Chapter 4: Masks and Mornings
StoneArc Innovations – Three Days Before the Memorial
Maya adjusted her ID badge in the elevator mirror. The laminated card read Maya Lane intern, Executive Support. The name wasn't hers, not really. But it was the name StoneArc Innovations knew her by now, thanks to forged records, rerouted background checks, and one carefully staged recruitment file slipped into HR's system.
It had taken weeks. A dozen false leads. A quiet wire transfer to a recruiter who owed her mother a favor. But now she was here. On the inside.
Getting close to Elijah was no longer a hope.
It was a plan.
Her fingers curled into the strap of her tote bag as the elevator dinged. Ground floor. The lobby of StoneArc buzzed quietly glass walls gleaming, security gates humming, morning light filtering through like gold across marble.
She stepped out, heels clicking softly on the floor.
Just as Elijah Grant was walking out of the security doors, one hand on his phone, the other clutching a leather folio.
He wasn't looking where he was going.
Until he was.
Their eyes met.
And for a moment, neither moved.
Maya schooled her features into something curious, neutral. Like she'd never seen him before.
Elijah blinked. Confused. Intrigued. Then wary.
"Mornin'," she said with a polite smile, just as Dana's voice called behind him.
"Elijah! That intern you ignored the email about? She's starting today."
He turned slowly. "That one?"
Dana caught up, panting. "Yes. Maya Lane. Intern slash personal-assistant.
temporary, super qualified, supposedly. Don't worry, HR approved."
Elijah turned back toward Maya, scanning her with quiet calculation.
She offered her hand. "Looking forward to working with you, Mr. Grant."
His grip was firm. Professional. But his eyes lingered too long.
"Likewise," he said simply. "You're early."
"I like knowing where I'm going."
Dana cut in. "You'll be shadowing him, but I'll help get you up to speed. Try not to run into him next time. He doesn't do 'bump into meet-cutes.'"
Maya laughed softly, and Elijah gave Dana a flat look before walking off, tapping again at his phone but not before glancing back once more.
A spark had been lit.
He didn't know it yet, but it was already catching fire.
Riverside University – Eliana Grant
Eliana slumped into the beanbag at the corner of the student lounge, balancing a yogurt in one hand and an open laptop on her knees. Her dark curls were piled messily on top of her head, glasses slightly askew.
"Have you ever not looked like a walking deadline?" groaned Lani, flopping beside her with a smoothie.
"Midterms are coming," Eliana replied without looking up.
"A date is also coming," added Reya, the third of their trio, sliding onto the couch with her sketchpad. "As in, tonight. You promised you'd come."
"It's not a date," Eliana muttered. "It's a dorm party. And I said I'd 'consider' it."
Lani threw a popcorn kernel at her. "Girl. You're twenty. You've never been on a real date, and you live like a nun with Wi-Fi."
Eliana grinned despite herself. "You're forgetting the one time I got dinner with that philosophy major."
"Who argued that feelings were a capitalist illusion," Reya snorted.
"You're just scared to fall for anyone," Lani teased, eyes gleaming. "Even Jace and he's practically a Greek god."
Eliana's stomach flipped at the name but she masked it with a shrug. "He's just a guy. Besides, he probably doesn't even know who I am."
"Oh, he does," Reya said with a sly look. "He asked me yesterday if you're seeing anyone."
Eliana's brows shot up. "Wait what?"
"Busted," Lani said, high fiving Reya.
Eliana shook her head, flustered. "Still not going."
"Oh, you're going," Reya insisted. "Even if we have to drag you there in a hoodie and eyeliner. Just one night of college chaos. For us."
Eliana hesitated.
Maybe it was time.
Just one night.
Besides, no one here knew she was Eliana Grant, sister of the well known Elijah Grant . She'd kept it quiet on purpose. Here, she was just Eliana. A literature major, a poet in hiding, a girl who hadn't cried since her father's funeral.
And maybe tonight… she'd try laughing again.
StoneArc Innovations – Lower Lobby
Elijah had barely stepped off the elevator when he caught a glimpse of her standing by the front desk with a tablet in hand, her dark curls tucked into a loose bun, a lanyard swinging lightly from her neck. It took a second for his brain to catch up. The sneakers. The stance. The quiet storm behind those eyes.
Maya.
He froze mid-step.
She didn't look up, too busy scrolling through a system orientation packet. Elijah stared, brows narrowing. Something was off she had a badge, a company issued tablet, and a passcode lanyard.
"Dana," he called, turning around before the doors slid shut again.
Dana looked up from her screen in their shared executive space upstairs. "Yes, boss?"
"New intern. Downstairs. Dark hair, in sneakers. Who is she?"
Dana grinned. "Oh, that's Maya Ruiz. Started this morning. Assigned to assist you, actually. Special program for hands-on learning, HR's idea. You signed off last week remember? You barely skimmed the file."
He blinked. "She's my intern?"
"Yup." Dana's eyes twinkled. "Why? Something wrong?"
Elijah looked back toward the elevator. "No. Just… unexpected."
Dana tilted her head. "You okay?"
"Fine," he muttered, loosening his collar slightly. "Totally fine."
But he wasn't. Not really. The girl from the café the one who had occupied too many of his thoughts was now his personal intern.
A Few Miles Away — Eliana Grant's College Campus
Eliana adjusted her glasses and tried to ignore the squealing laughter that echoed across the courtyard. Her two best friends, Zara and Nina, flanked her on either side, each gripping iced coffees and debating the latest campus gossip like it was a national emergency.
"Jace literally asked you for your notes in front of the entire class," Nina said, nudging Eliana with her elbow. "That's academic flirting!"
"He asked because he missed class. I sit in front. It's logical," Eliana said, keeping her eyes on her book.
Zara groaned. "It's not logical. It's romantic. That guy's been orbiting you for weeks."
"I don't care about guys," Eliana replied calmly. "Besides, he's probably used to every girl falling at his feet. I'm just not interested."
"But he's hot," Nina said. "Tall, golden retriever energy, actually smart? You should be interested."
"Can we go back to studying, please?"
Nina and Zara exchanged a look.
"She's doing that thing again," Zara whispered dramatically. "The Ice Queen act."
Eliana rolled her eyes, hiding the smile tugging at her lips.
From across the courtyard, Savannah Lark watched with a glare sharp enough to cut glass. Platinum blonde, always in designer knockoffs she insisted were real, and leader of a trio of mean girls who treated social ranking like blood sport. She tossed her hair and narrowed her eyes as Jace walked by and waved at Eliana.
Savannah's grip on her iced drink tightened.
"He knows her?" one of her lackeys asked.
"He shouldn't," Savannah snapped. "She's… nobody. Just some scholarship girl with decent test scores and a famous last name she keeps conveniently quiet about."
"Wait, Elijah Grant?" the second one said. "The StoneArc guy?"
Savannah smirked. "Please. Our families actually know Elijah Grant. My dad plays golf with people in his circle."
Her minions nodded eagerly.
She watched Jace one more time, her smile tight. "If that girl thinks she's going to slide into my spot, she's got another thing coming."
---
Two Nights Later — Off-Campus Party
The music thumped and laughter poured from every room of the oversized house. Eliana wasn't sure why she came, but Zara and Nina had practically blackmailed her into it.
"Just one night of fun," Zara had said. "One night where you're not a bookworm robot."
"Please don't make me regret this," Eliana muttered as they walked in.
Jace spotted her almost instantly, cutting through a group of guys to greet her.
"You made it," he said, genuinely surprised.
"Barely," she replied with a half-smile.
They talked nothing romantic, just casual conversation about books, classes, and favorite indie films. But Savannah saw it from across the pool deck and nearly choked on her drink.
Fury ignited in her chest.
The party was supposed to be hers. And now everyone was watching Jace smile at her? At the quiet nobody?
Savannah didn't think she acted.
She walked briskly toward the edge of the pool, right as Eliana stepped back near it, laughing at something Jace said.
And then Savannah's hand shoved.
Water splashed.
But not how she expected.
Jace had seen it coming. He grabbed Eliana in time, spinning them both out of reach.
Savannah's foot slipped. Her heel caught on the edge and she went down with a yelp, straight into the water.
Gasps erupted. Someone filmed.
Eliana blinked, soaked only at the edges, but dry enough. Jace steadied her.
Savannah surfaced sputtering, makeup running. The whispers started fast. People pointing. Some laughing.
"Guess her family's not rich enough to buy balance," Nina said, arching a brow.
Zara giggled. "Eliana Grant pool party legend. You might trend on campus social boards tonight."
Later that night, as Eliana checked her buzzing messages and tagged posts, she saw something else Jace had sent her a photo.
Just the two of them standing together. And a message:
"Don't let anyone dim your shine."
Eliana stared at it, unsure how to feel.
Maybe… this year would be different after all.