3

EDMUND

I sat in the cold comfort of my car, behind the tinted windows that gave me privacy from the outside world. My fingers clenched around the steering wheel repeatedly as I glanced at the main entrance of the building.

Students loitered outside the building, some in groups while a few stood alone, watching. Their eyes shifted occasionally to my car parked under the large tree. Of course, they'd look.

It wasn't every day a luxury sedan parked outside the rundown building. From the looks I spotted, I knew a few of them were curious to see who sat behind the wheel.

Oh, the uproar that it'd cause if I stepped out.

Which brought me back to the question I'd asked myself for most of the drive here.

Why did I come?

The answer seemed clear enough in my head but I refused to put into words what it really was. Not without admitting loudly that I was crossing into dangerous territories.

I could drive away now and put an end to everything.

Only I knew that it wouldn't truly be the end. The challenging look she had when she accepted my offer told me so.

An offer I'd never planned to make but I did anyway. I couldn't resist the temptation no matter how hard I struggled.

I looked back at the entrance and I spotted her. My breath hitched in my throat at the sight of her. A bright green dress that hugged her too perfectly.

She walked out of the entrance and paused, taking a second to look around and then her eyes stayed on the sedan.

One second passed.

And another.

And she walked towards me, her eyes shining with challenge and confidence, and her hips swaying in a way I shouldn't have noticed. My lips tugged into a small smile. Of course, she'd know.

Julia Walker was too intelligent for her own good.

I unlocked the door just as she arrived and she climbed in, her sweet perfume instantly filling the enclosed space.

She relaxed into the chair and I watched her from the corner of my eye.

"You're late" I said stiffly and she made a small sound.

"By a minute"

"Still late" I growled.

"This isn't the classroom, Professor Bancroft" She stared at me as she spoke and I faced her, watching in satisfaction as her smile dropped a little. I studied her eyes with intent, they were much greener up close.

"Then you'll refer to me as Edmund" I broke the silence and she couldn't hide her surprise this time.

Julia turned away but not before I picked up on her change in breathing.

"Where are we going?" She asked in a sharp tone.

"You'll see" I responded in the same tone and started the engine.

For the first few minutes of the ride, Julia stayed silent beside me. I focused on the driving mostly but my attention stayed on her, keeping it as moderate as I could.

The only sound in the car was the soft whirr of the engine and the rich baritone coming from the speakers.

Julia shifted in her chair and I fully glanced at her.

"I didn't peg you as someone who would listen to this kind of song" she mumbled loud enough for me to hear. I didn't say anything for the first few seconds.

"One would think that as a literature student, your most familiar saying would be not to judge a book by its cover" Her lips pressed into a line and she grew silent. I looked back at the road, thinking it was the end of the conversation and a little disappointed.

"I don't. But I've seen enough chapters to have an opinion" she retorted sharply.

"And yet you're surprised that I listen to this kind of music" I maintained my calm tone.

Julia muttered under her breath, so low that I could barely hear anything and it upset me. My grip tightened around the steering wheel as the car grew silent for another few minutes and she spoke again.

"Why are we doing this?" She asked suddenly.

"Are you backing out?" I taunted and heard her teeth grind.

"Of course not" she snapped with more emotion than her work had.

"I'm only curious. It's not every professor who lends a helping hand to someone who insulted him"

A helping hand? I bit back a laugh.

"It's my duty to help you"

"And you help everyone who fails?"

"You're a special case Miss Walker"

She snorted. "If I'm going to refer to you by your first name, then you should do the same"

"Okay....Julia" I said as I stared at her and her breath hitched. Julia turned away faster than I liked, keeping her eyes ahead.

"About your earlier question, I see room for improvement in your work. If you're going to be an author as you wish..."

"How do you know that?" She asked with barely contained panic in her voice.

I kept my tone and expression neutral. "Isn't that what every student in the department aims for?" Her shoulders visibly relaxed after my question.

"You write for the sake of writing Julia. Your readers need to feel something other than staring at pretty words and flowery sentences that mean nothing to them. That's what distinguishes a good author from the rest"

"And I'll do so from experience?"

"I sense a lot of doubt in your words Julia. You don't think that's possible?" She held my gaze for a second and then I returned my attention to the road ahead.

"If you don't, you just have to say the word and I'll turn around and take you back to your dorm and we'll never speak about it again" I said evenly.

I was giving her a chance to back out. Just one word and she'll be back at her dorm faster than she could blink.

But both of us knew the truth. She wouldn't take it. Because this has somehow turned into a challenge neither of us wanted to lose.

Only I wasn't challenging her.

I was playing her into a trap I'd already set.