Chapter 3 Captured

Sophia Ashcroft left the library at a brisk pace, her heart racing with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Each step echoed in her mind, the weight of the revelation pressing heavily on her shoulders.

"Hi, Sophia!" her acquaintances greeted her cheerfully as she hurried past, their friendly faces momentarily snapping her back to reality. 

But her mind was elsewhere, consumed by the shocking documents and the video that had unraveled everything she thought she knew about her father. 

She managed to smile and nod awkwardly in response, her thoughts racing as she focused on her destination: room 207.

Sunset Hills University was sprawling, a maze of buildings and pathways, and it took her more than ten minutes to navigate the labyrinth of hallways and staircases. 

The campus buzzed with life, students chatting, laughter ringing out, and the occasional burst of music from nearby gatherings. 

Normally, she would have relished the vibrant atmosphere, but today, the noise felt distant, muffled by her growing sense of urgency.

Finally, she arrived at the door to classroom 207. Her breath hitched as she paused, feeling the weight of the moment settle around her. 

She looked around, her gaze catching several boys who were casting curious glances in her direction. If this were any other time, she might have brushed off their attention, but today was different. 

Today, she found herself oddly grateful for the eyes upon her. 

The presence of witnesses gave her a strange sense of security. No matter what transpired inside that classroom, she felt less alone, bolstered by the knowledge that others were nearby.

Gathering her courage, she grasped the doorknob and pushed the door open. The classroom was dimly lit, with rows of desks arranged neatly. 

There was only one person seated in the classroom—a figure who commanded an unusual aura of calm despite the otherwise busy atmosphere outside. 

This was none other than our infamous overpowered evil protagonist, a presence that drew attention whether he sought it or not.

"You..." Sophia's voice faltered slightly as she spotted him many times lounging on the campus bench. He was just a freshman and his reputation was nonexistent at best. 

Though his face was strikingly ordinary—nothing particularly remarkable at first glance—there was something about him that Sophia couldn't quite place. As her eyes met his, she quickly realized he was preparing to speak.

"Ah, so the elusive Sophia finally graces me with her attention." His voice was casual, but there was a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. 

"And here I thought you were one of those snobbish girls who wouldn't even bother remembering the faces of commoners." He leaned back slightly, as if assessing her reaction. 

"Glad to see I was wrong. I'm Ross Oakley, by the way. About time we talked, don't you think?"

Sophia blinked, caught off guard by his bluntness. Her eyes briefly scanned him—tall, standing at six feet, yet his build was strikingly thin and almost unhealthy. 

It was clear that he put no effort into changing his appearance or improving his physique. 

His posture was relaxed, with an air of superiority that didn't seem to match his outwardly plain appearance.

Ross seemed to notice her silent evaluation and chuckled softly. 

"Oh, don't bother. I know what you're thinking. Why don't I hit the gym? Or put some effort into 'fixing' myself? Well, let me save you the trouble. I don't need to." His smile widened, a faint gleam of arrogance lighting up his eyes. 

"This is the perfect version of me. Why would I change anything? I'm content with who I am—more than content, actually."

Sophia's brow furrowed slightly. His confidence was jarring, especially given how his looks didn't fit the mold of someone who usually carried such an inflated sense of self-worth. 

Still, something about him intrigued her. He was unapologetically self-assured, bordering on narcissistic, but there was no doubt he believed every word he spoke.

Ross stretched his arms casually, as if they were having a leisurely conversation about the weather.

"You'll get used to me. Eventually, everyone does," he said with a lazy grin. "Anyway, it's nice to finally talk to you properly. So, let's get down to business. What are you willing to offer in exchange for what I have here?" Ross leaned back, his voice calm but dripping with control, his gaze brazen as it roamed over Sophia's body. 

The school uniform she wore did little to hide the soft curves beneath, her every movement only accentuating her natural grace. 

Even the most modest clothing couldn't diminish her allure, and her long, sleek black hair fell like a curtain of temptation down her back. 

To Ross, the effort it took to get to this moment was more than justified.

Sophia clenched her fists at her sides, feeling the weight of his eyes on her, but she kept her expression composed. 

Her father had always taught her to stay calm under pressure, yet this situation was rapidly unraveling her control. 

"I can give you money," she offered quickly, her tone sharper than she intended. "Just name your price, and it's yours."

Ross let out a low, amused chuckle, clearly unimpressed. "Money? Please," he said with a wave of his hand, as if the idea bored him. "I've got no interest in that. No, I only want one thing..." He paused for effect, watching her carefully. "I want you, Sophia."

The words hung in the air like a threat, and Sophia's stomach twisted with both anger and dread. She glared at him, disgusted by the arrogance in his voice. 

"Impossible," she spat, her eyes flashing. "Ask for something else, or I swear, I'll tell my father everything. And trust me, he won't be nice about it." Her threat was laced with confidence, but deep down, she knew her father's power might not be enough to undo the damage Ross could cause. Still, she couldn't show weakness now.

Ross's smirk deepened, his eyes gleaming with amusement as if her threat was nothing more than a child's tantrum. 

"Tell your father?" he repeated mockingly. "Go ahead. I'd love to see what he'll do. But here's the thing, Sophia..." He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice to a chilling whisper. "If anything happens to me, all this juicy little information I have will get out anyway. Automatically. The wonders of modern technology, right? Everything is just a click away. A convenient world we live in." He straightened up, his grin widening as he watched her face pale slightly.

Her heart raced, and she forced herself to maintain eye contact, but the reality of his words hit her like a punch to the gut. She couldn't risk it. 

Whatever Ross had on her—whatever dark secret he was holding over her head—he had her trapped. And he knew it.

"You have until tomorrow at midnight to decide," Ross continued casually, as if he were discussing something as trivial as an upcoming test. 

"Think it over. I'm sure someone as smart as you can make the right choice." He gave her one last lingering glance before turning on his heel and walking away, leaving Sophia standing there, her mind spinning with a mixture of fury and helplessness.

As Ross disappeared from view, Sophia's composure finally cracked. Her hands trembled slightly, and she bit her lip, trying to suppress the rising panic. 

How had things come to this? She thought back to every interaction with him, trying to figure out how she had missed the signs of his manipulation. She had underestimated him—badly.

But one thing was clear: she couldn't afford to underestimate him again.

Sophia exhaled slowly, her mind racing through every possible option. She couldn't allow Ross to get what he wanted, but what could she do? 

Her father was powerful, yes, but Ross's threat had left her shaken. If he really had the means to expose everything… she could lose everything.

Tomorrow. Midnight.

The clock was ticking, and Sophia knew that by the time it struck twelve, she would have to make a decision that could change her life forever.