Chapter 11

BLACKRIDGE COLLEGE – ADMISSIONS HALLWAY

The sun spilled golden light across the tall windows of the prestigious Blackridge College as Matteo stepped through the grand entrance, nerves fluttering in his stomach. His palms were slightly sweaty, and he held tightly onto his envelope the one that would either contain his dream… or a disappointment he wasn’t ready to face.

Beside him, Aubrey bounced on her feet, her braids swinging with every excited hop. “Okay, okay ,open it now! I can't take this suspense anymore, Matt!”

They had both received a phone call from the school asking them to come and collect the documents which will determine if they got in or not.

Aubrey being impatient had opened hers first and she had been given an admission by the school.

Matteo chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “What if I didn’t get it?”

Aubrey swatted his arm playfully. “Shut up and open it already!”

Taking a deep breath, Matteo peeled the envelope open, unfolded the letter, and began to read. His eyes darted across the lines until they stopped then widened.

He blinked.

Then looked at Aubrey.

“I GOT IN!”

“WHAT?!”

“I GOT THE SCHOLARSHIP, AUBREY!”

“WE DID IT!!”

The two of them screamed in unison, jumping up and down before Aubrey launched herself at him in a tight hug. Matteo spun her around, both of them laughing so loudly that nearby students turned to stare.

But they didn’t care this was everything. All the pain, the struggle, the late nights reading , it was all worth it.

Aubrey clung to him. “You deserve this so much, Matt. I’m so proud of you!”

“ You too Aubrey I still can’t believe it we both made it into our dream college ” he whispered, voice thick with emotion. “I’m actually going to Blackridge and will be closer to Katie ”

Audrey facial expression changed hearing his last statement but she managed to cover up with a smile.

They broke apart, still grinning like idiots, when a sharp, cold voice sliced through the moment.

“Tch. Could you two make a little more noise?”came the girl's sassy voice.

Matteo turned to see a tall, sharp-featured girl standing near the bulletin board, arms crossed, an annoyed scowl on her face. Her long, honey-blonde weave was sleek and perfect, and her high-end designer bag screamed wealth.

Naomi.

She gaze at Matteo, her eyes pausing just a second too long on his face. And that pause didn’t go unnoticed . she blinked, subtly stunned by his jawline, his warm brown eyes, the way his smile lingered even when she was being rude.

But she quickly shook it off, tossing her hair.

“Don’t tell me they’re letting anyone into this school now ” she sneered, looking at Matteo and Aubrey up and down like they were dirt on her shoe.

Matteo tilted his head slightly. “Nice to meet you too ” he said softly , without any trace of anger on his face.

Naomi scoffed, pretending she wasn’t flustered. “Just don’t get in my way, scholarship pigs ”

Aubrey shot her a glare. “we are here because we earned it. Something money can’t buy, by the way ”

Naomi rolled her eyes and strutted off, heels clicking on the polished floor.

As Matteo turned away from her with a sigh, another presence nearby quickly caught sight of him and froze.

It was Katie, she hid halfway behind a pillar, she had been walking through the corridor when she spotted Matteo. Her heart skipped a beat not from excitement, but from panic and fear.

She hadn't expected to see him here. Not like this. Not... When students are moving around and could spot them together.

Quickly, she ducked behind the marble pillar, hiding.

“Oh no, no, no,” she muttered, clutching her phone like it was a lifeline. “He cannot see me here, I can't be seen here with him ”

Just then, a deep voice interrupted her.

“There you are”

She turned around to find Blake standing tall, broad-shouldered, his deep black skin glowing under the corridor lights, his black curls pulled into a stylish bun, and a lazy grin on his lips.

“Hey babe ” he said casually.

Before Katie could even process, he leaned in and kissed her.

She kissed him back not because she wanted to, but because she had to. Blake was popular. Blake was rich. He was everything her current image needed.

He had everything to offer her while Matteo had nothing but love to offer her.

Her mind drift back to Matteo the moment she saw him standing there in his thrift hoodie and sneakers, eyes full of wonder and joy her stomach had dropped.

She hadn’t seen him in weeks. She’d ignored his texts. Avoided his calls and hadn't even gone to the hospital at all to check on him.

“Babe, you okay?” Blake’s voice pulled her back as he broke the kiss, he couldn't help but notice she was acting anxious while they kissed.

Katie blinked quickly, stepping away from him a little bit with a forced smile. “Y-Yeah, just… got a little lightheaded ”

Blake chuckled and threw an arm lazily around her shoulders. “Maybe you should eat something, We’ve got a lunch invite with Skye and the crew, remember?”

She nodded absently, her eyes drifting once again toward Matteo who was now walking away with Aubrey.

"Babe are you sure you are alright ? " Blake asked.

"Hm....Yeah but I don't feel hungry again you can go and eat without me " she said and turned around to leave but blaze grabbed her by the wrist , stopping her.

"I am also not hungry Let's go and have fun over there "

Katie knew the fun he was talking about was S*x and wasn't in the mood so she tried to turn him down.

"Blaze I...."

"It will be quick babe , come on " He said and dragged her into one of the empty classes , locking the door from inside.

Both of them got into position and soon after Katie's loud moans were heard from outside of the class.

LATER THAT EVENING ~ DAMON'S MANSION

The soft hum of the vacuum cleaner blended with the distant clatter of dishes in the kitchen.

Ivy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she focused on folding the fresh pile of laundry, determined to keep herself busy, she had plead with the maid to let her fold the laundry because she was bored out of her mind , they didn't want to let her but ivy kept bugging them and they had no choice than to let her.

The mansion was quiet aside from the maids moving about. Damon hadn’t been home since morning.

She bit her lip and glanced at the clock, silently wondering when he will be back.

She reached for the next shirt, her mind drifting to Matteo and then unexpectedly to Damon his intense gaze, the way he had held her this morning.

"Ivy focus!!! " She scolded herself inwardly.

A sudden creak at the door pulled her attention.

Ivy turned, expecting to see one of the maids.

Instead, she saw a tall, striking woman stepping into the mansion, dragging two sleek designer suitcases behind her. Her heels clicked authoritatively against the marble floor, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, and her sunglasses perched on her head like she owned the place.

Ivy straightened slowly, confused.

The maids paused what they were doing, exchanging looks of surprise.

“Um… can I help you?” Ivy asked, her voice uncertain.

The woman didn’t even blink.

With a slow, confident smile, she pulled off her sunglasses and let her eyes scan the room before landing on Ivy. “You must be the house girl ”

Ivy blinked. “Excuse me?”

The woman dropped her bags with a soft thud and extended a perfectly manicured hand. “I’m Anastasia, Damon’s girlfriend ”

Ivy’s world tilted. The words hit her like ice water.

Girlfriend?!

She couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe, she didn't even understand how she was feeling presently everything seemed to have been paused.

Anastasia’s lips curled into a smirk as she looked Ivy up and down. “Didn’t he tell you I was moving in?”......................