A few hours before the party, Keisha had made a decision.
She grabbed her phone and dialed Noah's number.
— Hello?
— Noah, she murmured. I'm going to Maya's party tonight. I need you to come with me.
— …You? The queen of the school? With me? he asked, surprised.
— Exactly. And you stay discreet. Just present. The way I want.
— Very well, he replied, a smile in his voice.
A simple call. A calculated move. And the rest of the strategy was set in motion.
---
The party was in full swing. Music, laughter, dim lights. The school students had gathered in Maya's large house, where every detail exuded illusion and prestige. Chandeliers, soft rugs, cozy corners, and darker zones for those who preferred to vanish from sight.
Keisha stepped through the door, Noah by her side. She took a deep breath, letting her natural calm blend with an aura of control.
Maya, perched on a small improvised stage at the center of the room, spotted them immediately. She had that smile that conveyed both charm and superiority.
— Well, look who's here! she exclaimed, her clear voice carrying above the music. An unexpected duo… but very interesting, she added, pointing at Keisha and Noah with a dramatic gesture.
Some guests exchanged curious glances. The queen of the school… and her companion?
— Keisha, said Maya, stepping forward, your entrances are always so… remarkable. You really spoil us.
Keisha remained still, a slight, controlled smile on her lips. Noah, by her side, gave a subtle nod, discreet but confident.
— I present Noah, said Keisha in a calm voice. He is accompanying me tonight.
Maya examined Noah from head to toe, a playful smile forming on her face.
— Very well, very well… You'd better live up to the Aïnis you're escorting, she said with a light laugh.
Then, as if to punctuate their presence, Maya snapped her fingers. The music softened for a moment, and several guests cast curious glances toward Keisha and Noah.
— Go on, enjoy the evening! she added, moving away gracefully, yet keeping an attentive eye on every guest's movements.
Keisha felt the weight of the gazes. But her composure did not waver. Every gesture, every smile, every movement of Noah by her side was calculated. The game had entered a new stage.
Léandro, on the other side of the room, noticed her immediately. His gaze hardened, a mix of challenge and fascination. He had tried to provoke, but Keisha had already regained control—effortlessly.
Keisha pretended to chat with Noah, lightly placing her hand on his arm, tilting her head slightly toward him. For Léandro, every move was a silent challenge, a subtle declaration of power.
— Are you here for me or for the show? whispered Noah softly, a faint smile on his lips.
— For me, she replied, almost inaudibly.
Their eyes met Léandro's. Instinctively, he turned his head, aware that he had just been challenged but unable to look away completely.
The game had begun. Léandro stepped forward slightly, trying to mask his agitation, while Keisha remained still, a subtle smile and total control. Every second she spent near Noah sparked a reaction in Léandro that he struggled to conceal.
In her calculated silence, Keisha repeated to herself: Bad strategy…
And she knew that in this kind of game, real power never lies in loud gestures, but in the ones you withhold.
Keisha had already gained the upper
The music was still pounding, but for Keisha, everything felt different. Every movement, every glance, every laugh reached her as if filtered. She no longer saw the party. She saw Léandro. And what he was attempting.
He approached, a glass in hand, a light smile on his face. A calculated smile, but too noticeable to go unnoticed. His gaze settled on Keisha and Noah.
"Wow, look who's here…" he said loudly enough for his voice to carry between them.
Keisha didn't move. She only turned her head slightly, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on her lips. Noah understood immediately: remain still, silent, attentive. No overreactions.
Léandro moved a little closer, as if blocking Keisha's path to the buffet. Every movement was measured, a subtle provocation.
"You came with him, huh?" he murmured, almost to himself, but loud enough for Keisha to hear.
She didn't respond immediately. She let a few seconds pass, gauging the effect. Then, very calmly:
"Yes. Does that bother you?"
Léandro's light laugh betrayed restrained tension. "Maybe… I was just wondering if you needed a guide to navigate this kind of party."
Keisha leaned slightly toward Noah, her voice calm and almost imperceptible:
"Keep your attention on me. Nothing else matters."
Noah nodded. He knew he had to stay in his place, protect her space, and above all, not draw unnecessary attention.
"Very well," murmured Léandro, a spark of challenge in his eyes.
He stepped back slightly, leaving space, but every gesture, every smile to other girls, every wink — it was all meant to provoke Keisha.
But Keisha didn't budge. She walked toward the buffet, picked up a glass of water, then turned to Noah:
"Show me you're up to the task," she murmured.
Noah understood. He moved slightly closer, subtly supporting her, never overstepping. Simply being by her side was enough to provoke a reaction from Léandro.
Léandro, meanwhile, watched. This wasn't pure jealousy. No. It was an obsessive curiosity. Every gesture, every smile from Keisha was analyzed, dissected. And yet, he could do nothing.
Keisha knew exactly what she was doing. Every second she spent with Noah strengthened her control. Every glance Léandro cast their way confirmed it: the game had changed, and this time, she was setting the rules.
She lifted her eyes to him for a moment. Her smile was almost invisible, but enough to convey: Don't think you can surprise me. I control everything.
Léandro looked away, frustrated, intrigued, fascinated. And somewhere, in that contained frustration, he knew he had to escalate… but he didn't yet know how.
Keisha, motionless, shielded by her mastery and Noah's presence, had already won the first round.