The limousine door opened with a soft click, and Adrian Wolfes stepped out, radiating that untouchable air that always seemed to pull a crowd. Cameras flashed in the distance, and whispers trailed behind him like a second shadow. He wasn't supposed to be here—at least, not according to the program schedule—but Adrian had never been a man who followed rules when he saw something he wanted.
Inside the grand hall of the scholarship award event, Dianne adjusted the hem of her modest dress. It wasn't designer, but she had stitched every seam with care. Her heart was already beating fast from the anticipation of giving her speech, but when she caught sight of the tall figure walking in, her breath completely stalled.
Him.
The man she had only seen in news articles, business magazines, and the occasional glossy billboard. Adrian Wolfes. The CEO. The youngest billionaire in the city. And right now, his eyes—those sharp, dark eyes—were scanning the room as though searching for something… or someone.
Their gazes met for a second.
It felt like a collision.
Dianne quickly looked away, clutching her speech cards like they were her lifeline. She reminded herself that men like him lived in a different universe, one with velvet ropes and silver spoons. Her world was asphalt streets, rationed electricity, and the smell of fried plantains from the corner stall.
But she didn't know that, for Adrian, the girl in the plain blue dress had already become the most captivating thing in the room.
His assistant, Lucas, leaned in to whisper, "Sir, your table is ready."
Adrian didn't move. "Find out who she is," he said quietly, his gaze still fixed on Dianne.
The evening went on. Dianne delivered her speech—voice trembling at first but growing stronger with every word. She spoke about resilience, about dreams that refuse to die no matter how many times they're buried. People clapped, some even stood. But from where she stood, all she could feel was the strange weight of Adrian's attention, heavy and unrelenting.
When the event ended, Dianne slipped toward the exit. The last thing she wanted was to cross paths with him again. Yet, halfway through the parking lot, a voice stopped her.
"Miss…"
She turned.
He was there.
"Your speech," Adrian said, his voice low but steady. "It wasn't just words. It was… truth."
She swallowed, unsure what to say. "Thank you, sir."
For a moment, neither of them moved. Then Adrian smiled faintly, the kind of smile that looked almost rare on him. "I'd like to talk more. Over coffee—if you'll allow it."
Dianne hesitated. Something told her this wasn't a simple invitation. And deep down, she knew that accepting it could change her life in ways she wasn't ready for.
But she also knew she might n
ever get another chance like this.