Against fate : rebirth of the stubborn heiress

Summer's gaze lingered on the Sham Sham notification flashing on her phone.

Her eyes narrowed, lips tugging into a thoughtful smile as she tucked the phone back into her purse. Whatever this meant, the auction was clearly attracting more dangerous attention than anticipated.

"Young Miss, should I alert Travis about this update?" Rosa asked quietly, glancing toward the Maserati that had just disappeared from view.

Summer shook her head with a calm smile. "No. Not yet. Let's observe first."

The two resumed walking toward the parking lot, the hum of campus life returning around them as if nothing had happened. Students passed by, oblivious to the subtle tension that lingered in the air.

Just as they rounded the corner toward the business faculty, another familiar figure emerged, leaning lazily against a silver Porsche, scrolling through his phone.

Eric Romano.

His presence was like a blemish on an otherwise perfect morning. Tall, sharp-jawed, dressed impeccably in a navy suit with his tie loosened like he wanted to seem effortless but rehearsed it twice. A smirk lifted one corner of his mouth the moment he caught sight of Summer.

"Summer," he greeted, pushing off the car. "Didn't expect to see you around this side of campus."

Rosa's expression soured immediately, but Summer only adjusted her sunglasses, her smile thin. "Eric. I could say the same. Didn't realize you still knew where the classrooms were."

He chuckled, clearly forcing casualness. "Ouch. Still sharp-tongued. Didn't think you'd have time for school with how busy the tabloids say you are these days."

"Some of us multitask better than others," she replied smoothly. "If you'll excuse me."

Eric took a half step forward, voice dipping. "It's really been a while... you look... different, Summer."

She tilted her head slightly, looking him over without hiding the boredom in her eyes. "Yes, it's amazing what happens when you cut dead weight."

His mask cracked, even for a second. He opened his mouth, but she was already walking past him with Rosa, heels clicking like punctuation marks against the concrete.

Rosa muttered under her breath, "Should I accidentally spill coffee on him next time?"

Summer smirked. "Tempting. Very tempting."

"Enzo's waiting by the economics building," Rosa informed her as they crossed the courtyard.

"Of course, he is," Summer sighed, mentally preparing for round two of rich-boy chaos.

Sure enough, leaning against his obnoxiously red Ferrari, Enzo Mancini waved as if he were the star attraction of the day. "Ah, my favorite heiress finally graces us with her presence!"

"Careful, Enzo. If you sprain your neck from looking this smug, I'm not responsible for your medical bills," Summer quipped.

He laughed, falling into step beside her. "I heard a little bird say you had a run-in with our dear Eric. How delightful. Did you chew him up and spit him out, or just crush him slowly?"

"Neither," Summer replied, eyes forward. "He's not worth the calories."

Enzo grinned. "Fair. So... I also heard something else. Word's circulating that certain families are quietly placing side bets on the Eclipse Auction. High-stakes buyers. Dangerous players. It's not just about antiques anymore."

Summer's brow lifted, but her expression remained composed. "Interesting."

"And guess whose name keeps popping up in whispers?" Enzo shot her a knowing glance. "Yours."

"Good. Let them talk," she replied softly, voice laced with quiet steel.

Adriana Visconti joined them by the café steps, cappuccino in hand, glancing between the two. "The auction? Everyone with half a brain knows something bigger's brewing. Even my father warned me to stay far away from it."

Summer offered her a faint smile. "But where's the fun in staying away?"

Adriana laughed, shaking her head. "You're insane. But you make insanity look good."

The trio headed toward the investment club meeting. As usual, whispers floated in their wake.

"That's Adriana Visconti and Enzo Mancini... and Summer Bellani. Are they forming a royal court now?"

Inside, the club room buzzed with tense energy. Several second-tier heirs gathered, eyeing Summer with varying degrees of admiration and resentment.

The club president stood. "Thank you for joining, Miss Bellani, Mr. Mancini, Miss Visconti. We're reviewing market predictions for the upcoming quarter."

A cocky voice piped up. Matteo Russo, again. "Let's be honest, though. Some of us actually do the work, while others... just show up with their family name."

The tension in the room thickened. Enzo groaned. "Ugh, Matteo. Get a new script."

Summer smiled sweetly as she opened her tablet, projecting it onto the screen. "Speaking of work, here's my current position breakdown. Three logistics firms on the verge of merger, a short sell against Fiori Pharmaceuticals due to insider reports of regulatory issues, and a blockchain startup with triple-digit growth in private sectors. Would you like me to walk you through how to read it, Matteo? Or are the numbers too big?"

Silence.

Even the president coughed, trying not to laugh. "...Impressive. As always."

Adriana sipped her coffee, smirking. "I'm billing you for the entertainment."

Enzo added, "Remind me never to argue finance with you. Ever."

Matteo visibly shrank in his seat, face burning.

As the meeting dispersed, Summer and Rosa made their way back to the parking lot.

That's when the Maserati slid in front of them again.

Window down. Sunglasses lowered.

Rafael Costa.

"Summer Bellani," he greeted smoothly, leaning one arm on the doorframe. "Didn't think you'd still be hanging around campus after this morning's... excitement."

Summer sighed. "Do all men with more money than sense block people's cars? Or is it just today's theme?"

Rafael chuckled, unabashed. "Relax. I'm here on... friendly terms. Heard some interesting chatter about the guest list updates. Thought we could compare notes."

"Not interested," Summer said flatly, shifting her weight. "Move the car."

"Oh, come now," Rafael's smile curved wider. "A woman like you knows better than anyone... information is currency. And I happen to deal in very expensive currency."

"Keep your black-market coupons. I'm not shopping."

His gaze sharpened, intrigued rather than offended. "I like you, Bellani. You don't scare easily. That's... refreshing."

Rosa's stance shifted protectively. "Move the car. Last warning."

Rafael held both hands up. "Alright. No need to call security. This isn't goodbye anyway. It's... see you soon."

The Maserati peeled away, tires screeching as it disappeared around the corner.

Summer exhaled slowly. "We're attracting too much attention."

"He's dangerous, Miss," Rosa said firmly. "Travis won't like this."

"No, he won't. But he doesn't need to know. Yet."

Her phone buzzed again.

[Sham Sham: Eclipse Auction - Guest List Updated. New High-Risk Individual Added. Threat Level: Red.]

Summer stared at the screen, eyes darkening.

"Good. Let them come."