After Hours: My Deal with Professor Bancroft

JULIAProfessor Bancroft's eyes darkened and his jaw ticked as he watched me. He had expected me to decline the subtle challenge and walk away with my tail tucked between my legs.He straightened, his fingers brushing against the front of his shirt in a practiced move."Very well then" he said evenly and turned around. I watched him as he reached for his notepad, my mind warring with an internal battle.'Turn around and leave' it screamed at me but I stood stiffly, refusing to lose."Leave your contact information here" he held out a thin piece of paper and his pen. I looked from his fingers holding them loosely to his eyes and I saw it again. The challenge. An opportunity to say no and run."Okay," I said, my voice a lot firmer. I reached for the paper and our fingers brushed, just briefly and I pulled away.Professor Bancroft eyed me as I scribbled my phone number on the thin paper. Once I finished, I handed it over to him, taking great care not to brush against his finger.A mom

JULIAI eyed the side of Professor Bancroft's face. The chilling grin that curved his lips. He had shifted to challenge again... allowing me to back out and maybe I should have taken it, but I didn't."I'm interested in seeing your approach" I said evenly, matching his tone. I felt his gaze on me for a second and then he looked away.The drive continued in silence until he drove to the gates of a huge mansion. I tried not to leave my mouth hanging open in shock at the sight of the massive building that sat in front of us.I knew Professor Bancroft was wealthy from his expensive clothes and perfume and just the way he carried himself in general but I wasn't expecting something as grand as this."We're here" Professor Bancroft announced in an even voice that made my stomach clench. My door opened from the outside. A tall man in a fitted back suit stood outside, holding it open. I looked over at Professor Bancroft but he was already climbing down so I followed. He walked around the car

JULIAI couldn't stop thinking about the night at Professor Bancroft's home. The line I discovered I couldn't cross. The way his eyes stared at me as if he could read through me. It made me ask myself a lot of questions.And what lingered on my mind and made my fist clench repeatedly was the message he'd sent. That had been his way of telling me that he'd won and there was never a chance for me.I stared at it for long hours after I returned to my silent dorm room. Nina had been waiting with a lot of questions but I managed to brush her off and buried myself under my warm covers.It had been exactly six days since I left his home. And in less than 48 hours, I'd be sitting in the same class that he was going to lecture in. I didn't think I could look him in the eye but determination burned low in my stomach. I may have bolted from his house but that didn't end the challenge. If I avoided his gaze, I'd only be a bigger loser. I was determined to stare him deep in the eye and prove tha

JULIAI pushed the door open into Professor Bancroft's office.His eyes followed me as I walked, the relaxed posture unsettling me."Sit" the sharp order followed and I obeyed. My legs were trembling and it felt like they'd give out if I didn't sit down quickly."The essay is ready" I said softly, meeting his gaze for a second and quickly averting it as I reached for the copies I'd printed during the day."I want to hear it" "You won't look at it?" I asked sharply, feeling myself getting irritated. "No""But...""Did you write the essay yourself Miss Walker?""Of course I did" I retorted sharply."Let me hear it" I formed. What was the point of writing five hundred words if he only wanted to hear me say it? My fingers curled. He was only trying to torture me."We don't have all day Miss Walker" he growled, twirling a fancy pen between his fingers. My eyes followed the movement and then I drew my gaze back to his face."Love""Obsession first" he growled."There's no order" I watche