An Uncanny Encounter

Chapter Two

An Uncanny Encounter 

Lucian had never met a more insolent creature. 

To think the board was just going to let the impertinent thing have his way was even more infuriating. 

So when Artemis pulled Shawn again, Lucian took out his phone and began recording. He made sure to include every single person present in the room in the video. 

“What the hell are you doing?” The Chairman gasped. “Put that away!” 

“No, I won't. Since you won't do the right thing, I will take matters into my own hands. If he is not suspended as duly stated in the handbook then I will post this video and let the public do the punishing,” Lucian stated. 

The situation was no longer amusing to Artemis. Sure, the professor had fire, which was cute, but meddling in his business was plain annoying. 

“Now you're really getting on my nerves,” Artemis's tone darkened as he shoved Shawn away. The boy hit the wall and let out a groan.

Lucian made sure it was captured on camera as well. Artemis ran his fingers through his hair, a signature move when things were about to spiral out of proportion. But before he could make a move, the chairman stepped in front of him. 

“Artemis, calm down, please, we can sort this out,” The chairman pleaded, and Lucian huffed. The situation was so ironic. “Professor Lucian put that away and delete that video immediately!” 

“You'll have to do better. If you want the video deleted, you must punish him for bullying his fellow student. Anything other than that is unacceptable,” Lucian plainly stated.

“Fine,” Artemis' grey eyes locked with Lucian's oceanic ones. “You're fired.” 

Lucian, halfway through adjusting the sleeves of his wrinkled shirt, didn’t even look up. “I’m not taking orders from an overgrown toddler throwing tantrums.”

That silenced the room.

Artemis' fists clenched as he glared at Lucian, who stood there, unbothered by his rage. Artemis took a step forward, and every other person shrank away. 

“What was that you said, Professor?” Artemis' tone was deadly. There was no glint of amusement in his eyes or face now. Just agitation. 

“Was it too difficult for you to comprehend?” Lucian asked calmly, and the Chairman immediately took out his phone and dialed the only person who could stop Artemis from committing murder right now. 

Artemis was on the verge of losing control when he suddenly heard, “Mr McAlester, yes, it's me, Chairman of the disciplinary board.”

Artemis immediately calmed down, a victorious smile settling on his face. Now that his father was involved, he was more than certain that Lucian was going to get fired. So he let the Chairman do the explaining. 

“...he is threatening to post the video if we do not suspend Artemis,” the Chairman explained and the board members were already throwing pitiful glances at Lucian. 

Today was just his first day and he was about to be fired. 

“What?!” The chairman gasped suddenly, glancing at Artemis. “We… we should… suspend him?” 

Eyes widened. Jaws dropped. It was simply unbelievable. The founder actually wanted his son to be suspended? Artemis was too stunned to immediately react but when he regained himself, he snatched the phone from the chairman to talk to his father. 

“Father…”

“You will accept your punishment without any fuss, Artemis,” Trevor's authoritative voice left no room for questioning but Artemis just couldn't bring himself to accept it. 

His father has never done this before. So why now?

“But..” Artemis tried to argue but the man cut him short. 

“No buts! Now hand the phone back to the chairman,” he instructed, and Artemis reluctantly obeyed.

When his eyes met Lucian again, he could almost see the ghost smirk on Lucian's face. His fists clenched hard.

Damn it!

“Smile all you want but you're going to pay for this, I promise you,” Artemis growled before storming out of the room in anger. 

He knew the redhead was trouble right from the start, now, he just hated the bastard. Whatever interest he had earlier had long vanished, now, he just wanted to make Lucian suffer. 

As soon as the door shut behind them, everyone let out a breath of relief. Shawn collapsed on the floor with tears of joy rolling from his eyes. 

Lucian walked over to him to help him up. “You need to go to the infirmary.”

“Thank you so much, professor,” His eyes watered as he broke into an uncontrollable sob. “I thought…. I thought I was going to die… thank you…”

Seeing the boy so vulnerable and weak was so heart-wrenching. The situation was almost too familiar. Lucian shut his eyes tightly, trying to force the memories away. 

“That was very reckless, Mr Meyers!” The Chairman scolded. “You could have lost your job!”

Lucian straightened up and bowed in apology. “I'm sorry but I just couldn't sit back and watch a bully go unpunished. There are jobs everywhere but there is only one life.” 

“You're just being cocky because you're the best in your field,” the chairman said and Lucian smiled. “Either way, I am truly impressed by what you did. Thank you.” 

“Come, I'll take you to the infirmary,” Lucian offered. He had only one class to handle for the day but he had spent that time fighting the disciplinary committee.

He took Shawn to the infirmary and spent the rest of the day by his side, ensuring he was okay and Artemis didn't come back later to bully him. 

**********

9 PM: Vienttys Club

Artemis was seated in the VIP section of the club with strippers at every corner trying to steal his attention. He paid no mind to them as he took shot after shot, cursing under his breath.

The only thing on his mind was the infuriating red-haired professor. Even when a student committed suicide and wrote a suicide note to him, the board did nothing but just because of a few writings, he was going to stay off school for two weeks. 

Two fucking weeks! What was he supposed to do with all that time?

He lit a cigarette while the girls popped some pills. He was already feeling lightheaded and three hours later, he was drunk out of his mind. 

He staggered upstairs, strippers on each arm. The plan was to get laid and forget he had a professor to crush. But only for a few hours, of course. He was going to devise his revenge plan when his head was cleared.

There was a long line of private rooms on the second floor of the club. These rooms were only available to VIP members.

Artemis staggered to one and pushed it open. His hazy mind was way too tired to confirm the number. The door was slightly open, so he didn't have to run his key card. He just pushed it open and walked in with the women.

The room was dim with red lights and soft music. Perfect for sensual play. But there was already someone in the room. 

A silhouette on the couch, holding a glass of wine. Artemis couldn't make out who it was but he wanted the intruder to get out of his room. 

“Who the fuck are you?” he growled. “What are you doing in my room?” 

The figure simply took a sip of his drink. “You are the one in the wrong room.”

There was something familiar about that voice but at that point, Artemis couldn't tell why or who the voice belonged to. 

“Get lost or I will have to throw you out myself!” Artemis slurred, impatiently. “It's rude to keep the ladies waiting.” 

“I can't deal with this twice in a row,” Artemis heard the stranger mutter. “If you want to stay, fine, but you're going to send away everyone else.” 

“Why?” Artemis' tone went from agitated to flirty. “You want me to fuck you instead?”

The stranger cursed under his breath and got off the couch.

“For God's sake…” he pulled Artemis by the collar and shoved him on the couch. “Get out, all of you.” 

The strippers scurried out of the room following the harsh command and Artemis chuckled. 

“What's so funny?” He frowned, glaring at the boy, whose messy curly hair had fallen all over his face, leaving his lips as the only thing in view. 

“That was so hot.”