You're Mine to Deal With

The whispers followed Noah all the way to the architecture hall.

"That's him."

"The guy who spilled coffee on Adrian Knight."

"They say Mr. Knight fired people for less."

Noah ignored them and placed the repaired model on the display table. A crack still ran across one side, but he refused to let a single accident ruin weeks of hard work.

"I'll prove my design is good enough," he muttered.

An hour later, the annual architecture competition began.

The auditorium fell silent as Adrian Knight walked onto the stage in a perfectly tailored black suit. His expression remained unreadable, as if the morning's incident had never happened.

Noah crossed his arms.

What a cold-hearted man.

After Adrian finished his brief speech, the judges began evaluating each project.

When Adrian stopped in front of Noah's model, the room became tense.

"So," Adrian said calmly, "this is the project you were trying so desperately to protect."

Noah met his gaze without flinching.

"Yes."

Adrian examined the model from every angle.

"The structure is creative."

For a moment, Noah thought he was about to receive a compliment.

"But the craftsmanship is careless."

Noah frowned.

"It broke because someone walked into me."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"You walked into me."

"You were blocking the hallway."

Several students covered their mouths, shocked by Noah's boldness.

Instead of getting angry, Adrian took one slow step closer.

He lowered his voice so only Noah could hear.

"Be careful."

"Why?"

"Because I don't like people arguing with me."

Noah refused to look away.

"Then maybe you should stop acting like everyone belongs to you."

A strange silence settled between them.

Then, to everyone's surprise...

Adrian smiled.

It wasn't warm.

It was the dangerous smile of someone who had just accepted a challenge.

"I've changed my mind."

His assistant looked confused.

"Sir?"

Adrian kept his eyes on Noah.

"I want him."

The room fell silent.

His assistant blinked.

"Sir... you mean the student?"

"Yes."

"What should I do?"

Adrian straightened his cuffs.

"Offer him an internship at Knight Group."

"But, sir, we only choose graduates with years of experience."

"I know."

"Then why him?"

Adrian's gaze never left Noah.

"Because from today onward..."

He paused, his voice calm but firm.

"He's under my watch."

Noah overheard every word.

"I'm not interested," he said immediately.

"I won't work for someone as arrogant as you."

For the first time that day, Adrian's eyes flashed with something possessive.

"You think this is a request?"

He stepped closer until only a small distance separated them.

"Noah Evans."

Hearing his full name made Noah's heart skip a beat.

"I always get what I want."

The confidence in Adrian's voice wasn't a threat shouted in anger—it was a quiet promise.

Noah lifted his chin.

"We'll see about that."

As Noah walked away, Adrian watched him disappears into the crowd.

His assistant sighed.

"Sir, should I cancel the internship?"

Adrian slipped one hand into his pocket.

"No."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"The hunt has just begun."

To Be Continued...

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