Chapter 1

I stepped around Harvey Jetson and headed toward the administration building. He stepped to the side and blocked my path.

Harvey insisted, "I told you to take your shirt off. Didn't you hear me?"

"I heard you," I replied.

"Then why aren't you doing it?"

"Why should I?"

The crowd around us fell silent.

Several students watching nearby looked stunned, as if they couldn't believe anyone had dared to talk to Harvey that way.

The suit Harvey was wearing was an unreleased design from the latest collection of Anna Coudert, a world-famous designer. Only two had been made in the entire world.

One was in Anna's own studio, and the other was on me.

The suit Harvey was wearing had the wrong fabric, and the cut was half an inch too narrow. No one else could tell, but I spotted the differences at a glance.

I couldn't help but chuckle.

Harvey frowned. "What are you laughing at?"

I glanced at his suit and casually said, "Nothing. I just think it's beneath the heir to the Jetson family to be caught wearing a knockoff."

Harvey stared at me, and his gaze darkened. "Are you saying I'm wearing a knockoff?"

I didn't answer. Looking down at my watch, I saw that I had 20 minutes left before the inauguration ceremony.

"Move."

That one word ticked him off.

John Hughes, the blond guy beside Harvey, shoved me.

John said, "Harvey asked you a question. Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty?"

I took half a step back and avoided his hand. "There are security cameras all over campus. Whoever starts a fight will get a misconduct record in their file."

John snorted. "A misconduct record? You think you're some hotshot? Harvey's aunt is the school's vice president. Forget getting written up for pushing you. Even if Harvey slapped you right now, no one would dare punish him."

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

His aunt, Faye Zaslow, was merely in charge of campus operations and student affairs. Even if she was a vice president, she didn't amount to much.

Just yesterday, I'd received an anonymous report. It contained evidence that Faye had abused her position to help relatives secure contracts for the university cafeteria and dorm renovation projects.

It seemed like the inauguration ceremony was going to be more eventful than I'd expected.

I pulled out my phone to call my secretary, but Harvey slapped it out of my hand. The phone hit the ground, and a crack spread across the screen.

He planted his foot on it and looked at me coldly. "Wanna call backup? Not a chance! Take that shirt off right now, or you're going to regret it."

For a moment, I thought I'd heard him wrong.

I said, "Harvey, this is a university, not your house."

His expression turned icy. "The Jetson family paid to build this university. What right does a broke student like you have to lecture me?"

I raised my head and looked him straight in the eye. "This university was founded 117 years ago. Jetson Group was established only 32 years ago. How do you have the nerve to claim your family built this place?"

Harvey's face stiffened.

A few people around us quietly laughed.

John snapped at them immediately. "What are you laughing at? Shut up!"

The crowd quickly fell silent.

I seized the opportunity to yank my phone free. Harvey stumbled and nearly fell. Once he'd regained his balance, he raised his hand to hit me.

I caught his wrist. He struggled, but he couldn't break free.

Harvey lifted his chin and snarled, "Let go! Believe it or not, I'll have you kicked out of this university with one phone call!"

I released him and pulled out a tissue to wipe my hand. "As if."

My response made him lose all reason. "Hold him down!"

Two bodyguards stepped forward at once. I took a step back and dodged one man's reaching hand. The other grabbed my shoulder, but I twisted his wrist behind his back and used his momentum against him. He grunted in pain and dropped to one knee.

During the years I'd spent studying abroad, I'd trained in self-defense. Dealing with ordinary bodyguards hired to make a spoiled rich kid look intimidating was no sweat for me.

Seeing what happened, the other bodyguard swung a fist straight at my face.

"Stop!" A sharp, urgent voice came from beyond the crowd.