Chapter 14 - Round Two: Tie

"Now I want you to look at the room number for both of the cards."

Knox proceeded to do what Rory said and looked at the room numbers of both of the cards. Both of the student cards said Room A576.

"Rory Hynes is it?

"Yes... but that's not important- what are you doing."

Rory's eye twitched as she saw Knox get up with the cards in his hands.

"Going to go call the campus police of course."

Knox walked toward the living room with a cold face.

Rory automatically reacted and grabbed the corner of his towel with a firm grip. No wonder Knox never did business talk in her last life, after all wouldn't he just become public enemy number one!?

"How about you slow down and let's talk a bit?"

Thankfully, his foot steps stopped and a harsh glare burned a hole in her hand.

"Are you threatening me?" Knox smiled softly, however for some reason the smile made him look ten times more terrifying.

"Only if you take another step. I honestly don't mind either way. Actually..." her eyes traveled up Knox's body. "A free show wouldn't be too bad..."

His face switched from black to green. "Shameless."

However, he didn't take another step farther and only stood with his arms around his ċhėst.

"What do you want?"

"Simple I want you to consider the entire situation before you decide to call the police."

Rory pulled up the sleeve of her white suit shirt exposing a bruise on her pale arm. It's darkly stained color would make anyone concerned.

She then used her hand to slightly block it as she covered it back up.

Her eyes went up to see that Knox had a confused look on his face.

He really didn't think that he used that much force to cause so much bruising.

Little did he know that he was currently being scammed by Rory who had finally found a use for the old Rory's make up.

"Now with this I'd say this could be turned into a self defense case. The Hynes have plenty of lawyers to back me up."

Listening to her calm voice caused a dangerous glint to grow in Knox's cold eyes.

"I'm Knox Mikhalson, do you think I'm scared of that?"

Rory felt a shiver climb up her spine as it seemed the room around her had just gotten ten times colder. Her survival instincts told her to back up now, but she didn't have a choice in the matter.

She laid out her most important chess piece.

"Probably not in the past, but considering your current situation. I think you are worried about quite a lot." A wicked smile grew in her face.

"I almost forgot to ask. Why would the CEO of Cloud be at Sovereignty anyway? Are you perhaps being threatened by someone? Sovereignty is nearly impossible to break into by outside forces, in fact I'd say only the students or staff, if they were brave enough, have a chance of harming each other here. If a powerful force tried to force their way in they would definitely have hell to pay from all the powerful names they are disrespecting. Therefore, casualty wise it is a perfect place to stay for a while."

Knox watched the boy who's grey eyes were glittering with intellect. The calmness he portrayed could make even the most ruthless people wary.

"You know a lot for a random college student. Some say smart people aren't good to keep around. Out of all the stuff you just said what stops me from just getting rid of you in general? The Hynes?"

Knox scoffed when he said the Hynes almost as if they were bȧrėly worth mentioning. However, he couldn't help but feel interested in the boy's answer.

"Sovereignty isn't one to be biased. While they wouldn't work with the news, they will more than likely let the Hynes know what happened. The Hynes probably wouldn't want to offend the Mikhalson's, but I'm a heir, they would have to."

Only years as a business women could help Rory say such bull with a straight face. In 100% truth the majority of the Hynes would probably hail Knox as a hero for killing her.

"But, instead of being offended I think the Mikhalson's would be most interested in finding out where you are. The recent scandal could only be a means to draw you out. However, for the reason you are laying low I have no idea."

When Rory finished stating her part, she released Knox's bathing towel clearly showing how confident she was in her words.

"Just where did you get such a ridiculous thesis?"

"Educated guess."

"So you are betting your life on a guess?"

Rory shrugged. "I'm normally right."

Seeing Rory's blatant confidence that yelled

'I won' made Knox's head hurt. Yet, somehow he couldn't deny that Rory got a lot of it right.

The room seemed to restore normally temperatures and the tension in the room calmed down. Rory's heart rate slowed down as she noted that the storm had passed.

"Fine. How about this? I'm willing to let you get your stuff and leave and we never have to see each other again."

Rory sincerely wanted to do exactly what Knox suggested. If they both stayed here then she would have to worry constantly about Knox finding out she was a girl and also about him discovering her doing things that weren't so legal.

"We both know that this college doesn't allow room changes this late in the year no matter who you are. The only way I can leave here is if I drop out or live somewhere else."

"Move out?"

"Sovereignty won't let me live off campus because of my poor grades."

Rory had long looked into this as she wanted more freedom once she had enough money.

"Than drop out."

Rory felt her lips twitch at his simple suggestion. "Not happening."

Once again a dead lock appeared between the two.

"You know I am not leaving at the moment, therefore what are you suggesting?"

"You have pressing issues, I'm sure you won't stay here for long, so how about we just stay out of each other's way until you leave?"

Knox stared at her with an almost penetrating look before he gave her another cold smile. "It's seems there are no other options at the moment. However, if you do ever become a pest don't think that I will hold back a second time."

He then turned away from her and walked into he living room. When Rory noticed the direction he was heading in she couldn't help but say something.

"Taking another shower?"

"Unfortunately I bumped into another disgusting thing. By the way speaking of disgusting things what Is that? Dog food?" Knox motioned to the forgotten pancake on the ground that had long turned cold.

"Only if you are a dog." Rory mumbled under her breath.

"What?"

"Nothing. It's nothing go take a shower don't worry about it."

Her suggestion was more of a plea at this point as she really didn't think she could keep being pleasant for much longer.

Thankfully, Knox just gave her a distasteful look and re-entered the bathroom.