Chapter 2 Chapter 2
Mia was elbow deep in diagnostics when the lab doors slammed open. She didn’t look up at first. The academy was always full of drama, especially today with Kai’s scandal exploding everywhere.
Her phone had been blowing up for the last hour. The blog post she’d written was everywhere inside Apex now, it was exactly what she needed. Let them read it.
“Mia,” a sharp voice called out.
“You’re coming with us.”
She finally glanced up. Two security guards and a woman in a crisp black suit, Victoria, Kai’s manager stood there like they owned the place.
Mia wiped her hands on her hoodie. “Why?”
“Now,” Victoria said. No explanation. No choice.
Mia’s stomach tightened, but she lifted her chin and followed. Whispers chased her down the hallway. Students stared like she was the main event. By the time they reached the executive suite, her pulse was racing, but she kept her face blank.
Victoria pushed the door open. Kai was waiting.
He stood by the massive window, still in his race suit, arms crossed, green eyes locked on her like she was prey. Even furious, he looked every inch the arrogant superstar tall, broad, stupidly handsome with that messy dark hair and sharp jaw. It only made her hate him more.
“You,” Kai said, voice low and venomous.
Avery stepped inside, letting the door click shut behind her. “Surprised? Or did Daddy teach you how to track down everyone who tells the truth about you?”
Victoria moved between them. “Sit.” Neither of them sat.
“You wrote the blog,” Kai stated. It wasn’t a question.
“Every word.” Mia crossed her arms, staring straight into those green eyes. “You’re reckless. Entitled. A walking danger on the track. And your family..” her voice sharpened “your father destroyed mine.”
Kai’s jaw flexed. “I don’t even know who the hell you are.”
“Of course you don’t.” She took a step closer, anger boiling over. “Three years ago. My dad was a senior engineer on one of your junior teams. He caught Harlan Racing using cheap, unsafe parts to cut costs. He refused to sign off. Your father blacklisted him. Ruined his career. We lost everything. So yeah, I know exactly who you are, you piece of thrash. A spoiled asshole riding on blood money.” The room went silent.
Kai stared at her, something dark flickering across his face. For a second he almost looked surprised. Then the anger returned in full force. “You think you can attack my family and hide behind a keyboard?”
“I wasn’t hiding,” Mia shot back. “I said what everyone’s too scared to say. You treat this sport like your personal playground while real people pay the price.”
Victoria cleared her throat loudly. “Enough. We don’t have time for this.”
She placed two thick contracts on the desk and slid them forward.
Mia picked hers up. Her eyes scanned the pages rapidly. Fake dating, for six months. Public appearances, social media and Events. Pretend to be madly in love with Kai. In return, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Immediate payment. Her father’s name cleared. Full funding for her startup. Priority in the elite engineering program. Protection from anything.
She laughed once, sharp and bitter. “This is insane.”
“It’s necessary,” Victoria said flatly. “The scandal is bleeding sponsors by the hour. A believable girlfriend kills the rumors. You’re perfect, the girl who publicly hated him suddenly falling for him. It's gonna be the redemption story of the year.”
Kai stepped closer, towering over her. “What’s wrong, Mia? Can’t pretend to like me for five minutes? Or are you scared people might actually believe it?”
Mia looked up at him, blue eyes blazing with pure hatred. “I’d rather set myself on fire than touch you. You represent everything I despise.”
“Then walk away,” Kai said, smirking even through his rage. “Watch your dad stay blacklisted forever. Watch your future disappear. I’ll find someone else. And you know me I'll make sure to terminate every contract you get from your engineering program, I'll break you”.
She thought for a while about the money. Her mom’s medical bills, her dad is finally getting justice. The chance to build something real without his shadow hanging over her. And the fact he could destroy her further if he wanted to.
Mia’s grip tightened on the contract until her knuckles went white. She hated this, she hated him and hated herself for being financially handicap. The thought of smiling next to him, pretending, letting the world think she wanted him made her skin crawl.
But two hundred and fifty thousand dollars…
Victoria checked her watch. “You have two minutes to decide. The paparazzi are already gathering downstairs. First public appearance is happening whether you like it or not.”
Mia glared at Kai. He glared right back, green eyes challenging, daring her to say no. She snatched a pen. “You touch me without permission and I’ll break your fingers,” she hissed as she signed her name with angry strokes. “This is business. I still hate your fucking guts, Harlan. Nothing changes that.”
Kai leaned in close, his voice low enough that only she could hear.“Good. Because the feeling is mutual. Try not to do anything stupid.” He signed his copy with a flourish, then tossed the pen down.
Victoria looked satisfied. “Excellent. Now smile. You’re officially dating.”
As they stepped toward the door together, Mia’s stomach twisted. Outside, camera flashes were already going off.
But in the hallway, Kai’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and his expression changed.
“What the hell…?” he muttered.
Mia looked over. A new message lit up his phone.
Damon Voss, Nice new girlfriend. Too bad I have proof the photos were just the beginning. Tick tock, golden boy.
Kai’s face hardened and Mia felt a chill run down her spine. This was only the start.