Chapter Four: Not What She Expected

Nadia stumbled back two steps before she managed to catch her balance.

The car window was already gliding down smooth and silent. She froze on the pavement because, out of all the black Bentleys in the city, of course it had to be his.

Caiden barely glanced her way before his attention shifted to Cullen, who was already pushing the passenger door open with the eager energy of someone who had been waiting for exactly this moment.

"Get out," Caiden said flatly.

Cullen stepped onto the pavement and swept his arm toward the open rear door with a theatrical bow. "Miss Verne. My brother would like a word."

Nadia didn't budge. She looked right past Cullen, eyeing the shadowy interior of the car. "About what, exactly?"

"My studies," Cullen replied, flashing the distinct smile of someone who knew he wasn't being convincing but had decided to lean into it anyway.

She let out a slow, controlled breath. Academics. Fine. That was a subject she could actually handle without her pulse doing whatever erratic thing it was currently doing. "If this is about your grades, we can discuss it properly in my office."

"My brother attracts a crowd wherever he goes," Cullen countered smoothly. "There are probably reporters heading this way right now. Somewhere a bit quieter would be better for everyone."

As if the universe were actively trying to prove his point, the principal practically jogged out from the school gates, a wide, practiced smile already plastered across his face.

"Mr. Wolfe! You should have informed us you were visiting today," the principal gasped, adjusting his tie. "We would have prepared a proper welcome for you."

"I was only here for the homeroom session," Caiden said, his voice smooth and dismissive. "I didn't want to disrupt anything."

"Not at all, not at all! You are far too considerate..." The principal’s voice trailed off as he finally noticed Nadia standing two feet away. "Miss Verne!"

"Principal," she acknowledged quietly.

"I'd like to speak with Miss Verne regarding Cullen's academic progress," Caiden intervened.

The principal’s expression instantly shifted into something bordering on pure delight. "Of course. Miss Verne, you're entirely relieved of your afternoon classes. Please take all the time you need to have a thorough discussion with Mr. Wolfe and put together a solid plan to address his concerns."

"But I have a lecture block this afternoon," Nadia protested.

The principal looked briefly pained, giving her the desperate look of a man trying to communicate a warning with his eyes that he couldn't say out loud. "Miss Verne, I will have Miss Gray cover your class. This takes absolute priority."

Cullen raised a smug eyebrow at the older man. "Cheers, old man. We're taking Miss Verne now."

Before Nadia could even formulate a proper argument, Cullen’s hand landed gently but firmly on her shoulder, guiding her toward the open car door. She found herself sitting in the plush leather backseat before she fully realized what was happening. Cullen scrambled into the front passenger side.

"Where to?" Cullen asked the driver.

"I'm hungry," Caiden murmured. His eyes were already closed, his head resting back against the headrest.

The Bentley pulled away from the curb. Nadia sat rigidly, keeping her eyes fixed on the window. Caiden didn't say a word. He didn't even move. He just completely dominated the space beside her, making the wide luxury vehicle feel suffocatingly small without lifting a finger.

Cullen chattered away with the driver about something irrelevant as the city blurred past the glass. Nadia stared straight ahead, silently repeating to herself that this was a strictly professional meeting about a student. Nothing more, nothing less.

The car eventually came to a stop outside an upscale restaurant tucked away behind a discreet facade, where a uniformed doorman was already pulling the door open. Inside, they were led to a secluded private room lined with dark wood and bathed in soft, warm light. Within minutes of sitting down, three plates of perfectly seared medium-well steak arrived, accompanied by a bottle of red wine that was already decanted and breathing on the table.

Cullen had tried to hand her the menu when they first arrived, pointing at the selections with genuine enthusiasm, but she had declined twice. He had clearly gone ahead and ordered for her anyway. Now the plate sat untouched in front of her, while the dark, fragrant wine settled in their glasses.

Nadia abruptly stood up.

"Are you planning to stand through the entire meal, Miss Verne?" Caiden asked, not even looking up as he cut into his steak.

With both of them seated, her standing there like a guard made the room feel incredibly awkward. Swallowing her pride, she sat back down, and a heavy, suffocating silence settled over the table.

She broke it first. "Is there something specific you wanted to discuss about Cullen's studies, Mr. Wolfe?"

The second his name was uttered, Cullen set his wine glass down with immense purpose. "I need to use the restroom."

He vanished out the door before she could even utter a syllable. On his way out, he threw Caiden a backward glance that was far too deliberate to be accidental.

Caiden continued eating with calm, methodical precision. After a moment, he set his knife and fork down, leaning back to look at her directly.

"What is your position on hiring a private tutor for Cullen?"

The question was businesslike and measured. The tight knot in Nadia's shoulders loosened a fraction, and she gave a firm nod. "I think that’s a highly sensible idea."

"Good. So Teacher Verne agrees to take on the role."

Her fork froze halfway to her plate. "When exactly did I agree to that?"

He reached for his glass, taking a slow, calculated sip of the red wine. "What is your answer now, Miss Verne?"

"No," she said firmly. "I don't have the time."

"Two hours a day. That’s all it would require."

"Mr. Wolfe, it isn't about the hours. I genuinely do not have the capacity right now." She forced herself to lock eyes with him, refusing to look away first this time.

He listened to her, and then, with absolute calmness, chose to disregard her words entirely. "I’ll double your current academy rate."

"It is not about the money," she countered, her voice tightening. "Please find someone else."

She meant every single word. Every time she sat across from this man, the hazy, suffocating memory of that hotel room came rushing back, uninvited and sharp. The further away she stayed from Caiden Wolfe, the better—for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with schedules or pay checks.

He swirled the wine in his glass, entirely unhurried. "Perhaps I should raise the matter with your principal instead."

The threat hung in the air, crystal clear. Given the spineless display she had just witnessed at the school gates, the principal would hand her over as a personal tutor without a second thought. The frustration that had been simmering in her chest finally boiled over.

She pushed her chair back, standing up abruptly. "Why does it have to be me? There are hundreds of highly qualified tutors in this city. What is your actual intention here, Mr. Wolfe?"

Something subtle shifted in his expression. It wasn't quite amusement, but it was dangerously close. He looked up at her with the supreme ease of a man who had just heard the exact reaction he anticipated.

"I think you’ve misread the entire situation, Miss Verne," he said, setting his glass down with a soft click. "It is not that I am insisting on you. Someone else is."

The defensive anger drained out of her all at once, leaving her standing there with burning cheeks and no idea what to do with her hands. "Cullen?"

"Yes," Caiden said lazily, as if it should have been obvious from the start.

A wave of intense embarrassment washed over her. She had built up an entire corporate conspiracy in her head based on a completely wrong premise. She had assumed the absolute worst, worked herself into a panic, and the actual answer was just a teenager who happened to like her teaching style.

Slowly, she sank back into her chair, clearing her throat to hide her burning cheeks. "I apologize. I jumped to conclusions."

Caiden said nothing. He picked up his wine glass again, looking at her over the rim with an expression that gave absolutely nothing away.

The door clicked open, and Cullen reappeared in the frame. He took one quick look around, his eyes darting between the two of them with barely concealed amusement.

"So," he said brightly, slipping back into his seat. "Are we all good?"