Chapter 2

Scarlet Winters

My first stop today was the library tutoring center, i am getting paid to be tutoring students with problems in some courses, that also helps my academic grades, the moment I stepped into the university’s tutoring center, the buzz of whispers slammed into my ears.

Everyone's attention was already on me....did I become popular overnight?

“She is the one.” one student whispered as I walked past her.

“Yeah, the girl who ruined Axel Wolfe’s jersey.” another whispered.

“She must have a death wish.”

I ignored them and walked with my head high, biting down the urge to scream, I really did turn popular overnight, I knew something like this would happen when kayla told me who he was, but still I didn’t regret what I did.....not one bit, he was a jerk anyway, he is arrogant and thinks he can control everyone.

According to isla one of his jersey's is kept in the sport locker room, where his fans worship it and pray to be like him.

But just because he is a hockey champion and he looked like a walking god that doesn't mean I owed him an apology.

Besides, it wasn’t like I set his jersey on fire.

Okay, maybe I did pour ice latte all over it in front of his entire fans and team mates, but still even I lost my latte.... And it was also expensive.

And he didn't even apologize for that, so why will I apologize to him, it was accidental anyway.

If he was a gentleman he would have understood that.

I stopped at the coordinator desk waiting for her to tell me who I was assigned to tutor today.

"Scarlet winters." She called.

I stepped forward with a smile "that's me."

"You will be mentoring someone on sports psychology today."

I smiled....until she added, “Axel Wolfe.”

I nearly choked on air.

“Excuse me?” I asked, hoping I had misheard her.

“you will be mentoring Axel Wolfe, the Ice hockey team captain, he is one of our star athletes. You have been recommended by your psych professor. He said you would be... perfect for the challenge.”

The challenge? That was putting it mildly.

I wasn’t expecting the university to assign me as his tutor, I was hoping after what happened yesterday I will never see him again.... I thought i just had to bear the glares and whispers till everyone forgot about it.

But now here I was, walking into the tutoring room, mentally preparing myself to face the devil himself.

I didn’t have to look far to spot him.

He was lounging on the chair like he owned the place, his long legs spread, he was wearing a hockey jacket that was pushed up to his elbows, his hair still damp, probably from practice.

Suddenly his eyes gray like a storm about to break locked onto me, A smirk slowly tugged at his mouth. “Well, well well… if it isn’t the latte assassin herself.”

I gritted my teeth. “If you keep talking, I might just spill something stronger next time.”

He leaned forward, his arms resting on his knees, his eyes scanning me “You sure you are qualified for this? I thought tutors were supposed to be professional, not petty.”

“You mean like how professional you were yesterday showing off your jersey yesterday with girls throwing themselves at you?” I said showing how disgusted I was.

His grin widened.“oh now.. Were you jealous?”

God.....He was infuriating, I thought saying that will get him angry and get him to shut up.

I slammed my textbook on the table and slid into the chair opposite him. “Let’s get one thing straight, I’m not here because I want to be...I’m here because I was assigned to help you pass. So how about you shut up and listen for once?”

His brows lifted, clearly amused. “Feisty....I like that.”

I ignored the heat rising to my cheeks and flipped open the textbook. “We are starting with performance anxiety.”

He snorted “I don’t have anxiety.”

“Really? Because it sounds like you are overcompensating.”

He leaned closer across the table, this time his eyes gleaming with something I couldn't understand. “Careful, Scarlet. Keep poking and you might find out what I really overcompensate for.”

I blinked, was he seriously flirting with me? And how the fuck does he knows my name?

“I’m not one of your puck bunnies, Axel Wolfe.”

He smirked, “You sure? Because you are blushing.”

“From secondhand embarrassment,” I shot back.

His gaze lingered a second too long, and then he leaned back again, folding his arms. “Fine. Hit me with your best tutoring magic. Let’s see if the Ice queen is as good as she claims to be.”

I stared at him, hating myself for being here “You really think so highly of yourself?”

“Oh, sweetheart,” he said, his voice dropping low, “I do.”

The entire session was torture...two hours of Axel tossing snide remarks, trying to get under my skin, and me pretending he didn’t affect me at all.

But he did.

Because beneath all that cockiness and flirtation, he was sharp, and smart, he actually listened when I explained cognitive focus techniques, he even asked a few questions.. And even when he mocked me, there was a strange kind of respect in the sarcasm.

I thought after what happened yesterday he would be planning a way to ruin my life, so why is he acting like he has forgotten what I did? And even flirting with me?

After the session, I packed up quickly, eager to leave..“We will meet twice a week. Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

Axel stood, towering over me. “Looking forward to it, tutor girl.”

I rolled my eyes and tried to walk past him. But just as I brushed his shoulder, he whispered near my ear, “You ruined my favorite jersey. I’m still deciding how to make you pay.”

I stiffened“Is that a threat?”

“It’s a promise.”

I turned to face him, my chin lifted. “Bring it on, ice boy.”

His smile turned wicked “Trust me..You have no idea what you just asked for.”

I knew it, he is planning something, maybe that's why he even got me as tutor

this was going to be war and I wasn’t about to surrender or lose.