Bound to my enemy

ARIA POV

“Professor Thomas, please, you have to change my partner," I pleaded, stepping into his quiet office the moment the lecture hall cleared out.

My hands were tightly gripping the strap of my tote bag. I didn't care about looking desperate anymore; I was practically begging. "It’s going to be a complete disaster. We can't work together. We really can't."

Professor Thomas looked up from his stack of papers, pulling his reading glasses down to the tip of his nose. "Miss Aria, assignments are meant to push you. Life won't always allow you to choose who you collaborate with."

"You don't understand, Professor—"

"She's right for once, Professor. It'll be an absolute nightmare," a cold, familiar voice drawled from behind me.

I stiffened as Jaxon strolled into the office. He gave me a sharp, mocking side-eye before turning his full attention to Professor Thomas. He looked totally relaxed on the outside, but I could see the sharp tension in his shoulders. He was panicking just as much as I was.

"I’d like to change my partner, Professor," Jaxon said smoothly, sliding his hands into the pockets of his dark trousers. "Give me anyone else. Honestly, put me with the lowest-ranked student in the class. I’ll personally tutor them, write extra credit reports, and donate new lab equipment to the department. Just take her off my group."

I stared at him, a sudden wave of genuine happiness washing over me. A small, satisfied smile crept onto my lips. Seeing Jaxon Hayes, the arrogant billionaire heir who thought he owned the world, literally offering to buy his way out of working with me was the most rewarding thing I had witnessed all month. He was so desperate it was almost hilarious.

Not wanting to lose my chance, I quickly chimed in. "I’ll do the work alone, Professor! I’ll write double the required word count. I'll even wash the laboratory tables and clean the department toilets every single weekend! Just please, don't force me to work with him!"

"I'll fund the entire department's research trip next semester!" Jaxon fired back, glaring at me with pure fury.

"I'll do three extra thesis presentations by myself!" I countered, taking a step closer to the professor's desk.

We stood there, competing fiercely to see who could offer the biggest sacrifice just to get rid of the other. We threw out wild promises, getting louder and louder by the second.

Suddenly, Professor Thomas leaned back in his leather chair and let out a big, booming laugh. The sound echoed through the small office, catching both of us completely off guard. We instantly stopped yelling and stared at him in confusion.

"My goodness," Professor Thomas chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye as his laughter settled down. "Is this really how much you two are willing to sacrifice just to avoid sitting at the same table?"

Neither of us answered. I crossed my arms and looked away, while Jaxon scoffed and stared out the window.

Professor Thomas shook his head, looking between the two of us with amusement. "How do you two actually cope together at home as step-siblings? You can't even stand each other for five minutes."

"We don't," Jaxon spat bitterly.

"Clearly," Professor Thomas said, his tone turning firm as he sat up straight. "Well, let me make one thing very clear. I do not plan on changing my mind, and I will not do so under any circumstances. So instead of wasting your time here making ridiculous offers, you should go out there and find a way to work together. Otherwise, you are both going to fail this course."

My mouth dropped open. "Professor, please—"

"No 'pleases,' Miss Aria," he interrupted smoothly, tapping his pen against his desk. "Consider this a valuable life lesson. Maybe forced cooperation will finally help stop your constant bickering in my class next time. Now, both of you, out of my office."

I bit my lip in frustration, turned on my heel, and marched out the door.

Jaxon followed closely behind me, slamming the office door shut with unnecessary force. The second we hit the quiet hallway, the bickering started right back up.

"This is completely your fault!" Jaxon snapped, stepping in front of me to block my path. "If you hadn't been acting like a total idiot during the lecture, he wouldn't have singled us out!"

For the first time, I didn't back down. I held my head high and glared right back into his cold gray eyes. "My fault? You were the one throwing paper balls at the back of my head like a five-year-old child! You ruined this for yourself, Jaxon!"

"I don't care what the professor said," he sneered, his voice dropping to a low threat. "I am not spending a single second helping you with this project."

"Good! Because I don't care if you work on the assignment or not!" I shouted back, stepping around him. "I will do the whole thing without you, and I'll make sure the professor knows you didn't contribute a single word!"

I turned away from his furious face and hurried down the hall, my heart hammering against my chest. I was so blinded by rage that I didn't even notice the tall figure rounding the corner near the library entrance.

Thump!

"Whoa!"

I slammed directly into a broad chest. My balance gave out, and the thick stack of textbooks in my arms slipped from my grip, crashing onto the hard linoleum floor. Papers scattered everywhere around my feet.

"I am so sorry!" I gasped, dropping to my knees immediately to gather my things.

"Hey, take it easy. It's completely fine," a smooth, warm voice said above me.

I froze. I slowly looked up, and my breath caught in my throat.

Standing right in front of me, bending down to help, was Blake Reed.

He looked effortlessly handsome in his blue athletic hoodie, his messy golden-brown hair catching the bright hallway lights. I sat there on the floor, totally paralyzed, secretly stealing glances at his sharp jawline, his bright eyes, and his broad shoulders. He was the boy I had pined over for months. The boy who was currently sending me those thrilling, protective late-night text messages.

"Here you go," Blake said gently, gathering a pile of my notebook pages.

He reached out to hand them to me. As I reached for the papers, his fingers brushed against mine. An electric spark shot straight up my arm. A deep, burning blush rushed to my face, turning my cheeks bright red. I pulled my hands back shyly, looking down at the floor as my heart beat wildly in my chest.

Blake let out a soft, amused chuckle. He picked up the last book, stood up, and held out a hand to help me stand. I took it, my body trembling slightly as he pulled me up.

Instead of stepping away, Blake stayed close. He looked down at me with a soft, charming smile that made my knees feel weak. He reached out, his long fingers gently tucking a loose strand of dark hair behind my ear.

"You really need to be careful next time, Secret girl," Blake whispered softly, his eyes searching mine. "I wouldn't want you to trip and hurt yourself."

My heart stopped dead in its tracks. Secret Girl. He used my text handle. He really was the one talking to me late at night. Everything felt like a dream.

Before I could process the rush of happiness flooding my chest, Blake leaned in. He pressed a warm, gentle kiss against my forehead. The touch of his lips on my skin sent chills straight down my spine.

Overcome by the sudden wave of affection, courage, and pure emotion, I looked up into his eyes and spoke before my brain could stop me.

"I love you, Blake," I whispered, my voice shaking with pure honesty.

Blake’s smile widened, filled with effortless charm. He didn't say a word. Instead, he reached out, placed his hands gently on the sides of my face, and tilted my head up.

He leaned down and pressed his lips against mine.

My eyes fluttered shut as the soft, warm kiss consumed me. Right there in the middle of the quiet hallway, wrapped in the arms of the boy I had loved from afar, all the pain from Jaxon's cruelty completely melted away.

"Aria... Aria... are you okay?"