The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

Ella POV:

"Nothing. Oh, thanks, guys... I think it’s starting. Catch you later." I waved them off, plastering on a smile that I prayed looked convincing, brushing past Jason, Dylan, and Max as casually as I could manage. My voice didn’t betray the storm brewing inside me, but my legs felt like jelly. I made my way to my allocated seat, my thoughts racing as I sat down.

Great. Now what am I supposed to do?

The noise of the crowd buzzed around me, but it felt distant, muffled by the storm brewing in my head. My fingers instinctively reached for my phone as I sank into the chair, away from their watchful eyes. This was bad—very, very bad. I dialed Jake, the CEO of Black Enterprise, my heart pounding in tandem with each ring.

When he picked up, I didn’t even give him a chance to greet me.

"Miss Kingsley, I wasn’t expecting your call—"

"Jake, what the hell is going on?" I hissed.

"Ella? Is something wrong?" His voice was calm, too calm, and it only stoked my anger.

"I thought I made myself clear," I said sharply. "No one was supposed to know about my partnership with Black Enterprise, especially not the media. How did this leak?!"

Jake’s tone shifted, defensive now."Miss Kingsley, I assure you, I’m just as surprised as you are. This must have come from someone within the company, but I’ll get to the bottom of it. I’ll handle it personally and make sure the leak is contained. None of this will reach the media. You have my word."

His promises did little to soothe me. I wanted to trust him, but my trust had its limits. "You better," I said curtly before hanging up, my hands trembling slightly as I set my phone down.

Crisis averted, right? Wrong. So very wrong. If only I’d known what the universe had in store for me, I would’ve sprinted out of that hall before the next disaster struck.

The ceremony began with the usual lineup of dull speeches. Administrators, board members, and professors took turns droning on about the university’s legacy and our bright futures. I half-listened, my mind preoccupied with Jake’s assurances and the growing knot in my stomach.

The dull speeches dragged on, each one more monotonous than the last. I tried to focus on anything else—the way the sunlight filtered through the windows, the shuffling of papers from the faculty seated up front, even the awkward coughs from the audience. Anything to keep my mind from spiraling.

Finally, my name was called.

I stood, smoothing out my gown as I made my way to the podium. The sea of faces blurred together, but I kept my head high, shoulders squared. This was my moment—something I’d worked tirelessly for, sacrificed for—and I wasn’t going to let a small leak or the universe’s cruel sense of humor ruin it.

The speech I’d written was simple, heartfelt, and to the point. I spoke about perseverance, the importance of challenging oneself, and how failure could be a stepping stone to success. I was nearing the conclusion when my eyes wandered, almost involuntarily, to the front row where the special guests sat.

And there, sitting among the special guests, was none other than him.

Mr. Kingsley. My father.

Oh. My. God.

The air felt like it had been sucked out of the room.

My heart dropped to my stomach. I could feel the blood drain from my face as panic set in. He found me.

Not now. Not yet. I wasn’t ready for this.

He was sitting there, his posture regal as ever, his suit immaculate, his expression a mix of pride and something sharper—anger. His eyes met mine, and my heart dropped into my stomach.

Holy hell, he found me.

I stumbled over my next words, barely catching myself in time. My hands gripped the edges of the podium, steadying me as I avoided his gaze for the rest of the speech. When I finished, the applause roared in my ears, but all I could hear was the hammering of my heartbeat.

I risked one last glance at him as I stepped away from the podium. He was clapping, his smile sharp and full of mischief. The mischievous curve of his lips, the way his eyes glinted with amusement and warning all at once. My doom was sealed, and I knew it was going to be delivered Kingsley-style.

As I walked off the podium, I braced myself for the impending doom. I didn’t have to wait long.

Back in my seat, I barely listened as the ceremony progressed. My mind was a whirlwind of panic and dread, imagining all the ways my father would "punish" me for hiding from him for so long.

Then, as if the universe hadn’t already done enough, my worst fears materialized.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer began, "please welcome our esteemed guest, Mr. Kingsley, to deliver the final speech of the day."

I slouched down in my seat, willing the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

Mr. Kingsley was called up as the final speaker of the ceremony. Because, of course, he was. Elite University prided itself on its business focus, and my father was the business tycoon, renowned across the globe.

I wanted to disappear.

I sank lower in my seat as he took the stage, his presence commanding the room effortlessly. The applause was thunderous.

"What a beautiful ceremony," he started, his deep voice carrying effortlessly through the hall. "And what an honor it is to be here today, among the brightest minds of our future. But before I delve into the intricacies of business, let me take a moment to acknowledge something... or rather, someone."

My blood ran cold.

"What can a father say," he continued, his gaze landing squarely on me, "when he sees his daughter stand before a crowd, delivering such a heartfelt and eloquent speech? I am immensely proud."

The murmurs started immediately.

"His daughter?"

"Wait, who’s his daughter?"

"Ella? Is he talking about Ella?"

The weight of a thousand eyes turned to me, their shock palpable. Even the professors and staff looked stunned, their expressions a mix of awe and confusion.

I didn’t dare meet their gazes. My head lowered, my graduation cap slipping slightly as I used my hair to shield my face.

"Ella Kingsley," my father continued, clearly relishing the moment, "What can a father say but that he is proud? I am very pleased with how this university has nurtured my daughter, teaching her to become the remarkable young lady she is today—so much so that she emerged as valedictorian."

The room erupted into gasps, murmurs, and sharp intakes of breath. Heads whipped around, all eyes locking on me.

I froze. My cheeks burned as I felt every stare, every bit of shock and curiosity aimed in my direction. Even the professors and staff looked stunned. I didn’t dare look back at them. Instead, I stared down at my lap, my fingers gripping the edge of my gown like a lifeline.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jason, Dylan, and Max staring at me, their mouths slightly open. I didn’t need to look directly to know the shock on their faces.

The murmurs grew louder, a cacophony of reactions filling the hall. Some were impressed, others envious, and a few—those who had looked down on me all year—suddenly seemed very, very nervous.

"Anyway," my father said, clearing his throat and smoothly transitioning into his prepared speech about business, pulling the crowd’s attention back to him. "As a businessman, I’ve always believed in nurturing talent, and this institution has certainly done a commendable job. My daughter’s achievements are a testament to that. To the graduating class: remember that success comes not just from ambition but from discipline, hard work, and a willingness to take risks. Always push boundaries and aim higher than you think possible. That’s the foundation of greatness."

He spoke about innovation, integrity, and the importance of taking risks, weaving in anecdotes from his career that left the audience hanging on his every word.

But even as the crowd’s focus shifted back to him, I could feel the lingering glances aimed at me. The judgment, the curiosity, the fear—they were all there, prickling at the back of my neck.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted Jason, Max, and Dylan. The Three Musketeers. They weren’t even pretending to hide their shock. Jason looked like he was trying to piece together a puzzle, his brow furrowed in confusion. Max and Dylan, on the other hand, exchanged looks that screamed, What the hell is going on?

And just like that, the universe had delivered another sucker punch.

I leaned back in my seat, trying to focus on my breathing, trying to block out the chaos around me. But deep down, I knew the truth. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

The audience hung onto his every word, the spell of his charisma drawing them in.

I wished I could disappear.

As he wrapped up his speech, the applause was deafening, but I felt the weight of lingering glances still aimed at me. Some were in awe, others laced with envy or curiosity. And then there were the few fearful ones—the students who had been mean to me throughout the year. They were clearly terrified that I’d use my father’s influence to retaliate.

But I didn’t care about them.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Jason, Dylan, and Max. They weren’t throwing the same judgmental glances. No, theirs were different—full of questions. And I had no idea how I was going to face them.