All Chapters of Rejected by One, Wanted by Another : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The vibrating sound of her phone on the nightstand dragged Lucy out of her deep and dreamless sleep. She groaned, squinting at the bright screen. It was barely eight in the morning. The caller ID showed a number she recognized as Arthur Matthews’ private office."Hello?" Lucy rasped, her voice still thick with sleep."Lucy, it’s Sarah from Mr. Matthews’ office. I’m sorry to wake you, but Arthur requires you at the headquarters immediately. A car is already on its way to your dorm. Please be ready in fifteen minutes.""Is something wrong? Is it my father?" Lucy sat up fast, the blankets pooling around her waist."It is a business matter, Lucy. Adrian is already on his way. Please, don’t be late."The line went dead. Lucy scrambled out of bed, her heart racing. Zoe was still sleeping in the opposite bed with a sleep mask covering her eyes. Lucy didn't bother waking her. She threw on a pair of dark slacks and a simple cream sweater, brushed her hair into a quick ponytail, and grabbed her

Lucy slammed the door to her dorm room, she threw her bag on her bed and paced the small space, her mind replaying the moment in the studio over and over.One second, the world had been melting away. The next, Jonathan had turned into a block of ice."He acts like I’m a child," she hissed to the empty room, throwing her coat over a chair. "Like I don’t know my own mind. 'We should finish the slides.' Who says that when the air is literally screaming for them to do the opposite?"She caught her reflection in the mirror. The blue smudge was still there on her cheek, a mocking reminder of how close they had been. She scrubbed at it with a damp cloth, her movements jagged and angry. "Stupid blue paint. Stupid 'honor.' Stupid Jonathan Blake."Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, ready to ignore another news alert about the Matthews merger, but the name on the screen made her heart skip.Jonathan: Lucy, please. I’m sorry. I know you’re angry.She stared at the screen, her thum

Sunday morning started with the smell of coffee and the sound of Leo’s bare feet running down the hallway. Lucy woke up slowly, enjoying the warmth of her old blankets. When she walked into the kitchen, her mother was standing in front of the open refrigerator with a frown."I thought I had enough eggs and milk for the blueberry pancakes," Margaret said, sighing. "Leo did you use the last carton of milk with your cereal yesterday?""I was hungry!" Leo shouted from the living room."It’s okay, Mom," Lucy said, grabbing her car keys from the counter. "I’ll go run to the corner store. Peanut, do you want to come?"Leo appeared in the doorway instantly. "Can I get a chocolate bar?""If you put your shoes on in under ten seconds, yes," Lucy challenged.A few minutes later, they were walking down the aisles of the small neighborhood grocery store. Leo was humming a song while he hunted for the perfect chocolate bar. Lucy picked up a gallon of milk, a carton of eggs, and a bag of flour.As s

The moment Dr. Harrison finished his critique, Adrian stood up. He didn't wait for the next group to begin. He grabbed his leather briefcase and shoved his chair back so hard it screeched against the floor. Every head in the auditorium turned to watch him. He didn't look at Lucy, and he didn't look at Zoe. He marched out of the double doors, his face was red with anger.Once he was in the hallway, Adrian didn't slow down. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number with trembling fingers. As soon as the person picked up, he began to scream."I paid you to handle one thing!" Adrian yelled, his voice echoing off the lockers. "One simple task! You told me he wouldn’t show up. You told me the 'accident' would be enough to keep him in the hospital for the day. He’s here! He’s in there right now making me look like an idiot!"He listened for a second, then kicked a trash can near the exit. "I don't care about the police or the witnesses! You failed. If that scholarship kid is st

The sharp buzzing of her phone against the nightstand pulled Lucy out of her deep sleep. The buzzing stopped for three seconds, then started again, more insistent this time.She reached out blindly, her hand fumbling across the surface of the stand until her fingers brushed her phone. She groaned, reaching out from under the heavy duvet to silence the alarm, but the screen didn't show the time. It showed Adrian’s name.She sat up abruptly, her head spinning slightly from the drinks and the late night. She cleared her throat, trying to sound like she had been awake for hours."Hello?""Where the hell were you last night?" Adrian’s voice boomed through the speaker. Lucy pulled the phone an inch away from her ear. "I had people looking for you, Lucy. You weren't at the library, and you weren't at the student lounge."Lucy’s heart hammered against her ribs, but she kept her voice steady. "I was in my room, Adrian. I told you, I was exhausted after the presentation. I came back early a