Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

Kailee paced around like a restless cat, regretting not giving Lewis a ride to work that morning. If she had, she'd have his number by now, making all this a lot easier. Frustrated, she threw on her clothes and rushed out. Thanks to Ruby's constant bragging in the group chat, Kailee knew exactly where the research institute was. Ruby never missed a chance to show off.

"Check out the institute's cafeteria, Kailee. Bet you've never seen it. With your grades, you'd need a miracle to have lunch here."

"Look at this professor from the institute, a real big shot in the academic world. He once taught a future president!"

"And these dorms, wow!"

Ruby's incessant bragging paid off, and Kailee drove straight to the institute. But as expected, security was tight, and she couldn't just stroll in.

After waiting ages, she finally saw someone heading inside.

"Hey, do you know Lewis? Can you tell him Kailee's waiting for him out here?" she asked, hope flickering.

Luck was on her side; the person she approached happened to be Lewis's new colleague.

Lewis, slipping into his lab coat, was informed of Kailee's presence outside. Yet, his face gave nothing away, as if her name was just a whisper in the wind.

Ruby, upon learning this, couldn't resist taunting in the group chat.

"Someone said you're waiting outside, Kailee. Looks like Kenzo doesn't care much. He went back to crunching data after hearing about it. Want me to check on you at lunch?" Kailee fumed.

That witch.

Always finding ways to rub salt in her wounds.

Without Lewis's number and knowing Ruby would never help, Kailee was stuck.

She returned to her car, eyes glued to the entrance, waiting for Lewis to come out.

It wasn't until 8 PM that Lewis and his colleagues, Ruby included, finally emerged. Lewis, in his lab coat, stood out with a kind of effortless grace.

"Graceful? More like just getting by," Kailee muttered, her patience worn thin.

The moment they appeared, she shot out of her car, waving frantically.

"Lewis! Over here!"

His colleagues, noticing her sleek car and striking looks, exchanged knowing glances with Lewis.

Lewis hesitated before moving.

Ruby quickly sidled up to him, sneering, "Isn't that Kailee? Did she really wait all day?"

Lewis stayed silent, knowing Kailee's persistence all too well.

He was about to head over when Ruby tried to hold him back.

"Kenzo, you should steer clear of her. Kailee never went to college We got into this institute because we were top-notch. Hanging out with her might make people question our smarts."

Lewis paused, then looked at Ruby "Every time you guys dine at that fancy place, she's the one footing the bill. If she's not a friend, make it split the next time."

Ruby's face turned crimson, caught off guard by his insight.

By now, Lewis had reached Kailee, who had dozed off in her car, her cheek marked by the steering wheel.

Seeing Ruby hadn't followed, Kailee let out a sigh of relief.

"Lewis, I didn't get your number last time. I had no way to reach you. Could you give it to me now?"

Her words seemed to send a chill through the air, and Lewis's expression turned icy.

"You don't have my number?"

Kailee was genuinely clueless.

"Wow, Kailee. Memory like a goldfish, huh?"

She bristled at the jab, feeling its sting.

"What do you mean by that?"

Lewis's gaze was cold as he replied, "My number hasn't changed."

Kailee felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She'd deleted his number after their breakup, and it had been years. How was she to remember?

But asking again might only make

things worse, and the last thing she needed was for their past to become gossip fodder, especially in front of Ruby and the others. That would be a disaster.