“What’s this all about?” I asked Phantom as men filed through the door with platters of food, silver serving ware, and tons of party decorations, including balloons.

“A gift, courtesy of Victor, for your soft presentation or whatever,” Phantom answered. What would’ve sounded like good news from anyone else came out a grumble in his rough tone.

I jolted. “Seriously? Victor arranged all of this?”

“Yeah,” Phantom answered with an annoyed shake of his head. “Who else do you think cares anything about your school shit?”

I wouldn’t have put Victor on that super short list of people either. Not in a million years.

My eyes widened as I watched a bunch of set-up guys went to work. By the time they were done, the living room looked like a Pinterest board entitled, Best Showcase Grad Party Ever.

Phantom handed me a small white envelope after they left. “Victor told me to give this to you.”

I pulled the note out and read, If you think this is nice, wait until our date after your real thesis presentation.

I’d spent the last twenty-four hours trying to harden my heart against the man who dropped me off without a word and disappeared. But it melted the moment I read that note.

“I can’t believe he did all of this for me.”

“Yeah, you and me both,” Phantom grumbled. “He’s done a lot of things for you that I can’t believe.”

Phantom scowled down at me as he said this. But I couldn’t tell if it was his usual “I don’t like you” glower or in reference to something specific. Like, having to oversee the set-up for my Group B presentation party.

Either way, I asked, “May I borrow your phone? I want to thank Victor for doing all of this.”

“You don’t have to thank him,” Phantom answered, his scowl deepening.

“But I want to, and I’m not going to stop pestering you until you let me do it,” I let him know with a bright smile.

Phantom folded his arms and glared at me in a way that made him look even meaner and more dangerous than usual.

But I stood my ground, folding my arms right on back at him. To be truthful, I wasn’t quite sure how much power I had to make demands here. Phantom could just walk away.

But in the end, he pulled out his phone and typed a quick message. “There I sent it. See you later.”

“No, no, no, I’ll wait until he answers,” I replied, rushing to get in front of him before he could leave.

“He’s a very busy guy. It might take him a while to—”

I knew Victor had sent back a message when the phone in Phantom’s hand lit up, and he cut off with another scowl.