By the time Leo stepped out of the Ashford Group headquarters, the city had started to slip into late afternoon.
His driver was already waiting in the parking lot.
Leo slid into the back seat and exhaled, tugging at his collar. The scent of cologne still lingered on him.
He pulled out his phone.
One new message.
Felix: Hayes is going to burn me alive if I stay in this office for even one more minute, why the fuck do I have to balance a budget that's already balanced?
Leo's mouth curved slightly. It's your job, he typed back, then locked the screen and exhaled.
The drive to Ashbourne didn't take long. Traffic was light, and soon the familiar gates came into view, all black iron and polished brass.
The campus was lot quieter than it had been than morning. A few students were walking across the courtyard, voices carrying faintly in the air, but most of the buzz had settled.
"Drop me near the main building", Leo said.
The driver nodded, pulling to a smooth stop. Leo stepped out, adjusting his blazer.
He didn't bother taking the elevator and just cut through the west wing, heading straight for the student council office.
The door was half open, light spilling in from the hall.
Inside, Felix sat slouched at a desk stacked with paperwork, a pen tucked behind his ear like it was holding him together.
Sebastian Hayes stood by the window, his tie loosened, muttering something into his phone before ending the call.
When he turned and saw Leo, his face broke into visible relief.
"Thank God. Tell me you have good news."
Leo leaned against the doorway. "You could say that. My father granted permission to use one of the flagship hotels. You should expect someone from the Ashford Group to reach out soon."
Sebastian let out a low breath, his shoulders dropping. "You just saved my week."
Felix muttered without looking up, "You mean our week. I've been doing all the math while you've been losing your mind."
"Somebody had to", Sebastian shot back. Then he looked at Leo again. "Seriously, I appreciate it. If your father follows through, this year is definitely gonna be awesome."
Leo shrugged. "Don't get used to it."
Felix grinned, finally glancing up. "He says that like he didn't just solve a problem that's been haunting this office for two days straight."
Leo pushed off the doorframe. "Then maybe next time, don't let it get that bad."
Felix groaned. "You're starting to sound like him now", he said, jerking a thumb towards Sebastian.
Leo smirked and turned for the door. "Then maybe you should learn to listen to him more."
Sebastian chuckled under his breath. "He's got a point."
Leo lifted a hand in a half wave without looking back. "See you around."
The hallway outside was quiet again.
He walked past the notice boards and classroom doors, his phone buzzing faintly in his pocket, until he reached the corridor that led to the gymnasium.
The echo of a basketball bouncing against hardwood broke the silence.
He paused.
Through the small glass window on the gym door, he saw Ethan Reeve alone on the court.
His hoodie off, shirt damp with sweat , a ball spinning lazily in his hands.
He took a shot, missed, caught the rebound, and tried again.
The ball hit the rim and rolled away.
Leo stood at the doorway, watching for a moment before stepping in.
"You're flicking your wrist too early," he said.
Ethan spun, startled, the ball slipping from his hands and bouncing away. "What…Ashford?"
Leo nodded once. "If you're gonna practice might as well do it right.
Ethan blinked, then huffed a small laugh "Didn't peg you for a basketball critic."
"Not a critic," Leo said simply walking closer. "Just… someone who doesn't like watching bad form."
That made Ethan smirk. "Alright, then show me how it's done."
Leo took the ball, bounced it once, and shot. The arc was clean. Net.
Ethan stared at the ball as it dropped clean through the net, then looked back at Leo. "Okay, that was…not luck."
Leo just gave a small shrug, his expression mostly unreadable.
You play, don't you?" Ethan asked, curiosity edging into his voice.
"Used to" Leo said.
Ethan picked up the ball twirling it in his hands. "Used to?"
"Not my thing anymore."
Ethan smirked a little. "Shame."
He walked over to the benches, grabbed a towel, and sat down, throwing it over the back of his neck.
"My game's not usually this bad." He admitted, breathing out through his mouth.
"It's probably the pressure. We've got a match tomorrow."
Leo glanced over. "What match?"
"A qualifier against Halcyon Prep," Ethan said. "They've been destroying everyone this season, apparently they got a new coach."
Ethan rubbed his temples visibly exhausted. "I don't know whether coach developed an inferiority complex or something but he's been on us constantly with extra drills and laps, most of the first years can't even keep up."
Leo held his gaze for a while. "Pressure's only bad if you let it decide how you play."
Ethan let out a tired laugh. "Yeah, well, tell that to my aim."
Leo looked at him for a while, before he turned heading for the exit. "Just… fix your follow through and stop thinking so much when you shoot."
Ethan looked up, a grin tugging at the edge of his mouth. "You sure you don't wanna sub in for me tomorrow?"
Leo didn't turn around. "Positive."
Leo pushed open the door, walking back into the quiet hallway, he slipped his hands into his pockets and made his way to the dorms.
When Leo finally got to his dorms, he tossed his bag on the couch, kicked of his shoes, made his way to his bedroom and fell back on t4he bed.
He didn't bother with the lights.
One blink simply turned into another and sleep took over.
Buzz… buzz… buzz…
Leo groaned, dragging a hand across his face, before grabbing his phone and hitting the dismiss button.
The room was dim, the only light coming through was from outside lights seeping into the blinds.
He squinted at his screen – 7:01 p.m.
For a second, he just sat there, blinking away the haze of sleep. His shirt was wrinkled from the nap, his hair a scattered mess.
He swung his leg of the bed and trudged to the bathroom, flicking on the light.
The cold water hit his face, chasing off the leftover drowsiness.
He brushed his teeth and ran a hand through his hair until it stopped sticking up, then leaned on the sink for a moment letting the quiet settle.
Leo stepped out of the bathroom, drying his hands on a towel before tossing it aside.
He shrugged on his blazer, grabbed his phone and keycard, and headed out.
The hallway was mostly quiet, most of the students were already at dinner, their voices carrying faintly from somewhere below.
His shoes echoed slightly against the polished floor as he made his way towards the cafeteria, scrolling absently on his phone to kill the short walk.
By the time he pushed through the double doors, the place was alive with noise, laughter and conversations as well as the clatter of trays.
He scanned the room taking in the scene, when a sharp voice cut through the chatter.
A group of girls near the center were drawing attention.
Anya stood in the middle of it, a tray in hand, her face tight but trying.
"I said I washed it," Anya muttered, her voice trembling slightly. "I just wanted to give it back-"
"Oh please," One of them cut in smirking. "You actually thought he'd wear that again? That's so adorable. "
Another girl leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "You've really started believing your own fairytale, huh? One conversation, and you think you're special? "
Anya's grip on her tray tightened. "That's not what I-"
"Relax," the first girl interrupted. "We're just trying to help you remember where you stand. You don't want to embarrass yourself. Or him. "
Somebody nearby snickered. The sound seemed to unlock the rest- comments began rippling from people all over the cafeteria.
"She really thinks he gave it to her?"
"Must be nice to be the charity project of the term."
"Cute. Sad, but cute."
Anya took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "You don't know what you're talking about."
That earned a chorus of mocking laughter. "Oh we don't?"
The tallest girl stepped closer, tipping her head like she was studying a stain.
"Sweetheart, you walked into this school on scholarship. Half the people here pay more in a week than your parents make in a year. You think one measly jacket changes that?"
A few kids nearby snickered.
One of the girls shoved Anya's elbow with the tip of her finger and the tray tilted. The tray fell, food splattered all over the cafeteria floor.
Anya clenched her fists, her hands shaking. "Stop it."
"Or what?" the blonde sneered. "You'll cry?"
"Enough!" Leo's voice cut through the chatter.