Sarah’s pov.

Rafael leaned forward with a small smile. “So, Sarah… How's school treating you?”

Before I could open my mouth, Andrew spoke up with that annoyingly smooth voice.

“She’s probably top of the class in ‘Overdressing 101.’ Might even graduate with honors,” Andrew said, smirking over his glass.

I smiled sweetly, tilting my head. “Better than failing every subject in Basic Human Decency. You should try attending that class sometime.”

Rafael’s shoulders shook as tried to stifle his laughter. My mom covered her mouth with her hands but her shaking body betrayed her.

I turned to give Andrew a triumphant smirk but locked eyes with his which burned with a fire that threatened to burn me. I held back my smile instantly and turned to my food.

“Darling, when are you going to complete your school registration?” My mom reminded me.

I completely forgot about the registration. Because I was a transfer student from California I had to go through an aptitude and language test to complete my enrollment.

“Don’t worry I’ll go tomorrow.” I assured her.

“But you don’t know the road.” My mom turned to Rafael for help.

I wasn’t able to protest before Rafael turned to Andrew.

“Andrew, you will take her to school.” Rafael said with a tone that demanded only obedience.

Andrew’s face was dripping with disapproval and scrunched up in anger but he didn’t say a word.

He glared at me and returned the favor with full force. Mom and Rafael just sat quietly watching our exchange.

The next day around 8am I was seated at the dining table with Andrew and Rafael. My mom had been whisked off to buy a bunch of trophy wives for a charity event.

I was halfway through my orange juice when Rafael said it like it was no big deal.

“Andrew, remember you are taking Sarah to the University of Bologna this morning.”

I choked. Andrew looked up from his phone, one brow raised, an almost cruel smile twitching at his lips.

“Excellent. I love morning road trips with weird people.”

“I’m not a weird person ,” I muttered.

He looked me over slowly, like assessing a USB stick he didn’t trust to plug into his system. “Fair point. You’re the girl who overdresses for dinner and glares at me like I stole your Wi-Fi.”

Rafael ignored us both. “Be quick. You’ve got registration to complete before noon.”

The car—some beastly black Maserati—purred like a deadly predator waiting to pounce. Andrew leaned against it like he was filming an ad, sunglasses on, completely unbothered and indifferent.

“You coming, Mafia princess?” he asked, opening the door.

I grimaced at the title as I slid into the passenger seat with a sigh. “You don’t have to call me that.”

“Right. What should I call you? Miss Malware?”

I closed my eyes and took a breath. “Let’s just drive.”

The ride started in silence, except for soft jazz playing from the speakers. I stared out the window, watching the morning sunlight bouncing off the trees and illuminating the streets.

“So,” he said eventually, “Computer Engineering, huh? Planning to take over the world one motherboard at a time?”

“Something like that.”

He smirked. “Let me guess. You built your first computer at eight, hacked into your school records at twelve. CIA next huh?”

I didn’t answer. Just rolled my eyes at him.

“Oh my God,” he said, mock gasping. “You actually did it.”

“I didn’t get caught,” I said casually, still looking out the window.

He laughed. “ No wonder you are so lonely. You drown yourself in a computer instead of the real world. Still pathetic.”

His words stung me badly. Tears filled my eyes but I held them back and looked away.

Silence filled the car.

Bologna looked even older in the daylight. Stone buildings with peeling paint stood proudly beside sleek cafés. I could already feel the hum of code and caffeine calling my name.

At the admin hall, Andrew walked beside me like some irritating bodyguard.

“You don’t have to follow me inside,” I said.

“My father said make sure you register. That includes surveillance.”

I rolled my eyes and entered.

Inside, the line was long. I moved to the back while Andrew leaned against the wall, scrolling his phone.

“So, what’s the dream?” he asked. “Big tech? Robotics? Digital domination?”

“Cybersecurity,” I replied.

“Fascinating. You break things so others can’t?”

“Basically.”

He nodded slowly. “I can respect that. Destruction with a moral compass.”

“You sound surprised.”

“I am. You don’t strike me as the rule-breaking type.”

I smirked. “Only because I don’t get caught.”

An hour later, I was done. Paperwork, ID photos, the usual dance of bureaucracy. I stepped outside to find him still waiting, sunglasses on, looking like he hadn’t moved.

“You waited,” I said, a little surprised.

“I was told to deliver you alive and functional,” he said. “Ready to go, Malware?”

I climbed into the car. “Call me that again, and I’ll lock you out of your bank account.”

He looked at me like I’d grown horns. “You scare me, Sarah.”

“Good.” I entered the car when Andrew came from behind and put both arms on either side, trapping me against the car with our chests touching.

The proximity was too much. His after shave filled my nostrils and his manly aura made my senses swim.

“What-t are-e you do-oing.” I stammered out and tried pushing him away but he grabbed my arms and pinned them to the car door.

“ Do you really think that you can fear Little Red?” His voice came dangerously low. His lips traced my cheek as they journeyed to my ears.

My heart started furiously beating as my mind swarmed. What in the world was Andrew doing? He does have some thoughts about me. Right?

Even I was unsure about what he was doing and was about to speak up when he bit my ear causing me to yelp.

“I’m speaking and you are so daring that your mind is somewhere else?” He drew closer, entrapping me against the car.

I looked up straight into his dark eyes and was filled with a tsunami of emotions. So much struggle in his soul.

I was about to speak when he suddenly let me go. His face turned cold and unapproachable in seconds.

“Let’s go.”