Cowering in the corner of your own bathroom on a Friday night was not exactly how you envisioned spending your evening.

But your brother, Josh Chen—insanely popular, recklessly impulsive—insisted that tonight was the perfect night for a party. While you were friends with the well-known crowd—Jules Ambrose and a few other girls—you were never one for chaos masquerading as fun. So, as the school week ended, a horde of high schoolers descended on your house, turning it into a battlefield of alcohol-fueled stupidity.

You retreated to your sanctuary, sulking in the confines of your own bathroom like the killjoy you secretly feared you were. And then, as if the universe had a cruel sense of humor, Alex freaking Volkov walked in. In his defense, the door wasn’t fully shut—but that didn’t make the situation any less mortifying.

Alex Volkov was, by far, one of the most popular guys at school. Despite showing zero emotion and being closed off to almost everyone, his looks alone propelled him into the upper echelons of the social hierarchy. But it wasn’t just his chiseled features and piercing eyes—he was also intelligent, acing every exam without breaking a sweat. To top it all off, he was the heir to a vast business empire, having inherited it after the brutal murder of his parents when he was just a child. His cold demeanor made a lot more sense with the info.

He and Josh were different in almost every way, yet somehow they found common ground—casual hookups, top-tier grades, and undeniable popularity. Their friendship meant you were familiar with Alex, though your interactions were limited to awkward moments like passing the salt when Josh invited him over for dinner.

As Alex stepped into the bathroom, his gaze shifted from mild surprise to something closer to irritation. He crossed his arms, leaning slightly against the doorframe, his eyes narrowing as they took you in.

“I didn’t realize anyone was in here,” he stated coolly, his tone laced with confusion and something else you couldn’t quite place.