Chapter 133
Adrian quickly raised his hand, shielding Selene from Theodore’s overzealous spittle.
Theodore sniffed loudly and muttered, “What’s with that overpowering perfume?”
The other professors, now curious thanks to Theodore, started sniffing the air themselves. “Perfume? I don’t smell anything unusual,” one said.
Trying to move things along, Selene snapped back to attention and hurriedly presented her invitation letter to the professors.
“I already have an official invitation. Thank you all for your interest.”
As she spoke, she caught sight of a pale, ghostly face in the crowd.
Wyatt was staring at her.
The moment their eyes met, Wyatt reacted like a mouse spotting a cat. He spun around and bolted, practically fleeing the scene.
Wyatt had ranked outside the top 100 in the finals, which meant he didn’t have the right to challenge Selene. He’d been secretly hoping that the runner–up would beat Selene and that the committee would hand the gold medal to anyone but
her–anyone, in his mind, was more deserving.
But when Selene stood on stage holding the gold trophy, Wyatt’s nerves completely
unraveled.
He remembered the bet he’d made with her.
His legs started to tremble uncontrollably.
Wyatt turned and rushed out, desperate to find somewhere to hide. Maybe if he just laid low until the excitement over Selene’s victory died down, everyone would forget about the bet altogether.
“Ah!!”
Wyatt crashed headlong into someone in the hallway.
The guy was massive, built like a linebacker. Wyatt bounced right off him and landed hard on his backside.
The man said nothing, just strode past without a glance.
Muttering curses under his breath, Wyatt struggled to his feet, not daring to even
1/3
13:23
look at the other man. If someone could knock him over that easily, he definitely wasn’t someone Wyatt wanted to mess with.
He clung to the wall as he staggered out of the building. Only when he gulped in the crisp outdoor air did he finally relax a little.
He reached into his jacket pocket–and frowned. Somehow, a small packet of powder had appeared inside.
Puzzled, Wyatt pulled it out and squinted at the label on the back:
For relief of constipation. Fast–acting laxative.
Wait a minute… Was this really–laxative?!
How on earth did a packet of laxative end up in his pocket?!
Wyatt’s face turned beet red in an instant.
“Seriously?!”
He hurled the packet onto the ground in disgust.
“Wyatt!”
He looked up. The classmates he’d studied with at Theodore’s house were all there, filing toward him.
Each of them pulled a packet of powder from their own pockets and held them out to Wyatt.
“Not sure who slipped these to us, but hey, you might need them more than we do. Take them!”
One by one, they piled over a dozen packets of laxative into Wyatt’s reluctant hands.
Wyatt looked like he was about to burst into tears. “Do I really have to do a handstand and… you know… put on a show?”
One classmate clapped him on the shoulder. “Wyatt, have a little faith in yourself. We believe in you!”
Vaughn Enterprises, Conference Room:
As soon as the competition livestream ended, the board dove into heated
discussion about the best way to recruit Selene–and what kind of offer would
פור
13:23
Chapter 133
actually get her in the door.
When they saw major companies publicly inviting Selene to join them online, a sense of panic swept through the Vaughn boardroom.
“Harrison! Call Selene, now! Get her to accept our offer before someone else snaps her up!”
Everyone was pressuring Harrison, who looked downright grim. He glanced at his assistant, Secretary Burnett.
Burnett immediately produced a separate phone and handed it over. “This number isn’t blocked by Miss Thompson yet.”
Reluctantly, Harrison accepted the phone and dialed Selene’s number. He would’ve preferred not to be the one making the call, but when it came to bringing Selene to Vaughn Enterprises, he was the only one who could get it done.
With the shareholders waiting on tenterhooks, Harrison made the call.
After just a few rings, the line connected.
“Hello?”
That familiar female voice filled his ear, and Harrison’s lips curled into a faint smile.
“It’s me.”
“DamesDames…”
3/3
13:23
Gnapter
Harrison’s call was abruptly cut off.
