True Beauty

Chapter Seven

                                  7

The Morning After

The next morning felt heavy for Lisa. After the tense encounter with Jacob in the garage the previous day, she wasn't exactly looking forward to their car ride together. Her parents had already left for work, and her sisters were off to college, leaving her alone with Jacob's ride as her only option to school. She reluctantly made her way downstairs to the garage, where Jacob was already waiting inside the car.

As Lisa opened the door, his familiar scent immediately enveloped her-a mix of fresh mint and something musky that made her heart skip a beat despite herself.

"What the heck took you so long?" Jacob's deep, masculine voice startled her. He didn't even glance her way, staring straight ahead with a rigid expression.

"I... I had to pee," she squeaked, cursing herself internally for sounding so timid. Yesterday's incident in the garage still lingered between them, making her feel unnervingly self-conscious around him.

Jacob finally turned his head and stared at her blankly, his piercing blue eyes locking with hers. Up close, his face was breathtaking, almost annoyingly so. How could someone this arrogant be so undeniably attractive? His square jaw, high cheekbones, and that perfectly messy hair-it was unfair.

"Next time you delay me, you can walk yourself to school," he said, his voice low and almost too calm. Lisa's heart clenched in irritation. He didn't need to say it with such cold indifference.

"Whatever," she muttered under her breath, cheeks heating up with anger. But she kept quiet. A free ride was a free ride, after all.

---

**The Arrival at School**

After a painfully silent drive, they finally arrived at school. Jacob parked his sleek, black car next to a row of other luxury vehicles, most of which belonged to the school's sports team. He unbuckled his seatbelt, but before Lisa could do the same, he spoke again.

"You get out first," he said flatly.

Lisa blinked, staring at him. "What? Why?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.

Jacob's expression darkened, and he turned to her, his cold gaze making her heart race-not in a good way. "Just get out. Now."

Lisa's frustration bubbled to the surface. "You don't have to be so grumpy about it!" she snapped defensively.

Jacob's lips twisted into a smirk, though his eyes remained hard. "Grumpy? With you, I can act however I want. You can't stop me." His words dripped with arrogance, and Lisa had no retort. Her throat tightened, and she hated herself for being so easily affected by his sharp tongue.

Just as she was about to respond, Jacob leaned closer to her, causing her breath to catch in her throat. His face was so close now that she could feel the warmth of his breath, smell the intoxicating mint that swirled around him. Her pulse quickened, and she hated how easily he unsettled her.

"What... what are you doing?" she asked quietly, her voice betraying her nervousness. But he didn't answer. Instead, he reached over her and unbuckled her seatbelt. The movement was slow and deliberate, like he was savoring the moment, fully aware of the effect his closeness was having on her.

Lisa's face flushed as she felt his arm brush against her, and for a second, she allowed herself to be lost in his presence. His fingers lingered on the seatbelt, and she could swear her heart was about to leap out of her chest.

Then, just as quickly, he pulled away and settled back into his seat, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Get out," he said coolly, his tone soft but commanding. "I'm not your chauffeur."