CHAPTER TWO

Ava Sterling stared at the paper in her hands like it had personally insulted her.

"C+"

Written in red ink, underlined twice — as if he wanted to rub it in.

Her heart dropped.

She flipped through the pages again, eyes scanning the margins, searching for harsh notes or critical feedback — but there was barely any. Just that one, clipped comment at the top:

“Surface-level analysis. Expected more.” — Dr. W. Reid

Her jaw clenched.

She had expected more too. Her work was good — thoughtful, well-structured, insightful. She’d spent hours crafting that essay. There was no way in hell it deserved a C. Unless...

Unless this wasn’t about the work at all.

This must be about: The slap. The stare-down. The refusal to apologize. The flirtation.  

The fact that she she showed no fear in his office and had walked away with her chin up.

Petty bastard.

Handsome, but very petty.

Her stomach churned as she checked the grading weight for that assignment: 25% of the final grade.

This could cost her her scholarship.  

Her graduation. Her entire future.

Ava took a breath.

She didn’t want to go back into that office. Not after the heat that had passed between them last time. Not after the challenge in her voice — the one that said, "I dare you."

But pride wouldn’t keep her in school. She needed to be smart.  

Just this once… she needed to play the game differently.

----

By the time she knocked on his office door again, her anger had simmered down into something sharper — a mix of fear and strategy.

If there's anything she had learnt from her relationship with Louis, is that all men, whether married or not, couldn't resist a challenge that has to do with a woman's body.

So she had intentionally worn a tight dress, revealing a bit of her cleavage. She had plans to distract and earn Dr. Reid's attention.

And maybe just maybe, he might regrade her paper.

He opened the door himself this time, looking every bit the villain in a white dress shirt and no tie, sleeves rolled up again like he had just come from tormenting another student.

His expression didn’t shift. Even with her cleavage exposed for him to see.

“Miss Sterling,” he said, voice unreadable. “You’re becoming a regular visitor.”

She clutched the graded essay in her hand, her fingers crumpling the edge.

“I’d like to discuss my grade, sir.”

Sir.

It slipped out before she could stop it. She never used that word.  But something about the way his brow lifted told her he liked it.

“Come in.”

She stepped inside, quieter this time. No bold eye-rolls, no fire in her tone. Just careful control. She sat without being told.

He leaned back in his chair, studying her like a puzzle he already knew how to solve.

“You disagree with my evaluation?”

She met his gaze. “I think the grade was… unexpectedly low.”

“Do you?” he murmured.

Her fingers tightened around the paper.

“I worked hard on that essay. I know it wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t worth a C.”

He said nothing, just held her gaze.

She inhaled slowly. “Please. This paper counts for too much. If I drop below a 3.5, I lose my scholarship. If I fail this class, I can’t graduate with my year.”

He tilted his head. “And you think you’re the only student with something to lose?”

His voice was calm, but underneath it was steel. She felt it — the unspoken: You pushed me. Now I’m pushing back.

A beat of silence.

Then, in a quieter voice:  

“Was this about what happened in your office?”

His mouth curved just slightly — not a smile, but something darker.

“You mean the office where you refused to apologize for doing something wrong?” he asked.

Her throat tightened.

Ava looked down, then slowly up again. “I’m sorry.”

The words tasted foreign.

"And now you apologize?" he scoffs, a wicked grin at the corner of his lips.

"I sincerely am. I don't know what came over me."

"Where? At the office or at the club?" he asked, the grin still on his face.

"Both. Please do forgive me." She pleaded, swallowing her pride.

His eyes narrowed. Not because he didn’t believe her — but because he did. And that made it worse.

“That’s a start,” he said softly.  

Then, after a pause, “Come back Friday. Same time. We’ll go over the essay together.”

She blinked.

“So… you’ll regrade it?”

He didn’t answer. Just watched her with that cool, unreadable stare.

“We’ll see.” He eyes finally landed on her cleavage.

Jackpot!

And for a moment — just a moment — she felt something stir between them again. Not just attraction, but also temptation.

And above all, Control.

And the slow, dangerous way he was starting to enjoy having it over her.

As she stood to leave, he added casually:

“Oh, and Miss Sterling?”

She turned at the door.

“Wear something less… distracting next time.”

Ava’s breath caught — and for the second time that week, she walked out of Dr. Reid’s office with her heart pounding and her pride bleeding.

But this time, she wasn’t sure who was winning anymore.

And all she could think about was being in his office again.