Page 5 of Ink & Ambition

“Who is he?”

“Why the sudden interest?” I can tell her eyebrows are raised in that devilish way. One thing my best friend loves to do is make me squirm. I roll my eyes and dive into the sad library study room tale that ends with that arrogant troll getting a place to work in peace and my sorry ass out on the pavement.

Danika gasps. “Not study room G6! But everyone on campus knows that’syourroom.”

“I am not finding you amusing right now,” I deadpan. Danika’s laugh loosens a bit of tightness in my chest.

“His name is Alex Prescott. He’s the president of Kappa Alpha, the frat we were at on Friday. I’m not sure his major but I know he throws a great party. Thanks to daddy’s money.”

“Daddy’s money?”

“His dad owns some big business, Prescott Cars or Motors or whatever.” A loud crunching sounds from the other side of the phone and I know that Danika is indulging in her favorite lazy day snack—pretzels and peanut butter.

The news that Alex is rich doesn’t surprise me one bit. Of course he is, no one with an ounce of humility would go around acting the way he does. I’ll bet he’s so used to getting what he wants. Which makes me all the more angry that he got that study room over me. I should go in there and demand he gives it to me.What’s he even using it for? He doesn’t strike me as the studious type.

As much as I wish I had Danika’s confidence enough to go into that study room and demand it back, I can’t do that. He booked it fair and square but over my dead body will he get it from me again.

“Well, now I’ve got nowhere to work so I’m gonna see if Sydney is almost done in the fitness center and then catch a ride home with her.”

“Check this out while you’re waiting. Might give you some insight on the great mystery that is Alexander Prescott.”

Before I can ask what she means, my phone vibrates against my face and I pull it back to reveal a link to an Instagram profile. After a quick goodbye to Dani, I hang up the phone and click the link. My phone is flooded with workout videos and photos, all with Alex front and center. Quickly, I close my phone, suddenly remembering that I’m still directly outside the place I just ran into him and he could walk out those doors and see me cyberstalking him any second now.

Sending Sydney a quick text, I make my way toward the fitness center, hoping she’s finishing up around now. As I plop myself down on a bench outside the gym, I pull up Alex’s profile again. It really was impressive the way he handles the gym equipment. The videos look professional and the posts seem to have lots of good advice, even including things like nutrition and health. I guess this is what he devotes his time to, besides partying.

I’m not sure how much time passes as I get lost scrolling through the mind of Alex Prescott.

Chapter Three

Alex

MysmilelingersasI watch her cute butt walk out through the library doors. If she was as shocked as I was to be seeing each other again, she didn’t let on. In fact, she insulted me. Which shouldn’t turn me on, but apparently it does. It’s rare that I have to chase a girl and honestly, it’s about time I get my running shoes on again.

Before I can stop myself, I find my way back at the help desk.

“Edith?” The older woman looks up at the sound of my voice.

“Yes, Mr. Prescott?”

I roll my eyes playfully. “How many times have I told you to call me Alex?” She blushes, as she always does and then nods. “What was the name of the girl who just left? I, uh, feel bad that she didn’t get a study room.” I say quickly as an excuse.

Edith doesn’t miss a beat, as usual. “Oh, that sweet girl is Margot. I do feel bad her usual room was taken. She practically lives in this library during the year.” Edith busies herself again with whatever she’s working on and I look out the glass front door at the back of her head.

Margot.It’s a beautiful name. A name that definitely fits a beautiful girl like her. Based on Edith’s assessment of her, I seem to bring out the feisty side of her, which I could hardly complain about. I love a girl with some zest. I need a challenge. And I think my newest challenge is standing directly outside the front door of this building.

Making my way down the stairs to the study room I booked online this morning–because apparently you can do that now–I promptly ignored a call from my father. It is the third time he’s called this morning, and knowing him, he’ll probably show up to the house next.

Using the key Edith gave me, I unlock the room and make sure it closes tight behind me. The silence is immediate. While I’m not always a stickler for doing my assignments, I do enjoy coming here to relax and get away from the noise of the Kappa Alpha house. Don’t get me wrong–I love my frat brothers. Drinking and watching sports in the living room with everyone is one of my favorite pastimes but sometimes it’s just nice to get away from it all.

Noticing one more text from my dad, I silence my phone and shove it into the bottom of my backpack. He’ll get to me eventually. Oliver Prescott doesn’t let anyone ignore him, especially not his sons. He’s been calling me to talk about the fraternity alumni gala next Sunday and I just can’t be bothered.

As a Tomlin University alumni, my father takes every opportunity to flaunt his success on campus, especially on Greek Row. While I’m happy to have made him proud by continuing his legacy in KA, it still bothers me when he parades me around as his little trophy son.

Mom would’ve hated that.

Shaking my head, I turn my thoughts away from my father and grab my laptop from my bag. Since the semester started, I’ve fallen behind on my fitness posts on Instagram. I don’tcare much about graduating with honors but I do care about using information from my exercise science classes to help boost my personal trainer Instagram account. I’m no influencer by any means, but I’ve got a decent following. Enough where, if I don’t post for a few days, people start to worry. That all seems ridiculous to me, clearly I have life outside of my fitness account, but I do enjoy creating routines and posting videos for my followers to use as tutorials in their own workouts.

While I don’t have any plans to use my exercise science degree once I graduate in May, I entered the program for a reason. It’s nothing more than a hobby at this point but it’s nice to have something to do that’s all mine, not touched by Oliver Prescott.

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