Chapter 14:The Plus One

Scarlett's POV

I didn't get a single message from Adrian until two days later.

By the second afternoon, I was already starting to get worried, genuinely wondering if he had changed his mind or dropped the idea entirely. But my two-week deadline was already counting down. Every silent hour that passed was an hour wasted, pushing me closer to a deadline I couldn't afford to miss.

Then, my phone buzzed with a message from his number.

“Send a pretty picture of you.”

I scoffed out loud at the screen. The arrogance of this guy was unreal. Rolling my eyes, I lazily scrolled through my gallery, picked a decent photo where I actually looked somewhat presentable, and sent it to him.

Ten minutes passed without a reply. I sat on the edge of my bed, watching every minute tick by right before my eyes.

Finally, a file arrived on my phone. It was a digital invitation card. “Ravenwood Athletics Annual Gala & Dinner.” The date on the invitation was three days from now.

I immediately typed back: “What is this about?”

“You can read? It's a dinner,” he replied almost instantly.

I bit back a frustrated sigh. “Of course I can read. I wonder why it matters to our arrangement.”

“We are allowed to come with a partner. We go as a couple.”

I stared at the text, deciding not to respond. My mind was already spinning with the tactical possibilities. An off-campus gala meant a crowded hall, dark corners, distracted security, and alcohol flowing freely. If I could find even a tiny opening at this event, maybe I could take him down right there and wrap this mission up early.

I dropped my phone onto my desk just as the dorm door burst open and Mia walked in, carrying a bag of takeout.

"I'm attending this dinner with Damien!" Mia announced, tossing her keys onto her bed with a dramatic sigh. "It's an event for athletes. I'm so pained I can't come with you."

I tilted my head, looking up from my desk. "Damien is an athlete?"

"Yeah, he plays basketball!" Mia grinned, sitting down on her bed and swinging her legs. "I told you I wanted an athlete, didn't I? His twin brother plays hockey."

"He's a twin?"

"Yeah, he has a twin brother. His name is David." Mia paused, her eyes widening as she remembered something. "Ohhh, wait, aren't you going to be trapped in the dorms all night?"

"I'm actually going to the dinner too," I said casually.

Mia froze, looking at me in absolute shock. "With who?"

"Adrian."

"What?!" Mia nearly shrieked, bouncing off her mattress. "Adrian?! Girlll, what is going on with you and Adrian? I don't think I understand anything anymore!"

"We have a thing going, but—"

"Wait, what?!" she interrupted, clapping her hands over her mouth. "Wow, and you didn't tell me?!"

"I didn't get the chance to, Mia," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "You're barely around."

I leaned closer and lowered my voice, wanting to nip her wild romantic fantasies in the bud without giving away the dangerous truth. "It's not real, it's just to handle the blogs—"

My words flew completely over her head. The second the phrase 'we have a thing'left my mouth, Mia had completely stopped listening to the rest.

"It's been how long now?" she swooned, placing her hands dramatically over her heart. "I really wish Damien would ask me to be his girlfriend soon too... maybe at the dinner!"

“If you knew the actual basis of this setup, I doubt you'd still want the same thing,”I thought bitterly to myself.

"Three days," I responded aloud, answering her original question about how long it had been.

Before Mia could launch into another full-blown interrogation, my phone screen lit up with another notification.

“Come outside. I'm waiting.”

I stared at the message in utter disbelief. He was here? Right now?

I walked over to the window, and parted the blinds. Sure enough, parked right in the turnaround loop below our dorm was his matte black Range Rover Sport. Adrian was leaning casually against the driver's side door, his full attention fixed on his phone, likely waiting for my text back.

"What's going on?" Mia asked, trying to peek over my shoulder.

"Adrian is here," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "He wants me to come outside and I don't kn—"

"Wowww!" Mia squealed, instantly throwing open her closet door. "What are you wearing?! Let's set you up!"

I made a face at her, stepping away from the window. "What? I'm not going to a party, Mia. I'm literally just going downstairs."

"To meet Adrian, Lettie!" she insisted, pulling out a bright top. "You shouldn't be caught unfresh!"

"Well, I'm definitely not going to put on lip gloss and my most expensive outfit just to see someone outside for two minutes," I scoffed, kicking off my socks and sliding my feet directly into a pair of flat casual slippers. I grabbed my keycard and headed straight for the door.

"At least pack your hair!" I heard Mia scream dramatically behind me as the door clicked shut.

I ignored her and headed down the stairwell.

The moment I stepped out of the front entrance of the residence hall, I felt the shifts in the air. Groups of girls sitting on the quad benches instantly stopped talking. Whispering circles formed, and people slowed their pace, blatantly staring while pretending they were just looking past us. I kept my chin up, pretending not to notice the eyes on my back, though I wasn't entirely sure what I was supposed to say to him once I reached the car.

As I approached the Range Rover, Adrian raised his head. His eyes swept over my oversized hoodie and casual slippers without a single flicker of expression. Before I could say a word, he simply stepped forward, pulled open the passenger door for me, and waited.

I stood there, slightly confused, before climbing inside. Watching him walk around the front hood to get into the driver's seat felt like a million agonizing minutes. I was practically dying for an explanation as to why he was dragging me out of my room on a random weekday afternoon.

Adrian settled into the leather driver's seat, pulled the door shut, and started the engine.

"We need to get you something to wear for the event," he said smoothly, shifting the car into drive and pulling out of the lot.

"I have clothes," I protested, turning in my seat to look at him.

"I didn't say you don't," he replied flatly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

“How did you find where I stay, I don't remember telling you?”

“I get whatever information I need”

The rest of the drive was heavy and dead quiet. Neither of us spoke a word as the Range Rover glided through the city streets. Ten minutes later, he pulled up to the curb and killed the engine.

I looked out the window and I instantly regretted not listening to Mia.