The elevator jolted hard, then froze with a gut-clenching grind. The lights flickered once… and then silence.

I exhaled through my teeth. “Of course.”

A beat passed. Then I heard it—that voice. That annoyingly calm, arrogant, too-smooth voice I knew like a bad habit.

“Let me guess… you think this is my fault somehow?”

I turned slowly, already dreading the sight I’d find—and there he was, leaned casually against the elevator wall like this was a joke. Like he wasn’t the one person I’d rather be stranded with a snake than share a square foot of space with.

Callum Reyes.

Top of the class. Top of every competition.

And top-tier...