Chapter 2

In the hallway, Chloe was pacing anxiously. The moment she saw me come out, she grabbed my arm. "Vivian, are you okay?"

I looked at her like I'd lost the will to live. "Chloe, I'm done for. He's making me his research assistant."

Chloe's eyes went wide, her face a picture of disbelief.

"Professor Sinclair transferred from another department. I heard he never takes research assistants. Does he have a thing for you?"

I gave a bitter laugh. "He's not interested in me. He's interested in the baby he thinks I'm carrying."

I told Chloe everything that had just happened in the office, word for word.

The color drained from Chloe's face. "Oh my God. He thinks you're carrying his child? Why didn't you tell him the report was mine?"

I pressed a hand to my forehead. "I tried, but he wouldn't let me finish a single sentence.

"Besides, you know how the guys on the baseball team operate.

"If your ex found out about the pregnancy, he wouldn't take responsibility. He'd have his friends make your life so miserable you'd have to leave school."

Chloe's eyes turned red.

Chloe's scumbag ex was the captain of the baseball team, and his family had friends in city hall and deep pockets around town.

If the truth got out, Chloe wouldn't be able to stay here at all.

"Vivian, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault." Chloe hugged me, guilt written all over her face.

I patted her back and sighed. "Forget it. I'll figure it out as I go. I'll find a chance to explain everything to him eventually."

With no classes that afternoon, I steeled myself and headed to Adrian's office.

He was at his computer, typing away without looking up. "Close the door."

I did as I was told, closing the door behind me, then stopped in front of his desk. "What would you like me to do, Professor?"

He stopped typing and pointed to a small table nearby. "Summarize these papers and have them ready for me by tomorrow."

I stared at the tower of articles, every one of them in French, and sucked in a breath. "All of these? I'll be up all night."

Adrian's brow furrowed slightly. "No all-nighters. You're in bed by ten. Whatever you don't finish, you continue tomorrow."

I stared at him. Was this really the same cold, ruthless tyrant everyone feared?

He stood up and walked over to the coffee machine in the corner.

I assumed he was getting himself some coffee, but instead he brought back a cup of warm milk and set it in front of me. "Drink up."

I stared at the steaming cup of milk, a tangle of emotions knotting in my chest. "Professor, the thing is, I..."

I took a deep breath, ready to come clean about the pregnancy.

"Adrian, I hear you're tutoring a failing undergrad in private and letting her organize your research?"

The door swung open, and Professor Richard Cole strolled in without knocking. He spotted me and lifted an eyebrow. "So this is her? She looks harmless enough."

Adrian's expression turned icy. "Richard, don't you know to knock before entering someone's office?"

Richard laughed awkwardly. "Sorry, sorry. I was just too curious. Aren't you the one who hates people wasting your time?"

"What about that grad student who falsified his resume?" Richard pressed. "You had him blacklisted from the entire academic community. Now no one will write him a recommendation

"And now you suddenly have time to tutor an undergrad yourself?"

Blacklisted from academia? No recommendation letter?

I looked at Adrian in horror. He was staring at Richard with a frigid gaze.

"My business is none of your concern."

Richard took the hint, shrugged, and left.

Silence settled over the office again.

Adrian turned back to me, his gaze landing on my face. "What were you about to say?"

I bit down on my lower lip, swallowing back the words ‘I’m not pregnant.’

"I-It's nothing."

I picked up the cup of warm milk and took a big gulp. "I was just wondering if you put sugar in this."

Adrian watched me for a few seconds, the faintest smile touching his mouth. "Too much sugar isn't good during pregnancy. I didn't add any."