At precisely two o'clock in the afternoon, the hustle and bustle of Royal High University was in full swing, with students eagerly making their way out of school for various reasons. Some were eager to head home, while others were looking forward to meeting friends and unwinding after class.
Amidst the sea of students heading for the gates, one person stood out, capturing the attention of everyone around her.
With her glossy chestnut-brown hair cascading down her back and her striking blue-grey eyes, Hannah effortlessly drew the eyes of all who passed by. Her presence alone commanded attention, a perfect blend of beauty, confidence, and poise. She wasn't just another student—she was the idol of the school, admired for her wealth, beauty, and grace.
The whispers and peeking glances from her classmates were impossible to ignore. It seemed like every pair of eyes was fixed on her, watching her every step. But Hannah didn't flinch or shy away from the attention.
She was well-acquainted with the feeling of being the center of attention, and instead of shrinking from it, she moved with an air of effortless confidence, allowing the admiration to wash over her.
"Hey," Hannah heard a voice next to her say before an arm suddenly looped around hers, surprising her a bit. However, seeing that it was just Alliana, Hannah greeted her back with a smile.
"Why are you alone? Where's Olivia?" she asked.
Since the three of them would typically eat lunch together and depart the school grounds together, Hannah was genuinely curious about their friend's whereabouts, considering that she was rarely missing at times like these.
"Where else?" Alliana grumbled, the smile plastered on her face just a few moments earlier now completely gone.
"I'm seriously wondering what she saw in my brother for her to be such a fool for him," she added.
"There are moments when I fear that Frost may have used a potion or cast a spell on our friend. If he hasn't, why else would Olivia be so madly in love with him?"
Alliana continued to complain as the two of them walked towards the school entrance, their arms still wrapped around each other.
"Well, why not?" Hannah asked.
"It's obvious from my beauty and talents alone that our family's genes are top-notch, Liana," Hannah reasoned confidently, sounding like she was bragging about herself, which made Alliana nod in agreement when she thought of her own gorgeous face.
"You also can't deny that your brother is a good-looking man. Your mom and dad are affluent, and since you aren't interested in your family's business, Frost is now most likely the one to inherit the majority of the shares of the great Jimba Corporation," she added, causing her cousin to frown even more profusely.
"Not to mention that he's kind and smart and that his relatives are all nice and easy to get along with. To be honest with you, he's the perfect man," she continued, defending her cousin against his sister's words before she finished her long litany.
"Whatever! I don't care about you guys, but the only Frost Edward Salvador I know is the messy, mean, and huge crybaby who only knows how to cry when Mom scolds him. That's who my brother is, not some Mister Perfect you're talking about," Alliana retorted, and since Olivia wasn't there to defend her most beloved boyfriend from his sister and Hannah was too lazy to have a childish argument with Alliana, no one was left to defend Frost.
"Anyway," Alliana said, suddenly shifting the conversation away from her brother, "I need to ask if you'll come with me to the mall."
She flashed a playful grin. "I want to see if there are any new outfits out and maybe pick up a few things," she added, inviting Hannah to join her for a shopping spree.
Hannah, however, deflated slightly and shook her head. "I can't," she replied with a resigned sigh.
Alliana frowned. "Why? Got other plans? You could reschedule, right?"
Hannah let out a deep sigh, as if the very thought of it was weighing on her. She could already sense what was coming. "I can't," she said dramatically, pausing for effect before dropping the bombshell. "I'm going on a blind date... arranged by none other than Marc Sheldon Y. Salvador."
Alliana's jaw dropped, her eyes wide with shock. "Oh. My. God." She nearly shrieked, her voice rising in disbelief. "I can't believe this!"
She repeated the words, almost as if she was processing them twice, and then, unable to contain herself, she fanned her face dramatically, breathing in and out as though Hannah had just revealed a world-shattering secret.
"Even you, Hannah Shanel Y. Salvador, are being pushed into some business marriage?!" Alliana squealed, as if Hannah had just confessed to something truly outrageous. "I swear, this is exactly like the story I've been telling you about—where the main character gets swept up into a deal for her family's sake!"
Hannah groaned, rolling her eyes in exasperation. She knew her cousin would blow it out of proportion. "Don't be ridiculous," she snapped, trying to regain some composure. "It's just a date. I'm not getting married. Not even close."
Alliana, still shaking with laughter, held up her hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay! Calm down. Go ahead and meet your business suitor," she teased, unable to stop giggling. "I'll shop alone today. You'd better hurry along to your fancy date."
With that, Alliana winked and darted off, leaving Hannah standing there, rolling her eyes yet again. She took a deep breath, gathering herself before making her way to her car, already dreading what this blind date would bring.
"Good afternoon, Señorita," Benjamin greeted with a respectful nod, swiftly opening the car door for her. She acknowledged him with a polite smile before slipping into the back seat.
The car settled into an almost oppressive silence, one Benjamin was well-accustomed to after years of serving the Salvador family. He didn't need to ask where they were headed; he knew exactly where Hannah needed to go.
As they drove, the tension in the air remained thick, but Benjamin, ever the professional, kept his eyes on the road, unfazed by the quiet, knowing it was simply how things were between them. Meanwhile, Hannah was lost in her own thoughts, occasionally glancing at her phone's camera to check her reflection.
She straightened the blouse she was wearing, fingers lightly smoothing the fabric. Just as she was about to brush through her chestnut brown hair, something completely unexpected happened. Benjamin slammed his foot down on the brakes with such force that the car screeched, jolting forward violently.
Hannah's small frame lurched dangerously toward the seat in front of her, and without the protection of her seatbelt, she would have certainly collided with the back of the driver's seat.
"¡Lo siento mucho, Señorita! Are you alright?" Benjamin's voice, usually so steady, cracked with panic as he frantically turned to check on her, his wide brown eyes darting over her as if searching for any sign of injury.
In all his years of serving the Salvador family—ten years to be exact—Benjamin had never once been involved in an accident that had caused him this much anxiety. The possibility of harming Hannah, the cherished eldest daughter of the family, made his blood run cold.
He knew exactly how much she meant to the Salvador family. She was a treasure to her older brothers and had been adored and protected by her late parents.
Hannah had been raised in luxury, with only the finest of everything surrounding her, and the idea of her being hurt, especially under his watch, was a nightmare he couldn't fathom.
If anything were to happen to her, Señor Sheldon and Señor Sean—her brothers—would have his head on a silver platter. Just the thought of their wrath sent a shiver down his spine.
As Benjamin sat there, completely frozen by the fear of the impending consequences, he was snapped out of his daze by the calm, melodic voice of his employer.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Hannah said, her posture as composed as ever, her voice cool and steady as if nothing had happened. But beneath her collected exterior, her hand gripped the seat tightly, betraying the wave of panic that had just washed over her. She was terrified, but her calm demeanor hid it well.
"What happened?" she asked, her tone betraying no hint of distress.
Benjamin, still struggling to regain his composure, stammered, "An old man… he collapsed right in front of the car." His voice wavered, still processing the shock of the incident himself.
It was a moment of utter chaos that had sent his heart racing, and yet Hannah, ever the enigma, remained unruffled, her demeanor unwavering despite the terrifying incident that had nearly thrown them both into a dangerous situation.
***🦋***
Author's Note
Hey everyone, I'd love to know your thoughts on what just happened! With all the tension, surprises, and unexpected turns—like the shocking incident in the car—what do you think of the characters and the situations unfolding? How do you feel about Hannah's calmness in the face of danger and Benjamin's growing panic? I'm dying to hear what you think! Drop a comment below, and let's dive into this mystery together. Trust me, you won't want to miss what happens next!