"God, you're late again, Stella" The voice was frustrated, but a teasing edge softened the blow. Ivy Bennett glanced up from her desk, the chaos of her morning still buzzing in her ears as her professor's words snapped her back to reality."I know, I know," she muttered, shuffling the books on her desk into some semblance of order. Her long, brown hair fell in loose waves around her face, framing her flushed cheeks. She pushed a few strands back behind her ear, taking a deep breath."You'll be sorry when the final papers are due," the professor continued, his stern gaze briefly meeting hers before moving on to the rest of the class.Stella slumped a little in her seat, her oversized sweater slipping down one shoulder. It was cozy, and comfortable, but did nothing to hide her embarrassment. Not that she cared much about appearances. She had other priorities—like finishing her manuscript. The messy bun she had attempted before leaving home had unraveled halfway through her dash to class, leaving her hair in a wild, but somehow charming, tangle. She knew she looked like she had barely managed to roll out of bed.As the lecture continued, her thoughts wandered back to the street, back to *him*.---------------------------Elsewhere in the city, Noah Dawson paced across his office, glancing out the large windows that gave him a view of the bustling streets below. His reflection was as sharp as ever—sleek, dark hair styled immaculately, not a strand out of place. His tailored suit fit him perfectly, the charcoal-gray fabric giving him a polished, authoritative look."Where are the updated reports?" His voice, low and commanding, filled the room as he spoke into his phone."On your desk, Mr. Dawson" came the reply from his assistant."Good," Noah muttered, turning away from the window. He straightened the cuffs of his crisp white shirt, the silver cufflinks catching the morning light. Everything about him was precise, measured. Yet his mind was anywhere but on the reports sitting neatly in front of him.*Stella Wilhelm* He hadn't heard that name in years, not since they were kids. She had been his best friend's little sister, always running after them, trying to keep up. Back then, she was an annoying presence—too chatty, too stubborn. But she had grown up, and those memories felt like a distant echo now.He hadn't meant to bump into her this morning. Seeing her again, though, had stirred something. Not that he'd admit it. Not even to himself.--------------------------------Back at the university,Stella hurried out of class, the echo of the professor's parting words lingering in her mind. She walked quickly, her boots tapping against the pavement as she navigated the campus, her scarf now properly secured around her neck, shielding her from the cold."Late again," she muttered, biting her lip in frustration. "Why am I always late?"The wind nipped at her cheeks, turning them a bright pink as she weaved through the bustling students. Despite her frustration, there was a spark in her eyes—a light that always seemed to flicker just beneath the surface, like she was thinking of a hundred different things at once. It was part of her charm, even if it left her scrambling most days.As she reached the main gate, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, frowning at the unfamiliar number."Hello?""Still running late, Ms. Wilhelm?"Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of the voice on the other end. It was smooth, confident, with a slight edge that she recognized instantly. *Him*. The last person she wanted to think about right now."Noah?" Her voice came out sharper than she intended, but she couldn't help it. "How did you get my number?""Connections," he replied casually. She could almost hear the smirk in his voice. "Don't act so surprised. Your brother's still my best friend.""Ugh, of course he is," she grumbled, rubbing her temple. "What do you want?""Just checking in." There was a pause, the line crackling slightly. "We seem to keep running into each other. Figured I'd say hello properly."She sighed, her breath visible in the chilly air. "You don't have to check in on me, Noah. I'm fine.""I know. But you're also always late." His tone shifted slightly, teasing but with that annoying note of smugness she had hated since they were kids."Look, I'm busy. Can we not do this right now?" She quickened her pace, the city streets starting to blur around her as she focused on getting to her next destination. She wasn't in the mood for Noah games.--------------------------------Noah, now seated at his desk, couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. Ivy had always been a firecracker, quick with a comeback, unafraid to challenge him. It was refreshing, in a way. In his world, people were either afraid of him or eager to please. But Stella—she had never played by those rules."I won't keep you, then," he said, leaning back in his chair, the leather creaking softly under his weight. "Just don't get too caught up in your books. The real world moves fast."Her silence on the other end lasted a beat too long."I can handle myself," she finally replied, her voice steady but carrying an edge of defiance."I'm sure you can," Noah said, a chuckle slipping out before he could stop it. "See you around, Ms. Wilhelm.""Yeah, sure," she replied, ending the call with a roll of her eyes.As the phone clicked off, Stella stuffed it back into her pocket, her mood souring further. Noah had always had a way of getting under her skin, ever since they were kids. He was *annoying*, always acting like he knew better. Just because he had built some fancy tech company didn't mean he could start checking up on her like he was some kind of authority.She turned a corner, her eyes catching sight of the local café. *Coffee*, she thought. That would help her clear her head before her next class.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Back in his sleek office, Noah stared out the window again, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair. Stella had grown up, no doubt about that. But she was still the same in some ways—spirited, unafraid to speak her mind. It was... refreshing.He shook his head, forcing himself to refocus. There were more important things on his plate today. Meetings. Business. Deals. Yet somehow, thoughts of Stella kept slipping through the cracks.They had been meeting a lot lately. Coincidence, maybe. Or something else.And with every run-in, he couldn't help but wonder—"How much longer could he keep pretending she didn't get to him?"-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Stella sat down in the café, pulling out her notebook. The morning rush still echoed in her mind, but it was quickly replaced by a thought she had been trying to ignore."Why did Noah Dawson always have to show up just when she thought she had her life under control?"----------