Chapter 3

Rose Ashcroft My body kept trembling. Standing before me was a man I never imagined I would meet again. The last time I'd seen him, I was still a child. George Gavinsky looked exactly as I remembered. He carried the same dominant Alpha presence as his youngest son, Leonard. And he had the same beauty as his eldest, Nathaniel. He was only nice with our family because of my mother. Looking back now, I suspected he had a crush on her. Though because of this, his family despise my mother so much. I'd always hated the way he looked at people. Like he could peel back their skin with his Alpha eyes. Now that we were meeting again, I was so terrified I almost pissed myself. “Why don't we sit and talk?” His deep voice filled the room. Beside him, his secretary stepped forward and lit his cigar. I sat down uneasy. “Your mother's death anniversary is coming up soon, isn't it?” George studied me through his cold eyes. I could only nod. After years without contact, the first thing he asked about was my mother. “Good.” He leaned back in his chair. “Jay. Bring them in.” Jay disappeared for a moment. When he returned, he dropped a thick stack of newspapers onto the table. My heart sank. George stared at me, as if recognizing my thoughts. “Is my son still bullying you, Ashcroft?” His voice was calm. Almost like slashing me into pieces. “I've heard that you were the one writing those articles.” He tapped ash into a crystal tray. “I see you've been holding a grudge against my son. You could have come to me. Instead, you chose to make everything public. I never realized you hated my family this much.” He blew the smoke, “Tell me, Ashcroft. Was me helping pay for your mother's hospital bills not enough? Do you have any idea how much damage you've done to my reputation?” I froze in front of articles that I had kept in secret for whole year. I trembled, as glancing at 10 articles published at our campus’s website. Articles that I spent my two years accumulating all of Leonard’s scandal as well as detailed evidence. I wrote them just in case, Leonard going overboard, so that I would have my ace card. No one supposed to know those articles. I was the only person who knew where I'd hidden the files. Had someone stolen them from my flash disk and published it? But who? The only people who had ever entered my dorm room were Leonard and Nathaniel. George lifts his head, tugging his cigar. “Care to explain something to me? Why is the student I personally helped through a scholarship now trying to stab my son in the back?” “W-Wait, Sir!” I stood up. Trembled. “There’s a misunderstanding. “I never intended to publish those articles. I only wrote them because—” “Then you admitted you wrote them to ruin my son’s career?” his voice snapped me. I can’t even argue since they published those articles under my name. I couldn’tstop trembling. Is this why the department revoked my scholarship? No, this can’t be. I can’t lose that scholarship. Not after what I’ve gone through to get it. Knock. Knock. Someone entered the room. I gasped as watched Leonard stepped in. He was still wearing the same hockey uniform I'd drenched with my lunch earlier. He looked like he was forced to join us. “Sit,” George said, pointingtoward the empty seat beside me. “Give me only straight answer,” George glancing at his son. “Are you still bullying Rose Ashcroft? Didn't we settle this s**t already after you graduated from high school?” “But, D-dad—” “Yes or no?” George cut him off instantly. His jaw clenched as didn’t get the chance to defend himself. Leonard gave a stiff nod. Then, he glared at me as his eyes blaming me. “Then both of you will be expelled,” George snapped. Both Leonard and I stood in disbelief. “Dad, you can't do this! My championship celebration is just next week!” His voice kicked out. “You can't expel me just because of this b***h—” “Then, how are you gonna solve this?” He glared his son back. “Bullying for a professional athlete can face disciplinary action, sponsorship losses, and suspension for years. This does not include the financial penalties. If you're only going to ruin my reputation, you'd better leave this university.” Leonard froze in his seat. I can feel my heart drop as watched how intense atmosphere around me. George was really harsh even with his own son. I couldn't believe he'd threatened to expel his own son without a second thought. What—no, what did I just think? This isn’t the time be concerned about him. I need to find a way to get my scholarship back. President George kept glancing at us. While his son seemed to whine, I bit my lip thinking hard. He already knew his son behavior, yet looked away from it. Is there nothing left for me to save my scholarship? My study can’t just end here, not when it’s all Leonard’s fault. “You two…” George leaned forward. His gaze shifted between Leonard and me. “Why don’t you two just fake dating?” “W-What—” / “DAD!” Both of us gasped, but Leonard was louder. He slammed the table hard and growled angry. “Fake dating? With this ugly f*****g nerd? I’d rather die!” He shouted. His eyes turned toward me. The disgust on his face made my blood boil. Does it look like I WANT to date him? He? On top of all? Forget dating, being trapped in the same room with him already felt like a f*****g NIGHTMARE. “Now, calm down,” George sighed. “Tomorrow is your championship party, right? Use that to restore your reputation. It’s nothing big. Nathaniel is also dating. Just do it like your brother.” “Dad!” The conversation seemed endless. I asked permission to get some fresh air, when Leonard and his father is still inside. I leaned to the wall, feeling my head throbbing. Fake dating Leonard? Was President George in his right mind? Didn't he realize that would only give Leonard more opportunities to torture me? As if being bullied with him doesn’t enough, now I had to stick 24/7 with that asshole? They seemed to have finished talking. I heard the door opened after someone shouted. I flinched. Leonard, he glaring at me. The moment I saw that look on his face, I turned and ran. Stupid decision. Leonard was over six feet tall. I barely made it three steps before he caught me. He shoved me back against the wall. One arm planted beside my head, trapping me in place. “You heard everything, didn't you?” He leaned closer. His black spruce scent suddenly filled my lung. I tried to brushed it off, yet my body was already reacting. Heat rushed through me when he tilted my chin upward. “Fake dating, that’s it,” he said, lowered his face. “Starting tomorrow, you are my fake girlfriend, attend my champion’s party, restore my reputation, and bring back my name.” “W-what!?” I speechless. How come he said something so lightly like that? “I c-can’t!” I shouted, tried to move my face away from him. “I can’t date you. There's already someone I like. Besides—” “Do I look like care?” He cut my voice. His eyes glared, as his finger pointed to my chest. “It’s all your fault. All because your f*****g articles. Be thankful I didn’t sue you. Now while I’m still kind, just be my fake girlfriend until all scandals solved.” “I can’t!” I said, persistent. “Then you don’t need your scholarship back?” he countered. He smiled as he watched me grit my teeth beneath, unable to fight back. “You think you have a choice here?” Suddenly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a black invitation card. “Come to this place. Start tomorrow, you are Leonard’s official girlfriend. I’m going to announce our relationship in public. Try to run away and see what’ll happen.”