One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 79 Audrey

The sound of pen scratching on paper was all that filled the silence of my dorm room. With a red pen in hand, I carefully worked through the enormous stack of papers that Professor Stevens had asked me to grade. Even though it was a lot of work, it kept my mind off of other problems-mainly the matter of finding a mentor for my thesis-which was a good thing.

Suddenly, the sound of a soft ping from my laptop cut through the silence. I glanced over at the screen with a sigh. expecting another rejection email or perhaps sonte more instructions from Professor Stevens. Instead. I felt my heart leap into my throat as soon as I saw the sender's last name: Black.

With trembling fingers. I clicked to open the message. My eyes widened as I read its contents:

"Dear Miss Thatcher,

1 hope this email finds you well. Upon further reflection, I believe I may have been hasty in my initial assessment of your qualifications. I would like to extend an invitation for you to return for a second interview at your earliest convenience. Please let me know if you are available to discuss this opportunity further.

Best regards. Atticus Black"

I stared at the screen for a few long moments, utterly dumbfounded by his letter. Upon further reflection, he had said.... What sort of game was he playing at? Just a couple of days ago, he had made it clear that I was only valuable to him as a potential bedmate and that if I wanted to work with him, I would need to sleep with him first.

Now he wanted me back for another interview?

For a moment, I just stared at the screen, wondering what to do. The idea of accepting his offer was tempting. I had to admit. But ultimately, I couldn't bring myself to do it. "As if," I muttered as I clicked and dragged the email to my trash folder without any intention of responding.

There was no way I was going to subject myself to his leering gaze and inappropriate comments again, no matter how badly I needed a mentor for my thesis. I didn't want to be mentored by someone who treated humans like meat. I'd find someone else eventually-anyone but him.

But as I tried to return my focus to grading, a nagging thought kept pulling at my attention. Why would he suddenly want me back if I had made it crystal clear that I wasn't going to sleep with him? He had seemed so certain that the only way he would even consider a human such as myself was if I slept with him.

So why the sudden change of heart?

to my conversation with Edwin after I had fallen asleep in his class yesterday. The concern in his eyes, the way he had pressed me for more information..... Oh, no," I whispered as a sinking feeling

something was wrong. It was just like him to

talk myself out of it, I was on my feet and heading toward

standing outside his office. Smoothing down my shirt,

in," his

Edwin hunched over his desk, his brow furrowed in concentration as he studied some papers. He looked up as

"I just received an email from Mr. Black asking me to come back for another interview," I said, placing my hands on my hips. I don't suppose you

You?

his eyes. He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "I

a moment, my mouth

told him that if he didn't reconsider you, then I would pull my shares out of his company. He admitted to discriminating against you for being

"I told you that it was fine. Why did you have to

me incredulously, clearly not expecting my outburst, but I didn't back down. Even when he stood imposing frame

up, his

knew there was more to the story, he replied c**lly, pressing his fingers into the surface of his desk, which stood between us. "And I was right, wasn't I? What really

doesn't matter.

if you're falling asleep in my class and lying about why,"

sending out new emails to potential mentors," I said-another half-truth, conveniently leaving out the part where I was also unable to sleep due to the memory

there's more going on here than you're telling me. If something else happened, you need to tell me so I can

I countered with a huff. "Like I said, had it handled. And frankly, I didn't want to tell you because I knew you would do something rash if you found out-like calling and threatening him, for

of it when my student is falling asleep in

moment, something in me snapped. I had heard enough about being his student, and this was the last straw. "Oh, cut the student c***p," I bit out. "I don't think the nice things you do for

a physical punch to the gut le went silent, his gray eyes studying me intently for several long seconds. The