Chapter 3 Seduction

Recalling that there was another person who possessed this book, Emily eyed Jennifer up and down.

“You’re not seriously planning to go after the second copy… are you?”

Jennifer didn’t answer.

Emily suddenly laughed with a hint of contempt.

It was common knowledge that the book was incredibly precious. Only two copies existed in the world, and their value was beyond estimation.

One copy was held by Professor Scott Davis; the other was rumoured to be held privately by Michael, a financial tycoon.

If Jennifer truly intended to obtain the book from Michael, her plan was laughably unrealistic.

“Do you even know who owns that second copy? Jennifer, get real.”

“If you think Michael will lend it to you, you’ll get torn apart before you even get close.”

Michael was the kind of figure you only encountered in textbooks.

Asking him to borrow a book? Ordinary students would never dare dream of it.

Emily had once seen Michael at a top academic forum, but she had only caught a distant glimpse of him.

He was the forum’s highly anticipated guest speaker, and she was merely a student guide, escorting him from the school gate to the library.

She didn’t even get to enter the venue.

Jennifer recalled the few words she had left under his pillow the previous morning and chuckled.

I wonder if Mr. Kowalski has seen that note yet.

Did he think of me when he read it?

Jennifer was still lost in thoughts of Michael’s striking appearance from last night when a small murmur rippled through the crowd.

She turned to see tonight’s “target” finally arrive.

He entered arm-in-arm with Maria, looking like the perfect couple.

Jennifer narrowed her eyes, studying Michael closely.

“Want to play a game?” she suddenly asked Emily.

Emily blinked. “What game?”

“That man you think is untouchable? I can make him lose control over me.”

Jennifer dropped this cryptic remark and strode toward Michael, ignoring Emily’s sputtering.

She spotted Maria standing in the crowd.

Maria’s voluptuous figure was accentuated by a red slit dress.

Towering a head above Jennifer, Maria boasted the coveted wheat-toned skin popular in Western beauty standards — like a supermodel off the Victoria’s Secret runway.

Netizens claimed she was exactly the type wealthy men loved.

But Jennifer didn’t buy the online narrative.

At least not for a man like Michael.

She was certain Michael felt nothing for Maria.

Still, she wanted to see how he interacted with other women.

Jennifer intended to slip between them, but the banquet was too crowded.

Before she could, Michael took Maria’s hand and led her toward the spiral staircase to the second-floor guest rooms.

Jennifer immediately followed, but someone grabbed her arm.

Jennifer frowned.

“Jennifer.”

James pleaded with tear-filled eyes. “I’ve been looking for you all day.”

“I swear, I don’t know what happened that night. I love you — I’ve only ever loved you.”

Jennifer remained expressionless.

“Is that so? Then why did you react to my best friend?”

James’ face flushed crimson with shame and fury.

“I’m sorry — I reacted, but I kept pushing her away. I swear!”

Jennifer looked impatient. “The fact that you reacted at all makes me sick. And you still showed up to her birthday party.”

“Then I’ll leave now. I’ll wait for you outside. Just… give me one more chance?”

Jennifer saw that Michael had already gone upstairs.

Time was running out.

“Wait for me by the pool outside.” Jennifer said.

James thought she was offering him one last chance, and his spirits lifted.

Before leaving, he watched her stride up the spiral staircase — its sapphire-blue carpet gleaming beneath her feet.

His eyes were filled with admiration.

To James, Jennifer was like a goddess — so intelligent, so pure.

But he could never have imagined that this goddess, who shone so flawlessly at school, was about to do something utterly insane.

Sarah’s text arrived just then:

Jennifer, I’ve called Maria down. Michael’s alone in the room now. Hurry.

Got it.

Jennifer replied, set her phone aside, took a deep breath, and found herself standing before Michael’s door.

As Sarah’s stepmother, Maria was obliged to make an appearance at the birthday party — no matter how strained their relationship.

But it was impossible to know how long Sarah could stall.

Jennifer had to act before Maria returned.

She rang the doorbell and, in a waitress’ tone, called out:

“Good evening, Mr. Kowalski. Room service.”

Her voice was professional and deferential.

But the moment Michael opened the door, Jennifer strode straight inside.

Her movements and tone turned bold, almost insolent.

She stood beside his bed, gaze fixed on him, and promptly pulled off her hoodie, tossing it onto his bed.

“Mr. Kowalski, I’m here for the collar I left on your bedside table last time.”

She lifted her swan-like neck.

“Would you mind… putting it on for me?”

She wore only a white spaghetti-strap dress — modest neckline, bare shoulders, her snow-white neck exposed like an offering.

Michael, who had been laughing moments earlier downstairs, now wore a cold, unreadable expression.

“Get out,” he said.

Jennifer wasn’t about to leave.

She took a few more steps into the room.

Then she walked onto the balcony and spread her arms as the evening breeze lifted the hem of her dress.

“Mr. Kowalski, your room with Ms. Rossi is stunning! You can even see the pool from here.”

Sure enough, James was standing by the pool below.

A wicked idea bloomed in Jennifer’s mind.

“Look, Mr. Kowalski — James is here too.”

“Do you think he’d cry if he saw his girlfriend in the room of the teacher he idolizes?”

“He’d realize instantly that you’re the one staying here tonight, don’t you think?”

Jennifer turned her head toward him with an almost innocent expression.

Her fingers rested lightly on her lips — pure on the outside, provocative underneath.

“Mr. Kowalski… do you think he’d hear me if I shouted from here?”

Another jab at Michael’s limits.

Sure enough, the calm expression on his face shattered into fury.

Michael strode forward, reaching out to push her away.

At that critical moment, Jennifer swiftly climbed onto the balcony’s safety railing.

Leaning half her body dangerously over the edge, she shouted at the top of her lungs:

“James! I’m at your—”

James, by the pool, immediately looked up.

But before he could locate her, Michael yanked her back, pulling her entire body with force.

She felt suspended in-midair before landing on the cold railing with a metallic thud.

Her reflexes were lightning fast.

She twisted, ending up face-to-face with Michael — who wore only a thin shirt.

Jennifer’s cold hands cupped his jaw.

Her lips parted, locking onto his mouth in a fierce kiss.

Her tongue teased at his lower lip — curious, testing, tasting.

Hmm… not sweet, she thought with mild disappointment.

Jennifer looked as if she were sampling candy.

Michael was furious.

He fought back hard, his movements forceful enough to sting.

He blocked her advancing mouth with his arm.

Just then, Jennifer let out a sharp shriek.

Immediately after, it looked as though something shoved her from behind — her entire body tipping backward like she was about to fall from the building.

Every detail had been meticulously planned:

the length of her straps, the shape of her neckline, the slit of her dress, the scent of her skin, every inflection of her voice.

She was already beautiful — almost unreal.

And now, she was staking her life on it.

Whatever he did next was entirely within her calculations.

As she expected, Michael’s large hands instantly caught her, preventing her from falling.

And in that instant…

Jennifer wrapped her legs around his body.