The conference room buzzed with nervous chatter until the door swung open and the executive stepped inside. He wore oversized sunglasses that swallowed half his face and a stiff coat collar pulled high around his jaw. The look might have passed for an attempt at style if not for the way he held himself, shoulders tight, chin tucked down, as if he hoped the light wouldn’t touch him.A few eager students rushed in like moths to a flame.“Sir, you look sharp today.”“Very bold choice. Stylish.”“Those sunglasses are giving movie-star energy.”Their voices climbed over one another in hopes of being noticed. The executive lifted his chin as if he believed them, but his posture told another story. Every step looked calculated to avoid jostling his ribs. His jaw tensed each time he swallowed.Benjamin leaned back in his seat and said, loud enough for the nearby rows to hear, “It isn’t stylish,” Benjamin said. “He’s probably hiding bruises on his face and jaw.”A quiet ripple moved through the

The executive’s hands shook as he adjusted his tie for what felt like the hundredth time. He swallowed hard, every breath catching as if the air in the room had thickened into something impossible to breathe. He dared not meet Reed Peters’ eyes. Instead, he glanced nervously toward Benjamin, who stood unflinching, calm as a marble statue at the center of the conference room.“Sir,” the executive stammered, voice tight and wavering, “I… I don’t understand why you are listening to him.”Reed’s gaze remained unblinking, as sharp as a scalpel. He leaned slightly forward, voice quiet but cutting through the tense silence like a razor. “If you had truly selected talent,” he said, slow and deliberate, “then surely the question posed by the supposed ‘nobody’ wouldn’t stump these two,” he glanced at Ryan and Rose, “would it?”The executive’s jaw went slack. His tongue seemed to fail him entirely, and he could only nod faintly, lips pressed together as if the act might somehow repair his dignit

The city noise faded gradually as Benjamin and Elise walked away from the main road.The towering headquarters of Trinity Corporations disappeared behind a curve of trees and glass buildings, replaced by a quieter stretch of pavement lined with trimmed hedges and low lampposts. The afternoon sun filtered down in slanted beams, casting long shadows that stretched across the ground.Elise slowed her steps.After a moment of hesitation, she stopped completely.Benjamin noticed at once and turned back. “Something wrong?”She looked down at the internship offer still clutched in her hands. The paper crinkled slightly under her fingers. Her chest rose and fell once, then she lifted her head and met his gaze.“I wanted to thank you,” she said earnestly. “Properly.”Benjamin waited, silent.“If you hadn’t called me to Trinity Corporations,” she continued, her voice steady but sincere, “I would have missed this chance entirely. I didn’t even know they were re-evaluating candidates. I might hav

The night air hung heavy and unsettled after Chris’s hurried proposal.For several seconds, neither of them spoke.Chris’s offer still lingered in the air like an unpleasant aftertaste.Ten thousand dollars.Elise broke the silence first.“Benjamin,” she said softly, turning toward him, concern etched clearly across her face. “You should accept it.”Benjamin looked at her, slightly surprised.She hesitated for a moment before continuing, choosing her words carefully. “I know it doesn’t solve everything. It’s nowhere near enough to cover three hundred and fifty thousand.” Her voice dropped. “But it’s still money. And right now… every little bit helps.”Benjamin remained silent, his expression unreadable.Elise took a small step closer. “I’ve heard about how you treated the fraternity brothers before,” she added quietly. “You paid for them even when you didn’t have to. I know you don’t like taking money from people like him, but this isn’t about pride.”She lifted her gaze to meet his. “

Benjamin sat straight-backed in his chair, hands resting calmly on his lap. The dining room was warm and carefully arranged, every detail polished to reflect quiet wealth. Crystal glasses caught the light above the table, and the soft clink of cutlery blended with muted conversation.The food before him looked exquisite, plated with the kind of precision meant to impress. It should have been a pleasant evening. Yet he hadn’t taken a single bite. His appetite had disappeared the moment he saw Elise’s parents' facial expressions.Mrs. Harrison dabbed her lips lightly with her napkin and smiled, the kind that never quite reached her eyes. “So, Benjamin,” she said, her tone casual but sharp underneath, “we’ve heard quite a bit about you.”Benjamin inclined his head politely. “I’m honored.”Mr. Harrison leaned back slightly, fingers interlaced. “So, tell us,” he said, “which family do you… hail from?”The question landed cleanly, but its weight lingered.Before Benjamin could answer, Elis