Chapter 36

MAYA’S POV The moment I stepped out of the car with Dad and Alicia, my eyes landed on a sleek black SUV parked not too far from us. At first I thought I was seeing things, but the way the driver leaned against the side mirror as if he's staring at someone, his arms crossed, had his dark shades on even though the sun had almost set—It was all too familiar. My heart skipped a little. I walked a few steps closer just to be sure. “Brandon?” I called out. He turned his head, and sure enough, it was him. Lucian's friend, President Brandon, in the flesh, secretly known as Ian. Looking like he walked straight out of a presidential poster. I blinked, surprised and a little confused. “What are you doing here?” I asked. He gave me a small smile. “I just came to drop a friend.” A friend? A friend I didn't know about? Ian barely makes new friends. That name alone—Ian—wasn't something people casually threw around. Only a few knew Brandon used that name privately, mostly those in tight circles. And j