Chapter 3 Walking Straight Into His Hands

"Her father once pulled your grandfather back from the brink. We can't push things too far," Lise said. "Just pretend she doesn't exist. Someone like her isn't worth your time."

Sophia let out a quiet breath. "Still, a lot of wealthy guys at school seem drawn to her. What if she actually snags one of those heirs as her boyfriend?"

"Impossible!" Lise said, her tone sharp with disdain. "With a background like hers, even being kept around for a few days by a rich man would already be more than she should expect."

Sophia fell silent, her lips pressed tight. The bitterness in her chest didn't ease. No matter what it took, she would see Elena gone from Bramville for good.

Inside one of the club's VIP rooms, Henry leaned into the sofa, his posture relaxed yet distant. His eyes held no warmth, and his thoughts were clearly somewhere else.

The two men seated across from him were talking, but he didn't give them a single glance.

Then Ashton stepped in, his face set with tension. He moved straight to Henry, leaning closer as he spoke in a low voice. "She got away. We couldn't catch her."

Henry's expression hardened in an instant. He shifted his gaze toward him. "Say that again."

Ashton stiffened. "That's on me. The men I sent said she moved fast. She slipped past them before they could react. To shake off two trained bodyguards that easily-she's got skills."

Henry spoke in a low, steady tone with a sharp edge. "So she got skills, or your men messed up?"

Ashton didn't know what to say. The two men he had assigned were former mercenaries now working as bodyguards. Even he hadn't expected them to lose track of a college girl.

"Did you review the surveillance nearby?" Henry asked.

"I did," Ashton said. "She never appeared on any of it. She avoided every camera on purpose."

She had shaken off trained guards and stayed out of sight of every camera? A deeper look settled in Henry's eyes. Then a faint smile touched his lips. So the top student from Bramville University's computer science department had more to her than expected.

Jaycob led Elena straight to a private room and pushed the door open. "You can head in."

"I appreciate it," Elena said, stepping past him.

Jaycob followed behind her and announced, "Sir, Miss Harvey has arrived."

From the sofa, Samuel Owen turned at once and rose to his feet. "Elena, glad you made it."

As the future successor of Enclave Club, Samuel had yet to take full control. For now, he focused on running his own tech company.

At work, he was all business-sharp, efficient. Outside of it, he softened. There was a quiet elegance to the way he carried himself.

Their connection had come through Professor James Burton. Samuel respected Elena's skill and had already offered her a place as a partner in his company. Her expertise would serve as her share, and she would have full control over her schedule. Even so, she hadn't made it official yet.

Not far from them, the others in the room turned their attention toward Elena as well.

Under the glow of the crystal lights, her figure stood out in a way that felt almost unreal. Her hair flowed smoothly down her back, her skin caught the light with a soft glow, and her features carried a quiet elegance that drew every eye in the room.

"Mr. Owen," Elena started, offering a small smile.

By chance, her gaze met Henry's. The expression on her face stalled.

It was him-the man from last night!

Why was he here? And what was his connection to Samuel?

For a brief second, Ashton showed a flicker of surprise before lowering his voice. "That's her."

From the moment she stepped inside, Henry had already placed her. His eyes stayed on her, steady and unreadable, giving nothing away.

Without letting anything show, Elena moved toward Samuel and placed the flash drive into his hand. "Everything's been restored. You can check it."

Relief crossed Samuel's face as he took it. "Thanks. I owe you for this."

"It wasn't a big deal."

Leaning back on the sofa, Evan Stewart watched her with clear interest, a hint of amusement in his gaze. "Samuel, care to introduce your guest?"

"Elena Harvey. She's studying computer science at Bramville University," Samuel said. "I'm planning to bring her into the company as an engineer." He turned slightly. "Elena, meet Evan Stewart from Aura Jewels, and Henry Watson, who runs Genesis Group."

Both names carried weight across the city. Anyone who paid attention knew exactly who they were.

A jolt ran through Elena.

So he was Henry Watson! The man from last night, the one she had spent the night with, the same man she had handed a check to, was the wealthiest man in town.

That meant the two men who tried to grab her earlier had been working for him.

Of all the ways things could turn out, she had ended up walking straight into his circle.

When their eyes met again, something in his gaze made her uneasy, though nothing showed on her face. She kept her tone steady as she greeted Evan and Henry.

Evan greeted her with a relaxed smile.

Silence lingered for a moment before Henry spoke, his voice even. "We meet again."

He didn't stress the words, but the meaning was clear.

Samuel glanced between them, curiosity showing. "You've met her before, Henry?"

Elena stepped in before Henry could respond. "We only ran into each other once, and I didn't know who he was back then."

Realization settled on Samuel's face. "Got it."

Henry didn't add anything, and Elena slowly released the breath she had been holding.

From the side, Evan watched the exchange closely, his eyes shifting between them. Something didn't add up. He had never seen Henry strike up a conversation with a woman he barely knew. That alone caught his attention.

A faint grin formed as he leaned forward. "Miss Harvey, can I get you a drink?"

A faint smile appeared on Elena's lips. "I'll pass. I don't drink."

She had already made up her mind. Alcohol wasn't something she would touch again.

Henry's voice cut in, calm and distant. "You don't drink?"

The night before told a different story. She had walked into his room smelling of alcohol, yet now she stood there, acting as if she didn't drink.

Elena didn't react. "I can't. I'm allergic."

"You don't look too good. Are you feeling unwell?" Concern showed in Samuel's eyes as he looked at her.

Elena gave a small cough and shook her head. "I'm fine. I just walked a bit too fast getting here."

Henry's gaze lingered on her, cool and unreadable. She had managed to shake off two trained bodyguards, yet she still ended up right in front of him. This time, he wasn't letting her slip away.

"Don't just stand there," Samuel said. "Sit down for a while."

Elena had no intention of staying. "It's alright. I've already handed over the drive. I should head back to campus."

"Then send me a message once you get there," Samuel said. "I want to know you made it back safely."

"Okay."

Elena's eyes swept briefly over Henry and Evan. She gave them a small nod before turning and walking out.

Evan watched her leave, the corner of his lips lifting. "Samuel, do you always look after your subordinates this closely, or is she an exception?"

A soft smile formed on Samuel's face. "You've got the wrong idea. I treat all my partners the same."

The meaning was obvious. He didn't see Elena as someone working under him.

Without warning, Henry stood up. "You two go ahead. I've got something to handle."

He didn't wait for a reply and walked out.

Ashton moved right after him.

Evan barely reacted, since he was used to it. Samuel, on the other hand, looked unsure, as if wondering whether he had done something wrong.

Noticing that, Evan waved it off. "That's just how he is. Don't take it personally. Come on, have a drink."

He poured a glass as he spoke.

Samuel looked away from the door and gave a polite nod. "Alright."

Only a few steps outside the room, Elena heard someone behind her.

"Miss Harvey, wait a moment," Ashton called out.

Elena stopped and turned. Two tall figures were heading straight toward her. From the moment she realized who Henry was, she already knew last night wouldn't end so easily.