University Undercover: A Love Triangle Story
Chapter 1 — Solène POV :
I was halfway through my coffee when Jorge our chef team stormed into the meeting room. His jaw was tight. Stress was practically dripping off him.
Lara sat across from me, texting like her life depended on it, flicking her gorgeous black bob out of her face every few seconds. Max was hunched over his laptop, typing at light speed like usual.
"Alright, enough," Jorge snapped. "Let's start. You all remember the Blackwater University case?"
Lara finally looked up, sliding her phone into her jacket. "You mean the one we've been chasing for a year? Must be urgent if you dragged us in here like this."
Max smirked. "Urgent usually means dangerous."
I leaned forward. "Do we finally have proof? Something solid to connect them to trafficking and experiments?"
Jorge sighed, heavy. "Not exactly. But it's worse. Three people have disappeared."
He clicked his laptop, firing up the projector. Three faces filled the screen. Left to right: Henry Atkins, Evan Lordre, Olivia Martinez.
"Are they students?" I asked.
Jorge shook his head. "That's the weird part. They're nobodies. Poor. No connection to Blackwater. Except for one thing—after they vanished, large sums of money were wired to their families."
Lara frowned. "Okay… so what's the link to our case?"
Max chuckled. "Why else would he show their faces, genius?"
Lara's head snapped toward him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Means your boyfriend's making you soft."
"Oh, shut up about Alex already!"
"Both of you, enough," I cut in. "Not the time."
Side note: Lara and Max used to be a thing. Clearly, they weren't over it. But this wasn't about them. This was bigger.
Jorge slammed his hand on the table. "This a playground now? Three innocent people disappear after entering Blackwater's campus and you two are fighting like kids over your love lives?"
Max muttered, "Sorry, boss."
"Yeah, sorry," Lara added, eyes still burning into Max.
I pointed at the screen. "So, who are they? Victims of what?"
"Organ trafficking," Jorge said flatly. "That's our working theory."
"Vargas family behind it?" I asked.
Max: "Killing people for cash."
Lara shot him a glare. "Do you have a soul?"
Max ignored her.
Jorge leaned in. "Here's the plan. Solène—you're going in. Undercover. One month from now, you'll enroll as Janette Marine, a last-year med student."
Max burst out laughing.
Lara practically shouted. "What? Why her?"
I sat up. "Yeah—why me? Why not you or Max?"
Jorge gave her a look. "Oh, I don't know, maybe because you two just had a screaming match in front of your superior? You want them undercover? Max looks guilty standing still, and Lara's allergic to subtle."
Lara: "Excuse me—"
Jorge cut her off. "See? This is exactly why."
I rubbed my forehead. "I don't even know medical terms, Jorge. You want me in a final-year program pretending I know how to save lives?"
"You don't need grades, you need dirt. Proof. Surveillance. Find out who's involved, get evidence, get out."
I groaned. "And showing up in final year won't raise red flags?"
"We've covered it. You're French, remember? You 'transferred from Paris' for your last year. Elite, expensive, fancy, fits the school."
Lara and Max both laughed now.
"I don't speak French," I shot back.
"What are the odds anyone asks you? One in a million. Don't overthink it."
I glanced at the photos again. "And the Vargas family?"
Jorge nodded. "That's our target. Jacob Vargas—owner and director. His sons—Elias and Leo."
"Both involved?"
"We don't know yet. Elias is a professor. Anatomy. You'll be in his class. Leo's a student. Same age as you. Same classes."
Something twisted in my stomach. "This is gonna go sideways."
Jorge's expression softened for a second. "That's why those two clowns will be covering you from outside."
"Clown?" Lara barked.
Max smirked. "I mean… if the shoe fits."
Lara stood up. "Say that again—"
"Sit down," Jorge ordered. He looked at me, ignoring their drama. "I'll send you everything you need. Study up. We've got one shot at this."
I nodded.
As for Lara and Max?
Still fighting.