Autumn's POV
I stare at the threatening text until the words blur.
Still the same pathetic nobody underneath.
Someone from Crestwood followed me here. Someone knows where I work. Someone is watching.
My safe space isn't safe anymore.
I delete the message with shaking hands and walk back to the workspace. Kade looks up from his laptop, his sharp eyes immediately catching something wrong.
"You look worse than before," he says bluntly. "What happened?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
"That's what people say when they're definitely not fine." He closes his laptop. "Look, we're going to be working together all summer. I can tell when someone's lying, and you're terrible at it. So either tell me what's wrong, or I'll assume you can't handle the job and tell Uncle James to find someone else."
Anger flashes through me—hot and sudden. "You can't fire me for having a bad moment."
"I can fire you for lying to me." He leans back in his chair. "I meant what I said earlier. Honesty is the only rule that matters to me. So be honest. What happened in the bathroom?"
I should walk away. I should tell him it's none of his business. But something about his directness, his complete lack of fake sympathy, makes the truth spill out.
"I got a text. From someone at Crestwood. They know I'm here. They called me pathetic."
Kade's expression darkens. "Show me."
"I deleted it."
"Of course you did." He runs a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Was it from a number you recognize?"
"No. Unknown."
He's quiet for a moment, thinking. "You said you know Crew Maverick. What did he do to you?"
"Why does it matter?"
"Because Crew was always surrounded by people who thought they were untouchable. Madison Pierce, Jake Torres, Sarah Chen—that whole group. If one of them is harassing you, I want to know." His voice turns cold. "I dealt with their crap for four years at Crestwood. Trust me, they don't intimidate me."
I sink into a chair, exhausted. "Crew asked me to prom as a bet. Two hundred dollars that he could make the hoodie girl fall for him. I overheard him bragging about it. Now everyone at school thinks I'm a joke."
Kade is silent for so long I finally look up. His jaw is clenched tight, and something dangerous flickers in his eyes.
"That sounds exactly like something Madison would orchestrate," he says finally. "She did something similar to a girl in my year. Completely destroyed her reputation for fun." He meets my gaze. "And Crew went along with it?"
"He was the one who made the bet in the first place."
"Interesting. I always knew he was fake, but I didn't think he was cruel." Kade pulls out his phone. "I'm texting Uncle James. You're getting a company phone tomorrow. New number, completely separate from your personal one. Use that for all work communication."
"You don't have to—"
"Yes, I do. You can't do your job if you're being harassed." He types rapidly. "Also, if you get any more threatening texts, you tell me immediately. Don't delete them. Screenshot everything."
"Why do you care?"
He looks at me like the answer is obvious. "Because you work for me now. That makes you my responsibility. And I take care of what's mine."
The way he says "mine" sends a weird flutter through my stomach. Not romantic—at least, I don't think so. More like... protective. Like he's claiming me as part of his team, his project, his world.
"Thank you," I say quietly.
"Don't thank me yet. I'm still going to be impossible to work with." But there's warmth in his voice that wasn't there before. "Come on. We've got three more hours of work, and I need those product shots by end of day. Think you can handle that?"
"Yes."
"Good. Then let's get back to it."
The rest of the day passes in a blur of photography and surprising laughter. Kade pushes me hard—questioning every angle, every lighting choice, every composition. But when I push back with solid reasoning, he listens. He even admits when I'm right, which I suspect is rare for him.
By five PM, we have a collection of stunning product photos that make even Kade smile.
"These are perfect," he says, scrolling through them on his laptop. "You've got serious talent, Autumn. Like, scary good talent."
Pride swells in my chest. "Thanks."
"I'm serious. Uncle James found a gem when he hired you." He glances at me. "You're coming back tomorrow, right?"
"Is that your way of saying you want me to?"
"It's my way of saying the project needs you. Don't make it weird."
I laugh—actually laugh—for the first time in weeks. "I'll be here."
As I'm packing up my camera equipment, my personal phone buzzes. Against my better judgment, I check it.
Riley: Emergency. Call me NOW.
My stomach drops. I step into the hallway and dial her number.
She answers on the first ring. "Oh thank god. Autumn, something's happened."
"What? What's wrong?"
"I'm at Crestwood. Final day, cleaning out my locker, and I found something in yours." Her voice shakes. "Someone broke into your locker. There's a note."
Ice runs through my veins. "What does it say?"
Riley's voice drops to a whisper. "It says 'Running away for the summer won't save you. We'll be waiting when you get back. And next time, we won't be so nice.'"
The hallway tilts. "Riley—"
"There's more. Autumn, they put a photo in your locker. It's you. From this morning. Walking into Zhang Technologies."
My knees nearly buckle. "They followed me."
"This isn't just bullying anymore. This is stalking. We need to tell someone. Your mom, the school, the police—"
"No!" I say too loudly. "No police. It'll just make it worse."
"Autumn, they're threatening you—"
"I know. But going to the police won't stop them. It'll just give them more ammunition." I lean against the wall, trying to think. "Did you take the note and photo?"
"Yes. I'm bringing them to you right now. Where are you?"
"Still at work. Zhang Tech, tenth floor."
"I'll be there in twenty minutes. Don't move."
She hangs up. I stand in the empty hallway, shaking.
Someone from Crestwood followed me this morning. Took my photo. Broke into my locker. Left a threat.
This isn't just Madison being mean. This is something darker. More dangerous.
"Autumn?"
I jump. Kade is standing in the doorway, concern written across his face.
"You look like you've seen a ghost. What happened?"
I could lie. I could pretend everything's fine. But Kade said honesty is the only rule that matters.
"Someone broke into my locker at school," I tell him. "They left a threat and a photo of me from this morning. They followed me here."
Kade's expression turns deadly. "You're being stalked."
"I think so."
"By who?"
"I don't know. Could be Madison, could be her friends, could be—" I stop. "Wait. You don't think Crew would..."
"I don't know what Crew would do anymore. The guy I went to school with wouldn't stalk someone, but apparently he'd also make bets about manipulating girls, so." Kade pulls out his phone. "I'm calling building security. We're getting you camera footage from this morning. If someone followed you, they're on camera."
"Kade, you really don't have to—"
"Stop saying that." His voice is sharp. "You work for Zhang Technologies now. You're under our protection. Nobody messes with my team."
Something warm and unfamiliar spreads through my chest. For the first time in weeks, I don't feel completely alone.
Riley arrives fifteen minutes later, out of breath and carrying a manila envelope. Kade and I are in a conference room with the head of building security, reviewing footage from this morning.
"Is that her?" Riley bursts in, then stops when she sees Kade. "Who's this?"
"Kade Zhang. Autumn's manager. You must be Riley."
"How did you—"
"Autumn mentioned you. Come here. We found something."
On the security monitor, there's footage of me entering the building at 8:55 AM. I'm alone, nervous, looking around like I expect monsters to jump out.
Then, thirty seconds later, a figure appears on the edge of the frame. Hoodie up. Face hidden. They watch me enter the building, then pull out a phone and take a photo.
"That's them," the security guard says. "That's your stalker."
We watch as the figure lingers for a few more seconds, then walks away, disappearing around the corner.
"Can you see their face?" I ask desperately.
"No. They kept their head down. But..." The guard rewinds and zooms in. "Look at their left hand. That's a Crestwood Academy class ring. See the lion emblem?"
My blood runs cold. Crestwood class rings are only given to seniors. Which means this person is about to graduate. Which means they'll be free all summer to continue stalking me.
Riley grabs my hand. "Autumn, this is serious. We need to tell the police."
"And say what? Someone took my photo and left a mean note? They'll say it's a prank."
"It's not a prank. It's a threat."
"But we can't prove it'll escalate." I look at the security footage again, that hooded figure watching me. "And if we report it, whoever this is will know I'm scared. They'll know they're getting to me."
"So what do we do?" Riley asks.
Kade speaks up, his voice cold and certain. "We figure out who it is. Then we destroy them before they can touch her again."
I look at him, surprised. "Why are you helping me? You barely know me."
"I know enough." He meets my eyes. "I know you're talented. I know you're stronger than you think. And I know what it's like to be targeted by Crestwood's elite psychopaths." His jaw clenches. "They don't get to win. Not this time."
For the first time since prom, I feel something other than fear and shame.
I feel angry.
"You're right," I say quietly. "They don't get to win."
Riley squeezes my hand. "So what's the plan?"
I look at the security footage, at that shadowy figure who thought they could scare me into hiding forever.
"The plan is simple," I say. "I work this summer. I get stronger. I figure out who's doing this. And when I go back to Crestwood in September..." I meet Kade's eyes. "I make sure they regret ever thinking I was weak."
Kade grins—sharp and dangerous. "Now that's the energy I like to see."
Riley looks between us. "Are you sure about this? These people are cruel. They have money and power and—"
"So do I," Kade interrupts. "My family literally owns half this city. If Autumn wants a war, I'll give her an army."
"I don't want an army," I say. "I just want to stop being afraid."
"Then that's what we'll do." Kade stands up. "Starting tomorrow, you're not walking to work alone. I'll pick you up. Riley, you should probably stay close to her too when possible."
"Way ahead of you," Riley says.
As we're leaving the building, my phone buzzes one more time. Another unknown number.
Unknown: Saw you made some new friends. How cute. Won't matter. You're still nothing. See you in September, hoodie girl.
I show the text to Kade and Riley.
"Screenshot it," Kade orders. "We're building a case."
"A case for what?"
"For when we take them down." His eyes are cold. "They just made a huge mistake."
"What mistake?"
"They threatened you while you're under Zhang protection." He smiles, and it's not a nice smile. "Trust me, Autumn. By the time we're done, whoever's doing this will wish they'd never heard your name."
I want to believe him. But the text message burns in my mind.
See you in September.
Three months. I have three months to become someone they can't destroy.
Three months to transform from victim to victor.
Three months to stop being the girl they broke and become the girl who fights back.
As I ride the bus home that night, I make a decision.
I'm not running anymore.
I'm preparing for war.