Chapter 3

Over the next few days, I lived in constant terror.

Adrian's version of "taking care of me" bordered on absurd.

In class, the moment I so much as yawned, he would pause. "This section is dense. Take ten minutes and let it sink in."

Then, without a word, he'd turn up the thermostat in the lecture hall, which the university kept at arctic levels.

In his office, even my beloved iced Americano was forcibly replaced with warm water.

"What kind of dirty tricks did Vivian Harper pull to get into Professor Sinclair's private office?"

In the restroom, I'd barely pushed open the stall door when I heard voices outside.

It was Anna Whitmore. She'd been nursing a crush on Adrian for ages, and her father sat on the university's board of trustees.

"Who knows? Maybe she used that pretty face to keep him happy in bed," another girl said.

Anna scoffed. "A moron who can't even pass his class has no business being near Professor Sinclair. Just wait. I'll make sure everyone sees exactly what she is."

I stood in the stall, shaking with anger, but I knew this wasn't the time for a confrontation.

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

I'd barely made it into the hallway when Anna came after me. "Vivian, don't you have any shame?"

Anna blocked my path in her heels, looking me up and down with undisguised contempt. "I heard you can't even read the most basic French texts, and the professor has to translate them for you every day?"

I looked at her calmly. "Whether I have something to be ashamed of isn't for you to judge."

"If you have a problem with the professor's decisions, feel free to take it up with him instead of standing here running your mouth like a bitter ex."

I'd hit a nerve. Anna's face went ashen. "Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?"

She raised her hand to slap me. I flinched, squeezing my eyes shut and stepping back.

But the expected pain never came.

A hand had caught Anna's wrist. I opened my eyes to see Adrian's cold face.

"P-Professor Sinclair?" Anna's voice trembled with fear.

Adrian shoved her hand away. "Trying to hit another student in the hallway? Anna, is this how your family taught you to behave?"

Anna stammered. "Professor, she was the one who was rude first! She doesn't deserve to be near you!"

"Whether she belongs there is my decision," Adrian said, his voice sharp. "I chose her as my assistant, which means she represents my office. Hitting her is either questioning my judgment or challenging my authority. Which is it?

"After what I just witnessed, I have serious doubts that you meet the conduct standards for a full scholarship."

Adrian regarded her coldly. "If I catch you bullying my assistant again, I'll file a formal complaint with the student conduct board. You won't just lose any chance of a recommendation from me. Your academic standing and eligibility to graduate will be reviewed."

Anna's eyes went wide with disbelief, and tears spilled down her cheeks in an instant.

She covered her face and ran off, sobbing.

Adrian turned to me, his gaze landing on my face. His expression softened instantly. "Are you hurt?"

He reached out as if to touch my face, but held himself back.

I shook my head, conflicted. "Professor, you shouldn't have been so harsh. Her father is a trustee..."

Adrian gave a humorless laugh. "In this school, nobody operates outside my rules."

He slipped off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders. "This building is freezing. Don't catch a chill."

I clutched the hem of the jacket, guilt eating me alive.

If he learned I'd lied to him, would he destroy me the way he'd destroyed that grad student?

"What are you thinking?" he asked softly.

"N-Nothing." I looked away. "I should get back to your office and finish those summaries."

I fled.

Watching me go, Adrian narrowed his eyes slightly.