Kapitel 38: Done deal
As the elevator chimed softly, Kai's eyes snapped open. The doors slid apart, revealing a lavishly designed hallway lined with plush carpeting and intricate chandeliers. The walls were adorned with paintings that seemed more at home in a gallery than a dormitory.
The escort motioned for him to follow, leading him down the corridor. At the end of the hall, an ornately carved wooden door stood closed, a golden plaque bearing Rebecca Chronoa's name.
The escort gestured toward it. "Miss Chronoa is waiting for you inside."
With that thought, he pushed the door open.
Inside, the room was a blend of elegance and modernity. Floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the space in golden light from the setting sun. Rebecca Chronoa sat on a sleek white couch, her back to the window, the glow casting her in a surreal light. She was dressed in an effortlessly stylish outfit—a tailored blazer over a silk blouse—with her long, silver hair cascading over her shoulders.
Her piercing Grey eyes locked onto Kai the moment he stepped in, her expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
He spoke up first. "Rebecca."
"Kai," she replied
Then, with a playful glint in her eyes, she added, "Or should I call you babe? Or perhaps darling? After all, you are my 'boyfriend,' aren't you?"
Kai barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. " I had to get past the guard dog you call a receptionist somehow. And honestly? She was insufferable. The look on her face when I dropped the 'boyfriend' line made it all worth it."
Rebecca said nothing as her smile widened
Kai's brow twitched, his voice deadpan. "Would you stop smiling already?"
"No," she replied instantly, "No, I don't think I will."
Kai threw his hands in the air. "Great. Just great. That's exactly what I needed to hear," he muttered, his tone filled with sarcasm.
Rebecca rose gracefully from the couch, taking a deliberate step closer to him. "So," she began, "does this mean you're willing to go along with my plan?"
Kai crossed his arms and leaned back slightly, his skepticism apparent. "You do realize I might get expelled in a few days, right? If I don't win. Wouldn't that ruin your grand scheme?"
Rebecca's smile didn't waver. "Not in the slightest. Was it stupid of you to do something so reckless? Absolutely. But my plans," she said, her tone turning icy, "don't hinge on whether or not you survive in this school or not"
"Besides I'm sure you wouldn't have signed that contract if you didn't have a sure fire way to win"
Kai tilted his head, studying her. There was no malice in her voice, just cold pragmatism. It was both unsettling and, in an odd way, refreshing.
He let out a breath, his voice calmer now. "Fine. Ten million. And everything you promised before—minus your fancy swords. I've got no use for those. Do that, and we've got a deal."
Ten million. It was five times her initial offer, an amount so audacious most would have scoffed or walked away. But Rebecca Chronoa wasn't like most people. Her resolve was unshakable, her determination absolute. Even if the price had been a billion, she would have found a way. That was the measure of her desperation—and her will.
"Fine."
She extended her hand, the gesture both a surrender and a declaration of intent. Kai grasped it firmly, their eyes meeting in an unspoken agreement.
The handshake sealed the deal.
Just then, The sound of the oven timer echoed faintly.
Rebecca's eyes lit up as she suddenly remembered. "Oh! I almost forgot," she said, turning toward the kitchen with a casual grace. "On the off chance you'd actually show up, I decided to make a little dinner. Care to join me?"
Kai hesitated, torn between politeness and his instinct to keep things brief. But two things immediately swayed him: the heavenly aroma wafting through the air, and the stark memory of Michael's catastrophic cooking skills. The idea of returning to whatever monstrosity his roommate would conjure up was enough to make him reconsider.
"Why not?" Kai replied.
*******
Rebecca had prepared garlic butter herb chicken thighs served alongside creamy mashed potatoes and a side of sautéed asparagus glistening with olive oil and sea salt. The aroma of garlic, fresh herbs, and rich, buttery goodness filled the air.
Halfway through the meal, the evidence of their enjoyment was clear. Kai's fork hovered over the last few swirls of mashed potatoes he'd been absentmindedly dragging across his plate. A lone asparagus stalk sat at the edge, as if he were debating whether to finish it or not.
"This is amazing, by the way," Kai admitted, glancing at her. His voice lacked its usual edge, replaced with quiet sincerity.
"Thanks," Rebecca replied, casually wiping her hands on a napkin.
He tapped his fork lightly against his plate. "So, where'd you learn to cook like this?"
"My mother," she said, "Which is ironic, considering we had chefs and maids who could've made me anything I wanted. But she insisted I learn for myself."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Did she say why?"
Rebecca hesitated, her gaze shifting to her plate as if the answer were hidden somewhere in the swirls of mashed potatoes. Her voice softened. "She said making a meal for the people you care about is one of the best feelings in the world."
Realizing how vulnerable that sounded, she quickly straightened, her eyes sharp once more. "Not that you count as one of those people," she added, jabbing her fork toward him for emphasis. "This is just... different."
Kai smirked, "Yeah, I got the memo."
Kai allowed himself a moment to take it all in. He was sitting across from Rebecca Chronoa, one of the most strikingly beautiful girls he'd ever seen, sharing a meal she had cooked with her own hands. The rich flavors still lingered on his tongue, but it wasn't just the food that held his attention. It was her — the way the edges of her icy facade softened, revealing subtle glimpses of something more human beneath the cool detachment. A quick smile here, a thoughtful pause there. Little cracks in the armor she so carefully maintained.
But it was a far cry from the way she'd looked at him before their handshake — eyes sharp, calculating, as if she were sizing him up for reasons he still didn't understand. That look lingered in his mind, gnawing at him. Why would someone like her go so far as to fake a relationship with someone like him? What was she after? What was she hiding?
Curiosity sparked in him like a slow-burning fuse. There were too many unanswered questions, too many contradictions. But Kai knew better than to rush it. He had to be patient. If there was a code to crack, he'd crack it. People always revealed themselves eventually — all it took was time and attention.
And right now, he had both
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein