7

Jennie's POV

One week later.

I gave in to Oliver's pleading.

I know I shouldn't have, but I did. I really don't believe I have a choice and I can't possibly disappoint my family or his. It's painful to admit it, but my future comes before my feelings.

“Good morning, baby,” Oliver says softly as he presses a kiss to my cheek and I give him a stiff smile. It's been one full week since our reconciliation and I've never felt more caged in my entire life.

“Hey.” I respond to him, turning my body around to pour him a mug of coffee and he kisses me again on the back of my neck.

Oliver has been doing everything possible to make up for what he did wrong. He has been kissing me gently, taking me on dates, and being extra sweet. The only issue is that while he's doing all that, I keep picturing myself being fucked into the ruined bedsheets of an exclusive room in a loud club.

“Hey…I wasn't going to mention it, but you've been acting a bit stiff with me lately,” he says as he slides his hands down my sides, and I don't mean to, but I freeze up at his touch.

“I'm sorry, I've just been thinking a lot about classes and stuff.” I lie and Oliver makes me turn around to look at him. I meet his searching gaze for a few seconds and redirect my gaze to the counter.

The truth is I don't want him touching me while my brain is still replaying the feeling of that strange man from the hotel.

“Are you this way because of the mistake?“ he asks in a guilt tripping voice and I shake my head. “Of course not,” I say and put some distance between us. I'm looking at everything but him.

“Do you want to see a therapist about it?“ he asks as he follows my movements and I laugh, giving him a practiced smile to ease his worry.

I can't have him talking about it anymore, because no matter what, I'll still be by his side. Our families arranged this relationship for the benefits of both sides and since it has been in motion for six years, I can't ruin it. No one will care that I got cheated on.

I cup his cheeks between my palms and meet his eyes.

“Don't worry about it. I promise it's not about the mistake or anything. I'm just overwhelmed by a lot of things,” I say and his eyes search my face for a few seconds before speaking again. “Is it about your dad's sickness?“ he asks and I wince.

“Let's not talk about that too.” I whisper and he nods.

“I'll go get the car ready. I love you, okay?“ he says, leaning in to press a kiss to my lips, but as I've been doing these days, I turn my head away to make him kiss me on the cheek instead.

The moment he leaves the room, I head for the bathroom to wash up and prepare for our first day in college.

My parents, Julie and Collins Blake, are depending on me to make sure our family stays afloat. Oliver's family, the Rosses, are also depending on me to make sure their family business stays afloat.

My dad has been struggling with a chronic illness that has gone undiagnosed for years and we're out of money to keep paying for medications. Somehow, being a former employee at Ross Art, my mom reached out to the Rosses to tell them about my potentials after hearing a well timed gossip.

The Ross family owns the biggest art business but they're getting old and can't manage it forever. Their only son, Oliver, knows nothing about Art and he has no interest in business. The need to make sure someone to continue their legacy made them come to an agreement with my mom.

They agreed to help us if I make sure I end up with Oliver. All I have to do is make sure I earn my degree and marry their son, if I do that, I'll become the C.EO. of the company.

Oliver will carry the name and image. I will carry their heirs, the artistic side, and the underground paperwork. I keep their family business blossoming, they pay for my family's needs.

It didn't seem like a bad idea until recently…until I had the best night of my life with the man I'll never see again.

I groan and zip up my jean skirt.

“Focus, Jen. Your future depends on this,” I say to myself, tossing my long brown hair over my shoulder and staring at myself in the mirror.

I look pretty but sad.

“You'll never see him again anyway,” I mutter to my reflection and let out a heavy breath.

It's time to focus on getting that degree for the Rosses. They're the ones paying my fees anyways. My entire life is in their hands. I pick up my cross bag and leave the apartment to join my boyfriend in the car.

I find Oliver resting in the driver's seat with one hand typing on his phone. He has been texting a lot lately, but since he swears loyalty, I haven't bothered myself with checking who he's talking with.

“I'm ready.” I announce and slide into the passenger seat.

“You look great,” he says after throwing a glance at me and I give him a tight-lipped smile.

I dressed like this on purpose. A black top that shows a good amount of my cleavage and a skirt that's short enough to attract the right kind of attention. My intention is to keep his eyes on me, but I guess it isn't enough.

Oliver drives us to the university and we go our separate ways.

I make my way to my first class and pick a secluded seat at the front. The nerd in me wants to be seated in the best place to learn. I pull out my learning materials and arrange them on the desk.

Looking around shyly, I tuck a loose strand of my hair behind my ear and puff my cheeks to soothe my anxiety.

“You've got this.” I whisper and then the door opens.

Students start to pour in pairs, in trios, and some of them walk in alone. One girl with dirty blonde hair slides into the seat next to me. She offers me a shy smile and I return it with a wave.

“Anna,” she whispers.

“Jennie.“

“Nice to meet you,” she says and just before I open my mouth to give her a pleasant response, I hear a voice that makes me freeze.

Deep, rough, and familiar.

“Alright students. Settle in. I'm Adrian Moreau and I'll be taking you on…”

The alarm bell in my head overshadows his voice as my head snaps up. My eyes find his face and even though he's not looking at me, my breath catches in my throat.

It's him.

It's the man from the club.

The man who fucked me within the inch of my life and showed me heaven…is my professor.