We walked together, and somehow the conversation just… happened.
When she told me her mom worked for the company, I was genuinely surprised. That wasn't something you could fake easily. And when she asked why I was there, I told her the truth.
My dad was the CEO.
The son of Marlo.
Owner of Marlo Corporation.
She didn't know.
That part caught me off guard.
Most girls knew my last name before they knew my first. Some knew it before they even met me. The realization that she had no idea no curiosity, no assumptions confirmed what I'd already suspected.
She wasn't like the others.
When we reached the restroom, I watched relief cross her face, and without thinking too much about it, the words slipped out.
She looked stunning.
I meant it.
She thanked me quietly and disappeared behind the door, leaving me standing there longer than necessary.
Interesting.
---
I pulled out my phone immediately.
Noah:
Guess who I just found.
A second later, three dots appeared.
Leo:
If this isn't dramatic, don't bother.
I smirked.
Noah:
Aria. 😏
The replies came fast.
Kai:
You're joking.
Leo:
Where? At the party??
Noah:
VIP building. Blue dress. Stunning.
Leo:
Nah. That's unfair.
Kai:
Looks like the game's on.
My grin widened.
Noah:
Game's already started. And I'm winning your asses.
Leo sent a laughing emoji. Kai sent a single word.
Interesting.
I locked my phone and headed back toward the main hall.
---
The VIP section was exactly where it always was quieter, exclusive, guarded by subtle security. Leo was lounging against a high table, drink in hand, confidence dripping off him like always. Kai stood beside him, relaxed, observant, eyes scanning the room like he was cataloguing every detail.
"You look pleased," Leo said as I approached.
"I am," I replied.
Kai tilted his head. "You weren't kidding."
"No."
Leo straightened. "So?"
"So," I said calmly, "she had no idea who I was."
Leo burst out laughing. "You're lying."
"I'm serious," I said. "Didn't even flinch when I told her."
Kai's lips curved slightly. "That explains why she didn't react at school."
Leo shook his head. "This just got interesting."
I glanced toward the entrance of the hall, scanning faces.
Somewhere out there, Aria was finishing up, completely unaware she'd just walked into a different version of the same game.
Only this time
She wasn't playing by Kingsford's rules.
And that made her dangerous.
---
Aria's POV
I leaned against the restroom sink and let out a slow breath.
My face was warm.
Not hot.
I stared at my reflection, barely recognizing the girl looking back at me. My cheeks were flushed, eyes brighter than usual, lips parted like I'd just run instead of walked down a hallway.
Stunning.
The word replayed in my head whether I wanted it to or not.
I pressed my palms against the cool marble counter, grounding myself.
"He's a player," I reminded my reflection quietly. "Don't forget that."
Kingsford Academy had made that very clear. Noah wasn't someone you let close. He was someone you stayed far away from admired from a distance, if at all.
I straightened my dress, smoothing the fabric over my waist. The blue shimmered under the restroom lights, clinging in a way that made me swallow hard.
Okay, I admitted silently. I do look good.
That thought brought a small smile to my lips one that surprised even me.
My phone buzzed.
Mia:
You better be alive. How's the party?
I smiled and typed back.
Aria:
Still breathing. I'll tell you everything later.
I slipped my phone back into my purse, took one last look in the mirror, and nodded to myself.
You've got this.
Stepping out of the restroom, the music grew louder again, wrapping around me as I followed the familiar path back toward the employees' section where my mom had been seated earlier.
Everything felt… normal.
Good, even.
I walked slowly, absorbing the atmosphere the soft laughter, the clinking glasses, the elegant lighting. For the first time all day, my shoulders relaxed.
Then I felt it.
That strange pull.
I lifted my eyes.
And met his.
Across the room.
---
Noah's POV
I'd been scanning the hall without realizing how intensely I was doing it.
Faces blurred past me employees, investors, guests dressed in expensive confidence but none of them were who I was looking for.
Then
There.
Blue.
Our eyes met from across the room.
The distance between us suddenly felt meaningless.
She'd stopped walking, like she felt it too. For a split second, the noise around us faded, the music dulling into nothing but a pulse under my skin.
She looked… unreal.
Not just because of the dress but the way she carried herself. Careful. Alert. Like she was bracing for something she couldn't see coming.
Her lips parted slightly, breath hitching before she caught herself.
Then she looked away.
Fast.
Too fast.
Nervous.
I didn't.
I couldn't.
Something about the way she turned like she was afraid of being noticed only made it harder to stop watching.
"That her?"
Leo's voice cut in beside me.
I didn't answer.
He followed my line of sight and let out a low whistle. "Damn."
Kai glanced over briefly, then back at the room. "So that's Aria."
"She's pretending she didn't see you," Leo added with a grin. "Cute."
"She's avoiding trouble," I said flatly.
Leo laughed. "By ignoring you? Good luck with that."
I shifted slightly, still watching her weave carefully through the crowd, every step controlled, deliberate.
"She doesn't belong here," Leo continued. "Not in this room. Not in this game."
I finally looked at him. "You sure about that?"
He smirked. "Guess we'll find out."
Across the hall, she paused again, sensing eyes on her.
This time, she didn't look up.
But I knew she felt it.
Because so did I.
And for the first time in a long time
Distance didn't feel safe.
It felt temporary.