Chapter 5

Caeden lied about having an early class purely to smooth Alem’s passage through the security gates of Hilton University. He had fully expected his illegitimate stepbrother to be humbled by the overwhelming adoration the female students usually reserved for him. Instead, the moment that fresh face stepped onto campus, high pitched shrieks echoed across the courtyard, instantly turning the newcomer into an overnight sensation.

​Caeden gritted his teeth, his fingers tightening around the strap of his heavy leather bag before swinging it smoothly over his right shoulder. He could still feel the phantom heat of that agonizing moment from the day Alem first moved into their mansion. Even through layers of fabric, the firm pressure of Alem’s body resting against his had sent a sharp, involuntary jolt straight down to Caeden's groin.

​He cannot let him open his mouth about what happened that day. He has to make sure he keeps his quiet, Caeden thought, feeling a cold sweat prickle at the back of his neck.

​Glancing down at the brushed titanium face of his watch, Caeden calculated the time. The entrance examination for transfer students had just concluded. He turned on his heel and strod briskly toward the testing wing.

​Before he could reach the corridor, two girls intercepted him. Caeden did not care to recall their names or their majors, though he recognized them instantly. They were familiar fixtures of the city’s velvet lined VIP booths, women who spent their weekends rotating through partners on the crowded dance floors of the most expensive clubs. As a veteran of the local nightlife, Caeden knew their type all too well.

​"Hi, Caeden," the blonde began, tilting her head to let her bleached locks cascade over her shoulder.

​"Would you mind if we ask you something?" asked the second girl, whose hair curled loosely into a high ponytail. "We know you are the only one who can help us."

​"I am busy, ladies. If you need something, wait until I am free," Caeden said, his tone flat.

​He attempted to step past them, but they moved in unison to block his path. Their hands reached out, clinging tightly to the firm muscle of his upper arms.

​"Caeden, we happen to know where Elyse is hanging out tonight," the blonde whispered, leaning closer. "We know you have been trying to get her attention, right?"

They actually had the audacity to use Elyse’s name against Caeden just to get what they wanted. There was truth to what people so often said: women would always get their way, willing to stake everything they possessed and every secret they knew just to claim whatever their hearts desired.

​"So if you just answer a tiny question for us, everyone gets what they want. Win win, right?" the ponytail girl added with a sly grin.

​Caeden stopped dead in his tracks. A heavy breath escaped his nose as he peeled their fingers off his arms one by one with deliberate disgust. He hated being touched without permission, especially this early in the morning. Even in the bedroom, he rarely permitted partners to lay a hand on him.

​"If I find out you are making this up and you do not actually know where Elyse will be tonight, you are going to regret playing games with me," he growled low in his throat.

​"We are totally sure!" the blonde insisted.

​"Fine," Caeden snapped.

​The two girls immediately crossed their arms, leaning back with victorious smirks.

​"Does Alem have a girlfriend?" the blonde blurted out, her eyes shining with desperate curiosity. "We know he moved into your house. Please, have some mercy on us! We just want to get to know him better."

​"Go ask him yourself," Caeden replied, his voice deadpan as he took a step back.

​"Come on, Caeden! What is he into? What kind of food does he like? Does he play any sports?"

​"Damn it!" Caeden spat, running a hand through his hair in exasperation. "Alem is absolute dry paint. He likes deep dish pizza loaded with pineapple, and he eats potato cheese balls. Sports? I have no idea. I do not spend my free time bonding with that arrogant idiot. And no, he does not have a girlfriend."

​"Oh, really?" the ponytail girl squealed, grasping her friend's hand.

​"Damn it! We actually have a chance!"

​Caeden shook his head, a dry, humorless chuckle escaping his lips that instantly dashed their excitement.

​"Let me save you the trouble. He is single because he is utterly exhausting. He does nothing but study. He is an obsessive, rigid perfectionist who spends his mornings and nights with his nose buried in academic textbooks. It is utterly mind numbingly boring."

​"Oh God, that sounds so intense and sexy!" the blonde gasped, fanning herself.

​"Yes! I would kill to watch him read heavy business manuals with that focused look on his face!"

​"Fuck this," Caeden muttered, turning his back on them as their high pitched giggles echoed down the hallway.

​He reached the threshold of the examination hall just as the double doors swung open. Inside, Alem stood near the proctor's desk, holding a crisp white test sheet. A subtle, satisfied smile touched the corners of his lips as his eyes scanned the paper.

​Spotting Caeden in the doorway, Alem tucked the paper under his arm and walked over with long, relaxed strides.

​"Caeden, perfect timing," Alem said, his voice carrying effortlessly through the quiet corridor. "Let us head straight to the library. I can tutor you on today's lecture material so you do not fall behind."

​Caeden winced, leaning in close until their shoulders nearly touched. "Keep your voice down," he hissed through clenched teeth. "If anyone hears you talking like my babysitter, I will lose my mind. Do not use my full name here, Alem Monro."

​Alem merely smirked, unimpressed by the hostility. "Fine. Let us go then."

​As Alem turned, Caeden caught a glimpse of the giant red mark circled at the top of the exam paper: a perfect score. Despite the deep seated irritation burning in his chest, a strange chill ran through him. To his knowledge, no transfer applicant in the history of Hilton University had ever managed a flawless mark on that entrance test.

​What kind of twisted brain does this guy have? Caeden thought silently, his eyes fixed on his stepbrother's back as they walked toward the courtyard. How on earth did he pull off a perfect score?