~~Daniil's POV~~
My walk-in closet rivaled high-end boutiques, housing a collection of designer clothing and accessories. But there was one drawback – they were all black. I was an ardent lover of the color black so that wasn't necessarily a limitation. It's just that I wanted a different look for that day which marked the beginning of a new chapter for me. 'Oh well.' Scanning through, I chose one of the numerous black hoodies lined up in one section. To outsiders, it could look like I always repeated my clothes but the truth was seventy percent of my apparels were hoodies. I got changed in the dressing area featuring a sleek black vanity with a gilded mirror. I got my hair done, wore my limited edition cologne, then it was finally time for the last piece – a nose mask.
Each drawer on my dressing table was dedicated to distinct accessories of mine. The first contained my wristwatches so I went on to slide open the second. I was taken aback by the pair of contact lenses staring right back at me. A thought to put them on breezed in but I shut it instead, slid the third one open, and took out a black nose mask from the numerous lying in there.
"Alexa unlock the doors," I ordered, walking out majestically.
"Mr. Smirnov wishes to speak to you," Andrei informed, holding to me the phone displaying an ongoing call with my dad, the moment I stepped out.
"Why? He hasn't called in forever," I responded trotting towards the elevator. "Ahh…" I paused. For a moment, I forgot my house was swarming with human CCTV cameras everywhere parading themselves as servants. He must have gotten wind of the incident earlier today. "Let me have it." I stretched forth my hand for the phone.
I heaved a sigh before taking it to my ear. "Daniil!!!" Like shooting arrows aimed at my innocent eardrums, his voice came. I winced subconsciously, taking it farther away. "Here you go," I handed Andrei the phone again and resumed my strides while he struggled to keep up – like a puppy following its master – with the phone then on speaker. "Daniil you have refused to be useful to yourself! Why in the world have you chosen to be utterly useless to this family?!" I heard him bark like a toothless dog.
"Andrei!"
"Yes sir."
"Is the girl dead yet?"
"No sir. She was rushed to the hospital."
"Make sure to handle it like always."
"I will sir."
"And keep your eyes open like a hawk."
"Your wish is my command, sir." I heard them converse before stepping into the elevator.
"Take the stairs," I ordered behind the doors sliding close.
I once strangled a mouse to death when I was a toddler. This was the exact reason I was ostracized to the outskirts of Chicago away from my family. Following a heinous crime I committed, my dad shipped me down here under the pretense of getting my acts straight; he claimed I needed some space to get better in order to rightfully claim my inheritance. But in effect, I knew I was thrown away to preserve the Smirnov family name. I wasn't even allowed to visit even if I wanted; the luxury I enjoyed was proof of that. It was almost as if my dad bought my right to return home with it. While my mom always shielded my mental health by telling me I was only born special, my dad explicitly told me I was a mad dog which needed to be tamed. And that was how I was abandoned at the mercy of numerous servants at my beck and call. Not only did they look after me, my every moves and actions were reported duly.
Before getting banished, I was given the best of treatments in all aspects. I went to the best schools and made to study like my life depended on it, the best hospitals, visited the best psychologists, specialists, and numerous health practitioners I lost count of. At first, my dad desperately wanted to get me back to "normal," but eventually opted for a plan B when I felt like a lost cause. Turned out he always had in mind to drive me away if things didn't change. The mansion in Chicago was designed specially to grace my presence. The topmost floor of the house belonged only to me, and only a measure servants at my personal disposal were let in to limit contact with the majority of them.
As for the servants, they were apparently divided into distinct departments, easily identified by little distinctions in their uniforms. The departments were managerial, cooking, cleaning, security, and master departments. The master department comprised people who served me personally on the master floor. Specially handpicked by Andrei, only the best were hired given what happened earlier.
Currently, I was on my way to the International University of Chicago, IUC as commonly known. Thanks to my dad's prestige and affluence, transferring schools between countries was a cakewalk. Although he initially wanted me to cease physical schools and opt in for online ones. It took quite a lot for fear of the unknown, but he eventually agreed to let me school like normal average people in an open university. But there was a clause to it; a condition.
"Is the air conditioner to your liking?" Andrei asked, staring at me from then rearview mirror.
"Just drive…," I stressed, adjusting my Airpods. The fact that I heard him was proof they weren't properly fitted in my ears.
International University of Chicago
I got there moments later. Andrei – acting as a forerunner- had already made prior arrangements before then so that saved me the stress. He also gained me a couple of valuable contacts, of which Jordan's – identified to be the course representative – was among.
At the time, I was led to the class for students majoring in political science by Jordan. It was almost impossible to escape the prying eyes that feasted on me while we walked down the hallway. While some openly waved and expressed their inquisition across their features, others whispered to themselves whilst engaging with their lockers. Well, I couldn't care less about the needless attention, I just felt like the boss that I am.
Jordan soon took a right turn into a class I assumed to be our destination. I followed suit. The first outstanding feature I pointed out was the American flag hanging on the electronic board in front of the class; such patriotism. Or maybe it was vital considering their major. Then standing near the podium against the class, its downlights towering over us coupled with the white paint coating the walls gave the room a spacious ambience. They were roughly fifty students present at the time whereas the array of writing pad chairs arranged neatly in rows and columns were made to house not less than a hundred students if I wasn't mistaken.
"Hello everyone!" He hailed the rowdy class. The harmonious expressions on their faces, raised eyebrows, and keen specific remarks that emerged from every corner pictured a frenzied state precisely. 'Did something happen?' I thought. They all looked engrossed in their gossip which seemed to bear the same headline.
I scanned the room randomly until my eyes met with one glaring intently at me. Unlike the others engaged in pairs or groups of threes, she sat alone at the rare of the class, close to the window. She held a pencil in one hand, and a drawing paper was lying on her desk. I assumed she paused whatever she was doing to stare. "Daniil," Jordan nudged, prompting my attention. He gestured I took off my nose mask before the introduction when a reasonable percentage of the class turned to look at me. I complied. "This is Daniil Smirnov. He'll be joining us from this semester," Jordan announced.
"Wooooahh…," the feminine chorus ensued when my face was bare. 'Not again.' Like the frenzy that greeted me earlier was all a product of my imagination, the atmosphere encountered a swift switch. Instigating jaw drops whenever I passed by, I somehow adopted the habit of always masking on. I didn't in the slightest appreciate the attention random girls on the streets gave me. This feeling wasn't new, it meant nothing until my eyes randomly locked with hers again. I was taken aback. Unlike the adoration that radiated the eyes of virtually every lady present, hers was filled with animosity. 'Interesting!' This was the first time a lady looked at me with so much disdain at first sight.
Disregarding the uproar I aroused, I gawked at the interesting character. Her black peculiar headphone then caught my attention, automatically bringing it to her wavy golden honey hair cascading from both sides, gorgeously framing her oval face. Her brows were creased, but that didn't send its high arch over my notice. Her jade eyes looked over by those long mink classic lashes, that shot me a menacing glare looked quite pretty to me, I must confess. Her upturned nose helped to betone the alluring peachy pink thin lips that sat below it. I guess I was mesmerized by how different the aura she exuded was.
Her eyes randomly shifted to the side. Following its trail, it landed mine on a guy standing by the door outside. I redirected my attention to find her packing up. Thereafter she strapped her bag pack across her shoulders and made her way towards us.
She wore a black tank top tucked in baggy jean pants, with a black and white check shirt tied around her waist. Her kicks' white color was blinding. Her fashion sense was lit too. Hol'up, we wore matching kicks! 'Is she my match from heaven?' Closing our distance, this mysterious lady still glared at me, that I came to realize after randomly checking her out for a moment.
"Ashley," Jordan called, holding her when she was facing the exit, directly in front of me. I veered to him. 'Why's he stopping her?'
"You should at least say hi." I raised my brows. Was this guy being serious? Why would I even care about any of that?
She took a deep breath before forcefully getting rid of his grip. Without sparing me another glance, she left with the dude outside.
Instinctively, I chuckled to myself. 'Chicago may not be as bad as I thought after all.'
"Beware of her. She's the feistiest one yet," Jordan warned, not knowing she'd totally captured my interest.
I huffed amusedly. "Yeah sure." I scanned the room again to see their eyes utterly clouded by infatuation.
"Let me show you to your seat."