Liam arrived at his office earlier than usual the next morning, his mind still buzzing with the unexpected phone call and the lingering image of Ava's surprised expression. He had barely settled into his chair when Sarah entered, a mischievous glint in her eyes."I have some news, Liam," she announced, placing a folder on his desk. "It seems our Miss Bennett has a secret admirer."Liam frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "A secret admirer? What do you mean?""Apparently, she received a rather extravagant bouquet of roses yesterday," Sarah explained, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Delivered to her dorm room with a card that simply read, 'From your secret admirer.'"Liam's confusion deepened. He hadn't sent any flowers. "That's strange," he mused, "I wonder who it could be."Sarah's smile widened. "Curiosity got the better of me, so I did a little digging." She opened the folder and pulled out a photograph. "It seems Miss Bennett has caught the eye of a fellow student, a young man named Daniel who has been pursuing her rather relentlessly for the past few weeks."Liam studied the photograph. Daniel was undeniably handsome, with a boyish charm and a confident smile. He looked like the type who was used to getting what he wanted."Interesting," Liam said, a flicker of annoyance sparking within him. He hadn't considered the possibility of Ava having another admirer. He had been so focused on his own pursuit that he had overlooked the fact that she was an attractive young woman who would naturally attract attention."It seems Miss Bennett has been rebuffing his advances," Sarah continued, a hint of admiration in her voice. "She's quite the independent young woman, isn't she?"Liam nodded, a sense of pride swelling within him. He admired Ava's determination to focus on her studies and not be swayed by superficial charms. It spoke volumes about her character and her priorities."This Daniel seems rather persistent though," Sarah added, a touch of concern in her voice. "He's been leaving her notes, sending her small gifts... even attempted to serenade her outside her dorm window."Liam's jaw tightened. He didn't like the sound of that. While he appreciated Ava's independent spirit, he also recognized her vulnerability. She was a young woman navigating a new environment, and this persistent attention could easily become overwhelming."I'm surprised she hasn't reported him to campus security," Liam remarked, his protective instincts kicking in."She probably doesn't want to make a fuss," Sarah suggested. "She seems like the type who prefers to handle things on her own."Liam leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. He was intrigued by Ava's resilience, her determination to maintain her boundaries despite the unwanted attention. He wanted to test those boundaries himself, to see how far she would push back, how fiercely she would defend her independence."It seems I have some competition," he mused, a playful glint in his eyes.Sarah smiled. "Indeed you do, Liam. But I have a feeling you're up for the challenge."Liam's smile widened. He was. He had faced countless challenges in the business world, overcoming obstacles and outmaneuvering rivals with strategic precision. But this challenge, this pursuit of Ava Bennett, was different. It was personal, it was exciting, and it was awakening something within him that he had long suppressed.He was determined to win Ava's heart, to prove to her that he was more than just a grumpy businessman, that he saw her, truly saw her, for the intelligent, independent, and captivating woman she was. And he wouldn't let a lovestruck student stand in his way.The game was on.