Ruthless Temptation

Emma’s POV

There were two types of students at Westbridge University—the elite and the desperate.

The elite, like me, walked these halls as if we owned them because, in many ways, we did. We were the sons and daughters of CEOs, politicians, and old-money aristocrats. Our names carried weight. Our futures were guaranteed.

Then there were the desperate—the ones clawing their way up from nothing, grasping at scholarships, hoping to breathe the same air as us. They studied late into the night, fought for every grade, and believed that intelligence alone could level the playing field.

Killian Thomas was one of them.

I watched him now, sitting at the front of the lecture hall, focused as ever while the professor droned on about economic structures. His jaw was sharp, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he scribbled notes like his life depended on it. Maybe it did.

He was an enigma at Westbridge. He had no wealth, no connections—just a mind that refused to be ignored. Professors admired him. Students envied him. But I? I loathed him.

Because he didn’t fear me.

Everyone else in this school knew better than to cross me. I was Emma Scott—heiress to the Scott Enterprises empire, queen of this university, and the girl no one dared to challenge.

Except for him.

From the moment we met, Killian Thomas had been a thorn in my side. He never bowed, never backed down, never acknowledged the hierarchy that had ruled this campus long before he arrived.

And that made him my favorite person to destroy.

The lecture ended, and students began to shuffle out. Killian remained seated, still absorbed in his notes. I strolled past him, tapping my manicured nails against his desk.

“You know,” I mused, leaning down so only he could hear, “you should consider taking a break. It must be exhausting being so painfully diligent all the time.”

He didn’t look up. “It must be exhausting being so painfully insufferable all the time.”

I smirked. “I’m just trying to help you, Killian. Westbridge isn’t just about grades. It’s about connections—something you sorely lack.”

This time, he met my gaze, his blue eyes sharp as ice. “And yet, despite my lack of connections, I still manage to outrank you in every class. How do you sleep at night, princess?”

I gritted my teeth.

I should have walked away. Should have laughed it off, made some offhand remark about his pitiful life, and left him to drown in his books.

But I couldn’t. Because he was right.

Killian was at the top. And for all my wealth and influence, I couldn’t stand that he had something I didn’t.

Killian’s POV

Emma Scott was relentless.

For years, she had made it her mission to antagonize me at every opportunity. Snide remarks. Backhanded compliments. Little games meant to throw me off.

None of them worked.

Because while Emma thrived on power, I thrived on proving people like her wrong.

I had fought for everything I had—my grades, my scholarships, my place at this university. I wasn’t going to let some spoiled heiress make me question my worth.

“Still here, Killian?” Emma’s voice cut through my thoughts as I packed up my things. She was leaning against the desk beside mine, her arms crossed, her expression smug. “I thought poor little scholarship students had jobs to rush off to.”

I exhaled slowly, refusing to rise to the bait. “And I thought rich girls had trust funds to spend. Why are you wasting your time with me?”

She laughed, tilting her head in mock thought. “Maybe because it’s fun to watch you squirm.”

I met her gaze, holding it steady. “If that were true, you wouldn’t have to try so hard.”

For the first time, her smirk faltered. Just for a second.

But it was enough.

I swung my bag over my shoulder and walked away, ignoring the way her presence lingered like a storm waiting to strike.