One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 40 Audrey

I stared back at Edwin in confusion, his words ringing in my ears. Too busy thinking about boys? What was he implying, exactly?

"I'm sorry, Professor," I said carefully, trying to keep my tone neutral despite the slight flush that was starting to creep up the back of my neck. "I'm not sure if I follow. Are you insinuating that I was... distracted this weekend?" Edwin's lips pressed into a flat line as he slowly walked around his desk. With each step, the fibers on his sweater seemed to strain further against his broad chest. I swallowed hard, struggling to meet his intense gaze. "I'm saying," he began in a measured tone, "that mistakes like this don't happen unless your mind is elsewhere. And from what I saw, your mind seemed pretty preoccupied with... fraternizing."

My brow furrowed. "Fraternizing? What are you talking a**"

Before I could finish, the words caught in my throat as Edwin pulled his phone out of This pocket and swiped on the screen for a few moments. Suddenly, he turned the screen toward me and I felt my stomach drop. There, staring back at me, was a grainy image of a dimly lit hallway from the

wo random students smiling in the foreground. And there we were; Gavin and I had been captured in the background, tangled up in one another's arms with our faces just party with

nches apart.

Anyone could clearly see the heated look in his eyes, the way my fingers dug into his picep as I leaned against the wall behind me. The tiny smile on my lips, my chin tilted up by his right hand.

My cheeks burned with a mixture of embarrassment and anger. I hadn't known anyone- had taken that photo, let alone posted it online. That moment was supposed to be private, personal... intimate.

I can't say I'm surprised," Edwin suddenly said, his tone tense "Vouch of one for discretion, have words. "Excuse me?" I bit out. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Edwin arched an eyebrow but didn't respond, simply staring at me with an impassive gaze as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. After a few tense moments of silence, he cleared his throat.

"Well. I think you and I both know that sort of entanglement is a conflict of interest." When I opened my mouth to protest, he quickly cut me off with a curt wave of his hand. "Which is exactly why I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to continue serving as my teaching assistant if you plan on carrying on like that."

My jaw dropped as the meaning of his words sank in. "You... you can't be serious," I said with a wry laugh. But Edwin just stared at me, his expression showing no signs of

humor.

quickly bubbled up inside of me. "Are you implying that I'm not allowed to have a ersonal life?" I

it's best for you to ocus not only on your

was hearing. "Edwin, I think you're overreacting

gleam in his gray eyes. "I pect you to avoid using such a casual tone with

but I couldn't find it in me to protest against that request. "Fine. But mat I choose to do in my free time, with

you're under employ, I hold the

contain the derisive snort that burst from my lips. "This is a ching assistant role, not some corporate job. You can't force some sort of non- ernization clause on

in Edwin's jaw ticked at the mention

his face

1 fire you

14 BBG.

sides as I rose from my chair. My mind began to whirl, trying to make sense of it all, and then it hit me like a ton of

god," I breathed, my eyes widening. "You're

"Let me repeat my question; do

jealous!" I repeated incredulously, my voice rising

to hide his true feelings behind that icy mask of his, and it was no longer working. Not on me, at least. "Do you plan on pursuing a relationship with this boy or not. Audrey?" I scoffed before I could even stop myself. "I don't know what

eyes flickered over Edwin's body-and the air seemed to be sucked out of the room. All of the time we had

jealous. He was horribly, painfully jealous of me and Gavin. He wanted me to himself; but he also couldn't have me for a multitude of reasons, and that was clearly eating him

that I shouldn't say what I was about to say but choosing to say it anyway, "even if I weren't a human and your

"Enough!"

enough to cut me off completely, my eyes widening. Edwin's jaw clenched

seemed utterly incapable of speech, his chest heaving with tightly controlled breaths. I wasn't sure if I should run for the hills or stand my ground-put

decision, he finally broke the silence with a single, curt

3/