4

JULIA

I 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 to stand beside me.

"This is my guest tonight Nigel"

"Good evening m'lady" Nigel greeted politely, his smile warm as he stared at me.

"Will you be dining together or..."

"No" Professor Bancroft cut him off sharply.

"We'll be uninterrupted during her visit" Nigel nodded once, no question asked.

"This way Julia" I didn't miss the way he stretched out my name, his accent thicker in a way I'd never noticed before.

"Right.." I breathed out and turned towards the house. Professor Bancroft slipped beside me, his palm sitting on the small of my back as he guided me up the stairs.

It was only a small touch...a courteous gesture yet the warmth stepped through the material of my dress. I forced my legs to move when they tried to stop, keeping a composed posture instead of letting my confusion disrupt me.

The doorman opened the door into a foyer. Professor Bancroft stepped away, taking his warmth with him and I watched him pull off his coat. I looked away as he hung it on the coat rack and I stared ahead into the sitting room.

The view from here was nothing like I imagined. I expected his home to be as cold and empty as his office but it had a lively feeling...and colour. Like someone had put a lot of thought into actually making it a home instead of a living space.

"Julia" his palm landed on the small of my back again and I tensed in surprise.

Professor Bancroft said nothing as he steered me towards the grand staircase that curved elegantly into the second floor.

We walked up the stairs, the silence making my heart pound faster than it should have. Maybe Professor Bancroft could hear it but he said nothing and walked us steadily.

The second floor had a different feel from what I'd seen downstairs. It carried the perfect representation of Professor Bancroft. Cold, empty.

And for a moment, it felt like someone different lived downstairs.

He led me down another hallway and into an open office, much bigger than the entire faculty office. I stared in amazement at the tall shelves lined with books. Color graded from what I could see. He had taken great care and time to make that possible.

The rest of the office was neat. A leather couch sat behind a carved center table, two armchairs sat by the window on the left hand and his mahogany desk taking up more of the room sat on the other end.

And just like his office, it was empty.

"Wine?" His voice came from behind me. Close enough that I could almost feel the brush of his clothes against me.

I turned around swiftly and nodded.

I watched Professor Bancroft step back and grab a bottle. I watched the pale yellow wine fill the glass and my eyes followed him until he walked over and handed it to me.

My lips brushed the edge of the wine glass and I took a whiff first and then a small sip. Only when I pulled away did I notice that Professor Bancroft had been watching me closely, a dark look on his face.

"How does it taste?" He asked quietly and I shrugged.

"Sweet. Easy to drink?" I mumbled, trying to find a perfect description for how it tasted. he nodded and took a drink.

"Satisfying isn't it?" I shrugged again. I hardly knew anything about wines. They tasted the same to me.

"I guess?"

"How much do you think it costs" he asked suddenly.

"$40?"

He didn't respond immediately, taking another sip.

"It's a 2001 Château d'Yquem. Valued around $1800" my eyes damn nearly popped out of their sockets and I almost spat it out but I stopped myself.

Was I drinking an $1800 bottle?

I shifted uneasily on the sofa, suddenly feeling queasy at the thought of what I could do with that money instead of it wasting away in my stomach.

"I've had it for a while and this is my first time tasting it" he continued and I almost lost my composure. It wasn't any better.

"Imagine after spending that much only to discover it tastes like water"

I growled softly. I would throw fists with whoever sold the damn bottle to me but that could never be me because I'd never buy something so ridiculously expensive.

"That's what your manuscript is like" he added and my eyes popped this time.

"What?" My voice grew loud with anger from his insult.

"A great collection"

He mumbled, disregarding my enraged state.

"Entirely forgettable"

"I beg your pardon Professor Bancroft" I rose to my feet, setting the glass down and being so careful it didn't spill.

I wasn't about to waste a drop of an $1800 wine.

"Edmund" he corrected and I got even more enraged.

"I didn't come here to be insulted, Professor," I gritted out.

"Right. You came here to learn. How to make your work something other than a polished shell with nothing beneath it" My fist tightened and I ground my jaw harder.

"And you've chosen to insult me over helping as you offered. Maybe you have no help to offer and you only needed company in your home that's actually a polished shell with nothing in it"

The words left in an angry breath. I didn't feel regret immediately.

Professor Bancroft's gaze darkened but he gave off no other reaction.

I swallowed through the dryness in my throat, and then he spoke.

"What do you imagine when you write?"