Chapter 3

Charlotte’s pov

The weekend was more terrible than I had thought. Lucas did not even have the decency to look me in the eye when he came to collect the rest of his belongings from our apartment. He packed his bags and moved straight into Sophie’s place without remorse, which only made me feel more terrible.

It felt like I was wrong and he was expecting me to apologize to them. Crazy, isn't it?

By Monday morning, it was time for class so I urged myself to be strong. As I walked onto campus, I gripped my bag hard, with my eyes fixed on the floor.

My mind kept drifting back to my night with the stranger and even though I told myself to be ashamed of my actions, my body still ached from his touch.

I hurried into the Creative Arts building and slipped into a seat in the middle row. Last week, we had been informed of a new professor who was supposed to come today and as other students filled the seats, I pulled out my textbook and began to get busy, hoping to escape from my thoughts.

By nine AM, the door opened.

A tall figure stepped into the room, and knowing it is the new professor, I looked up with hopeful eyes but the sight in front of me made my breath hitch in my throat.

It was him.

Zade walked into the hall and stood in front of the class, looking as confident and commanding exactly like I remembered. The suit he wore today was crisp and flawless, while stretching against his wide chest. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his sharp, calculating eyes swept over the students with authority.

The girls sitting in the rows around me began to whisper excitedly, clearly happy with the sight in front of them but the world had gone completely quiet for me. As my mind raced back to our wild night together, my heart hammered hard against my ribs and I began to gasp for air.

My one-night stand is my professor.

Zade slowly scanned the rows of students until his eyes landed on me. I froze under his gaze, with my skin instantly flushing with a heat that had nothing to do with the weather. For a split second, I expected a flicker of recognition, a smirk, or even a sign of shock.

Instead, his eyes turned even colder than they already were. He looked right through me, with his expression hardening and then, he looked away like I wasn’t relevant at all. Or did he not recognize me?

"Good morning," he said loudly in a deep voice that sent shivers down my spine. "I am Professor Stone and for the next semester, I will be your new professor.”

After his brief introduction, he began to teach but it seemed as though no words were coming out of his mouth as the only thing I could hear was my heart pounding loudly in my chest as I relived that night, over and over again.

The same night I had regretted and told myself to forget was playing out once again, in front of me. For the rest of the lecture, he didn’t meet my eyes and I had a hard time wondering if it was a good sign or bad.

The moment the final bell rang, I shoved my books into my bag and practically bolted from the room because I needed air and I needed to get as far away from Professor Zade as possible.

As I hurried down the hallway, a hand suddenly grabbed my upper arm, spinning me around. I pulled to a stop immediately and looked up.

"Charlotte, wait up," Lucas said, with his grip tightening as he pulled me into an empty classroom.

I stiffened immediately.

"Let go of me, Lucas," I hissed, wrenching my arm out of his grasp as the mere sight of him made bitterness fill me.

"Look, we need to talk," he said, stepping closer and blocking my path. He had the nerve to look frustrated, like I was the one making a big deal out of him cheating on me. "About Saturday... you're overreacting. Sophie and I were just a mistake and I assure you that it didn't mean anything. You're still my girl, Char but you disrespected us by invading our privacy. If you're humble enough to apologize to Sophie and me, I am willing to come back."

I didn’t know if I should laugh at his words or snap at him. It took me a moment to react as I hoped it was some kind of joke but when he kept looking expectantly at me, I realized he was serious.

"Are you insane?" I stared at him in utter disbelief, with my anger boiling over. "You cheated on me, moved into her apartment and now you want an apology? Get away from me!"

"Don't raise your voice at me," Lucas snapped, with his nose flaring as he reached for my wrist again. "You don't just walk away from a three years relationship because of one slip up."

I tried to move around him but he grabbed my wrist hard, making me wince.

“Let me go Lucas, you're hurting me,” I said, as pain exploded in my arm but he only tightened his grip.

“I am not letting go until—"

"I believe the lady told you to let her go."

We both froze and looked at the entrance where the voice had come from, and when I saw who it was, my eyes widened.

Professor Stone stepped deeper into the classroom, as he glared down at Lucas.

"This university does not tolerate harassment of any form," Zade stated, with his voice dangerously low. "Let her go and get out, now."

Lucas opened his mouth to argue, but one look at the intimidating man, he clamped his mouth shut. He glared at me, while muttering a curse under his breath, before releasing me and walking off.

Relief washed over me, leaving my knees shaking. Wasting no time, I turned toward my savior, with my heart thumping wildly against my ribs.

"Thank you," I breathed, looking up into his dark eyes. "Professor... Zade, I—"

The words died on my lips as Zade stared coldly at me, without a single hint of recognition. There was no trace of the man that made me beg and moan all night. This man in front of me was cold and scary.

"You're just a student in my class, Charlotte," he said, in a cold tone. "Act like it."