Chapter 3 Three

Surprise took hold of all those present. Their faces lit up in disbelief. Even her faithful and patient friend Louisa, who had been waiting for her in the middle of the crowd, couldn't hide her shock. Her eyes widened and her mouth parted, as she watched her friend get out of the car alongside this charming young man, known for his irresistible charm. The scene was unexpected, and Rania's presence at his side only added to the general astonishment.

Without the support of his driver, Gregory approached the trunk of the car. He opened it carefully and took out Rania's bicycle, taking care not to damage it. Rania, standing a few steps away, watched with some trepidation.

Once the bicycle was in place, she turned to him, her gaze full of shyness, and whispered:

- Thanks for the lift.

Gregory, with a warm, soothing smile, replied:

- It was a pleasure, see you later! He gave her a gentle smile as he waved goodbye, showing his appreciation for this little interaction.

However, in the shadow of this scene, one could sense a palpable tension. A voice rose, full of indignation:

- How can he do this to us? To this question, another added with a scornful tone:

- This new girl is low class, and he dares to take her in his car? The murmurs of disapproval hinted at bitter jealousy, revealing prejudice and social judgment that weighed heavily on the situation.

- Look at her, she's really very plump and unattractive. How dare she overshadow us!

- I'm convinced that this girl has put a spell on Grégory. There's no way he'd be interested in her; he's never been the type to go out with girls who are overweight or wear glasses. Look at her today, she really makes him look like an old lady! Why doesn't he go for another girl?

- I wonder why he smiles at her so courteously. We've been waiting here for three years, every day, in the hope that he'll grant us even a single glance.

The girls were unhappy with Gregory's actions.

Louisa had crossed her arms, her posture materializing her impatience as she stared at Raya who was advancing towards her. A slight shiver of anticipation ran down her spine as she analyzed her friend's every step.

- Can you please stop looking at me like that?" asked Raya, noticing the intensity of Louisa's gaze, which seemed to weigh down on her like a heavy blanket.

Louisa replied in a firm voice:

- It seems obvious to me that you must have a valid explanation for this.

Raya sighed, aware of the palpable anxiety in the atmosphere.

- Of course, I'll tell you everything. But first, let me just find a place to park my bike.

After securing her mount against a post, Raya slowly turned to Louisa. She took a deep breath, ready to reveal herself. She then began to tell her in detail what had happened, while Louisa listened attentively, a growing distrust on her face. Raya's words, though clear, raised many questions in Louisa's mind.

- Since I've been at this school, I've never seen Gregory like this. He always has this way of acting that makes me think he never acts without reason. I don't trust him.

- It was just a coincidence, Louisa. I'm really grateful to him, because I was about to fail my test," confessed Raha, slightly relieved.

- At least it's a good thing it turned out well, but try to avoid getting into such a situation in the future, Raya, Louisa advised her with a serious look on her face.

- I promise," she replied firmly.

In his classroom, Gregory was all smiles, satisfied with his little feat. He was almost bragging about his maneuver.

- Don't tell me she accepted your help without the slightest hesitation," remarked his friend Eric, taken aback by Gregory's behavior.

- I told you she'd fallen under my spell, like a little cat drawn to a ball of yarn. You only had to look at her to see how she was blushing and losing her temper, the sweat beading on her forehead betraying her emotion.

- Don't brag too much, my friend. The game's not over yet, and you still haven't convinced her to spend the night with you.

- Be that as it may, I must admit you've done an excellent job. I'll reward you tonight.

- I did it because, if you fail, it will cost you a considerable sum of money, which you'll have to pay me. You've always claimed to have a certain distaste for overweight women, especially curvy ones like Raya. So explain to me how you've managed to get so close to her despite all this.

- Do you think there's something disgusting behind the money? Of course, I have a healthy bank account and my family never suffers from financial problems. However, what I really want you to understand is that I'm not someone you can easily rely on or take risks lightly. I mean, this girl, I could take to my bed and bring you whatever you want, but don't forget that it comes at a price: you'll have to pay me a million.

- Don't worry about the money, I'm aware you've got plenty. What I'm curious about is how long you'll be able to stick around this girl I find unacceptable. I really want to see for myself that you're the great Gregory, the one who can't be beaten.

To make things even more interesting, these two friends have decided to set themselves a challenge: Gregory must succeed in getting Raya into bed. It's a daring gamble that shows off the skill and charm of the great Gregory.