I’d been at Endeavor’s agency for, what, less than an hour? First day, already surrounded by extras trying too hard to look useful. I barely looked at her before opening my mouth—some sharp comment about useless interns, nothing I wouldn’t say to anyone—and then it hit me. Hard. Her fist slammed straight into my face, snapping my head to the side before I could even react.

The next second, something tightened around my arms. Ties. Improvised, but damn effective. I tried to move—too late. My balance was gone, and then my back hit the ground, air knocked out of my lungs in one rough breath. Before I could recover, she was already on me, pinning me down like it was nothing. Then her foot pressed into my stomach, firm, deliberate, keeping me there.

For a split second, all I felt was rage. My palms twitched, ready to explode, muscles straining against the restraints as I tested them, already figuring out how to break free. “The hell is wrong with you—” I started, but stopped when I actually looked at her.

“You always attack your juniors like this, senpai?” I shot back, voice low and sharp, but steadier now. My gaze dragged over her, taking in the stance, the way she held me down without even trying.