She made her way into the library with him close behind. He noted her delicate features from behind.

She had the perfect curve, a very pretty face and her long blonde hair totally complimented her skin.

She circled the library, looking between stacks of book doubting it would be there.

He silently watched her with his arms crossed. She looked extremely distressed.

"Tell me what you are looking for. I can help you find it"

"I doubt you will" she replied distractedly, paying him no heed.

An anxious sigh escaped her lip. Bead of sweat forming on her forehead.

"Here" he gave her a handkerchief.

"Thanks"

"Listen, whatever it is you are looking for, I'm sure you can get another one"

"It's irreplaceable"

"Then you have to let go"

"That is easy for you to say" she answered curtly and immediately regretted it.

"I am so sorry"

He shook his head. "It's okay. It must have been very important to you"

"It seems it's not here" she walked towards the door and stopped by a chair. She spotted something just now. She crouched by the chair, peering under the table and there it was. Her locket.

"I found it!" She screamed excitedly. She could guess how it ended up on the floor. Her locket had gotten tangled with her hair and she had forcefully disentangled it, that must have been when it fell.

"This is what you were looking for? A necklace?"

"This, right here, is my most prized possession. Someone like you who works for such a powerful man wouldn't understand"

She had no idea that one button of her shirt had come off when she stooped, so he could see the upper part of the flesh. Then he realized she was actually well-stacked.

She realized soon enough and hurriedly covered her chest.

"What are you staring at, pervert?"

She turned around to leave before he could give his reply.

She went back to the wall.

"Are you going to leave through this place?"

She surveyed the wall, looking for where to grab on to. "Do I have a choice?"

"Follow me"

His hand was tucked in his pocket as they walked.

"Where did you learn those moves and why? It's unlike girls to be interested in combat"

"I don't think we are close enough to talk about things like that"

They arrived at the main entrance. The guards recognized him and didn't stop them.

"You helped me today. Thank you"

"Remember, you owe me"

She walked away without looking back.

He was about to go back in when he remembered that he didn't ask for her name.

**************

Gary Sinclair sat on the plush couch in the chancellor's office with his legs crossed and a magazine in his hand, sipping from a glass of red wine when Cedric entered.

"Dad"

Gary dropped his glass. "There you are, son. I was just wondering where you went. Have a seat"

Gary was a fine man, and he was proud his son had inherited his good looks and shrewd business acumen.

"What is it?"

"When do you plan to leave?"

"Today. You know that"

"You can go on. I want to stay for a while"

Gary gave him a look. "Why?"

"That is my business"

"I see. It's about a girl. Do you like someone?"

"I'm leaving. See you later"

************

Cressida had gotten a part-time job waiting tables. No one except her childhood friend, Amy, knew about this.

Her every need was cared for, and she wasn't doing it because she needed money but because she wanted to make some cash she could call her own. Moreover, she could keep herself busy and could meet new people, and it was refreshing. She was just like any other girl with no one treating her like a princess. With her father being a public figure, she had always been in the limelight, but for once, it was nice watching from the sidelines.

"Cressida, someone just came in. Take his order" her colleague pointed at the table where a man sat with his back facing them.

She walked towards him. "What would you like to— you?" She pointed at him. She had just left him some hours ago but here he was again. He also has a look of surprise on his face, but she believed it was fake.

"Did you follow me?"

He chuckled. "Don't flatter yourself"

"Then what are you doing here"

"This is a restaurant. I came here for the same reason other people are here"

She narrowed her eyes at him. An expression he found cute.

He placed his orders, and she went to get it. Cedric smiled at her retracting figure, noting her long hair was made into a ponytail. He had absolutely no idea she was working here. Interesting.

She returned a while later.

"Enjoy" she said simply and left.

An hour later, he was still there. His table was cleared, and he had changed positions so he could stare at her easily.

"That man has been staring at you for a while now" her colleague whispered to her. She looked up, and her eyes met his.

"That's not true. You are imagining things"

She approached him with a glass and bottle of wine.

"Can you stop staring at me? It's creeping me out"

"It's because you are beautiful"

She rolled her eyes, but the red patches on her cheeks betrayed her.

"When are you getting off work?"

"How is that your concern?" She asked, looking around to make sure she didn't attract attention.

"To take you out to dinner"

She thinned her lips at his straightforwardness. "Are you hitting on me?" She raised her eyebrow.

"You may be right"

He shrugged.

"Whatever it is you are doing I'm not interested, so have your wine and leave"

"I'll be here waiting for you" he shouted after her. She squeezed her eyes shut. Now the whole restaurant had turned to them. They all went back to their business seconds later and she heaved a relieved sigh.

Three guys came in, and she went to take their orders.

She could feel their lustful stare.

"Are you doing anything later tonight?" One of them asked.

"Going home"

"Why don't we come with you, you know, for a nice time" another said, his eyes glued to her breasts.

The others laughed, and she smiled, but only she knew how much rage she felt within.

"I'll get someone else to attend to you" she turned to go, but the last one held her arm.

"We promise a very generous tip, right guys?" They all nodded smiling. She desperately wanted to wipe that smile off their faces.

"Take your tip and shove it up your ass"

His smile vanished. "Is that a no?" He gripped her arm tightly.

"It is, you nitwit. Let go of me"

Cedric stood up, ready to intervene when he heard a loud punch. She had hit the dude in the face so hard that he doubled over.

It seemed she didn't need his help.

In defense of their friend, the two guys came at her at the same time, and she had them rolling on the ground in a matter of seconds.

"Touch me again, and you will get something even more than that"

Her eyes met Cedric smiling at her proudly, but she ignored him knowing fully well that she was going to get call into the manager's office soon.

By the time she was done for the day, he was still sitting there. She bid her colleague goodnight and stepped out fully aware he was behind her, following her without a word.

She stopped walking and turned around.

"If you don't stop following me, I'll call the police and report you for stalking"

"I'd like to see you try"

"You think I can't?"

"You still owe me one, remember?"

She frowned. She had completely forgotten about that.

"Take me to your house"

"Don't you have work to do? Should you not he with your boss?"

"Boss?"

"You work for Gary Sinclair, don't you?"

"I do, but—"

She glared at him and walked away but didn't stop him from following her.

Her house was small yet cozy. The scent of her filled the room. He took a deep breath, taking in her smell.

"What a nice place you have"

He caught sight of a painting at the corner of the room. It was the painting of the woman, and it was perfectly done. He could not help but notice a striking resemblance. It looked like an older version of her.

"Where did you get this?"

"I drew it"

He raised brow. "You did? It's beautiful"

"Thank you"

She took off her coat, revealing a red mark on her arm where the guy had grabbed her earlier.

She took off her coat, revealing a red mark on her arm where the man had grabbed her earlier.

"Your arm" he tried to touch it, but she moved further away.

"It's fine. It will disappear with time. I never let anyone in here. The only reason I did today was because —"

"I'm special?"

"Because I made you a promise and I can't go back on my word"

"You know, I didn't ask for your name"

"Cressida Jones"

"It's beautiful" he complimented, going towards her little bookshelf which was full of romance books, all of which he had read.

"What business do you have with those? I'm pretty sure they are of no interest to you"

"Really?"

"You read books like that?"

"I don't look like someone who does?"

"Of course you don't"

"I've read every single book here"

She shook her head. "You are kidding"

He brought out a book and narrated everything in it.

Another thing he had inheritance from his father was his brains. His father was extremely intelligent and so was he. From a young age, he could already comprehend what kids his age could not. He had gotten into an Ivy League very early in his life without his father's connections.

"So do you believe me now?"

She stared at him in awe. He had just narrated ten books without taking a peek.

"I do. That was impressive"

"There are a lot more impressive things about me that you are yet to know about" she hopelessly stared at him, lost in his handsomeness.

"What did your manager say?"

She snapped out of it. "Oh ….well, he only gave a warning. Said I only had a chance left"

"You did well today"

"I don't need your praises"

He laughed. She stole glances when he wasn't looking.

Don't you have work to do? Should you not be with your boss?"

"Boss?"

"You work for Gary Sinclair, don't you?"

"Yes, but—"

His phone rang. It was his father's secretary.

"What is it?"

"Sir, you need to come to the hospital. Your father has been shot. I'll text you the address"

"Is everything okay?"

"I'm sorry. I need to leave"

Then he dashed out, without looking back. She didn't have the chance to ask for his name.