The Billionaire Professor's Captive

MeredithThe second I stepped onto Sonydale’s campus, I felt it. Freedom.I could sense it in the chatter of students lounging on the grass, in the music blasting from someone’s Bluetooth speaker, in the couples tangled together on benches like no one was watching.Nobody was watching.Not me, at least. No overbearing parents. No one deciding where I could go, what I could do. I was finally on my own.I clutched the strap of my backpack, breathing in the crisp warm air as I stood in the middle of campus. A mix of excitement and panic churned in my stomach. This is it. I made it.I looked around, trying to take everything in. The massive library with its glass walls. The student centre with its café. The dorm buildings lined up like little brick kingdoms.People walked past me, moving in groups, talking, laughing. Like they’d been doing this forever. Like they belonged.And then there was me.Alone.My stomach tightened. I’d imagined this moment so many times, had pictured myself stepp

MeredithThe moment class ended, I bolted out the door. I didn’t care where I was going, I just needed to breathe.Because what the hell was that?One night ago, I was sitting next to that man in a bar, talking about hacking and security systems, feeling things I had never felt before.And now? Now he was my professor. And acting like he’d never seen me in his life.I didn’t know whether to be relieved or offended.I exhaled sharply, pushing through the crowded hallway. Then I heard two girls talking about him as they walked before me. I slowed my walk."I heard he used to be some teenage billionaire genius," a voice said.I paused."No way. Professor Sherwood?" another girl asked."Yeah. He was some kind of prodigy. His family owned a cybersecurity company or something, and he took over when he was, like, thirteen."My stomach tightened.They were talking about him."God, no wonder he’s such a robot," the first girl scoffed. "Probably spent his entire life behind a screen. Makes sens

EarlThe evening breeze settled on my skin as I sat on a reclining chair in the balcony, watching the sun set with a glass of my finest whiskey in hand. My eyes took in the beauty of a dark grey sky sprinkled with whites and clothed in an orange hue. The distant honking, the chatter of passersby, and the crazy yelling of drivers all added to the allure of living in the middle of the city. This was why I bought this house. For the view and to help work on my plan. Ah, yes. The big plan. The one I'd been working on since I turned twenty-five and found out who my family's killers were. I took a long sip, the liquid burning the back of my throat and offering something other than the lingering pain of the past. I could still hear it. The screams, the sizzling of flesh and bodies thudding as they fell to the ground. I had been waiting twelve years. Twelve years since I found out the truth. Since I learned the names of the men responsible for the massacre that wiped out my family. Since I

MeredithIt was supposed to be a quiet weekend for me. A Saturday to visit the school library and maybe get some groceries. That was before I got a message from the school board. "Why is the board sending me a message?" I asked out loud.Skye turned around, a cup of ice cream in hand and a confused look lacing her face. "The board? What did they say?"I turned over the phone to her so she could see. My heart was beating fast but I tried to hold my hands steady. If the board was asking to see me, why would it be today of all days? Was it because they saw me with Professor Earl the evening before? Had they seen me flirting with him at the club? Did something happen with my application? I knew it. I knew the fast acceptance was a glitch and I'd been stupid enough to think I was good enough for Sonnydale to give me admission in less than an hour. "You should go." Skye said after a few moments of silence. "Go find out what it is before you die trying to think about it."I went back insi

EarlThe silk of my dress shirt slid smoothly over my skin as I buttoned it up, my movements intentional. The mirror reflected back a man who had long since mastered control of his emotions, of his reactions, of the world around him. But tonight, that control would be tested.I adjusted my cuffs, rolling my shoulders as the fabric settled into place. The crisp white contrasted sharply against the black vest I fastened over it. My fingers moved expertly, the same way they did when handling a gun, a pen, or the fragile balance between patience and vengeance.Reese Keeler’s birthday. A night of champagne and politics, of carefully chosen words and silly role-plays. But that wasn’t why I was going.I slipped on my watch, pressing a button on the side. A single ring later, the call connected."Everything is in place," Isaac’s voice came through, ready as always. "I’ll be inside before the main guests arrive."I adjusted my collar, staring at my reflection. "The girl.""I’ll confirm tonight