04

Sophia’s POV

I groaned and dragged myself out of bed.

The bathroom was bigger than my entire bedroom back home with marble countertops, a shower with like ten different settings.

Towels so fluffy they felt like clouds.

I stood under the hot water for a long time, letting it wash over me. Trying to wash away the memories, shame and confusion but who was I kidding?

Those damn orbs!

I got dressed into something comfortable, Jeans that actually fit, a cute top with light makeup. I even curled my hair, hoping that if I looked put together, I'd feel put together.

I didn't.

But I looked good at least that was something.

I found Diana in the kitchen sipping coffee and scrolling through her phone.

"Good morning sweetheart!" She looked up and beamed at me. "You look beautiful ready for your first day?"

I nodded not trusting my voice.

"I have a car waiting for you outside. The driver knows where to take you." She stood up and kissed my cheek. "Have a wonderful day darling."

I forced a smile and walked out the door.

The car ride to Westbridge University was short ten minutes or maybe fifteen.

I spent the whole time staring out the window, my stomach in knots.

The campus was beautiful.

Old brick buildings covered in ivy, green lawns with students lounging on blankets. A fountain in the middle of the quad and trees with leaves just starting to change color.

It looked like something out of a movie.

I stood at the edge of the quad clutching my schedule feeling completely lost.

"Hey! You okay?"

I turned around.

A guy was walking toward me, tall with messy brown hair and blue eyes wearing a smile that looked genuine.

"Sorry," he said stopping in front of me. "You just looked a little lost. First day?"

"Yeah." I laughed nervously. "Is it that obvious?"

"Just a little." He grinned. "I'm Ryan. I'm a sophomore here I know my way around if you need help finding anything."

"Sophia," I said. "And yeah I could use some help. I can't make heads or tails of this campus map."

He laughed and took my schedule.

"Business Strategy 301 huh? That's one of the tough ones. Professor Sinclair's class."

My heart stopped.

Hmm…Sinclair.

"Professor Sinclair?" I repeated my voice coming out strange.

"Yeah. He's intense, kinda scary actually but he’s good at what he does." Ryan shrugged. "I'll walk you there if you want."

I nodded not trusting myself to speak.

Ryan walked me across campus talking the whole way.

He was easy to talk to, laid back and friendly. The kind of guy who made you feel comfortable right away.

"So where are you from?" he asked.

"Just outside the city live with my dad."

"You live on campus?"

"No." I shook my head. "I'm living with my mom she lives nearby."

He nodded. "That's cool. Family's important."

I almost laughed at that.

Family was important but my family was a mess.

"I'm in the dorms," he said. "It's not bad. Roommate's a little weird but hey that's college."

We reached the building with mordern glass and steel, big windows and a sign that said "School of Business" above the entrance.

"This is it," Ryan said. "Business building.

Room 301. You're on your own from here."

"Thanks Ryan."

"No problem." He smiled. "Hey maybe we can grab lunch later? I can show you around some more."

"Sure," I said. "That sounds nice."

"Great I'll text you." He pulled out his phone. "What's your number?"

I gave it to him and watched him walk away.

I smiled to myself and walked inside.

The classroom was already half full.

I found a seat near the middle not too close to the front and not too far in the back just right.

Students filtered in around me.

Chattering.

Laughing.

Looking nervous and excited and everything I wasn't.

I pulled out my notebook and pen trying to look like I belonged here.

The clock ticked closer to nine.

The door opened suddenly making the room go silent .

A man walked in.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered wearing a dark suit with a crisp white shirt underneath. His hair was slicked back.

Salt and pepper.

His eyes swept the room dark and instead.

My blood turned to ice.

No.

No, no, no.

It couldn't be.

But it was.

The stranger from the club.

The man I'd slept with.

He was standing at the front of the classroom, looking at all of us, and I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.

He placed his briefcase on the desk turning to face the class.

"Good morning," he said with his voice was deep and measured. "My name is Professor Thorne Sinclair I'll be teaching Business Strategy this semester."

Professor Sinclair.

Professor.

Sinclair.

I couldn't breathe.

My vision tunneled the whole room spun around me making me grip the edge of my desk, trying to stay upright.

He was talking something about course requirements, office hours and grading policies.

I couldn't hear a single word.

All I could see was his face.

All I could remember was his hands on my body. His lips on my neck and his voice whispering in my ear.

"You're so fucking wet."

"You taste like sin."

I closed my eyes willing myself to disappear.

When I opened them again, he was looking at me. His eyes met mine across the room and for a split second, I saw it.

Recognition.

Then it was gone his face was a mask, calm, controlled and professional.

Like he'd never seen me before.

Like I was just another student.

My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest.

This was a nightmare, I mean it had to be a nightmare.

But it wasn't.

It was real.

And it was just the beginning.