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?

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

something was wrong. It

out of it, I was on my feet

later, I found myself standing outside his office. Smoothing down my shirt, I reached out

his mu**ed voice

over his desk, his brow furrowed in concentration as he studied some

an email from Mr. Black asking me to come back for another interview," I said, placing my hands on my hips. I

You?

into his eyes. He leaned back in his chair, running a

my mouth hanging open. "What did

him that if he didn't reconsider you, then I would pull my shares out of

help my reaction. "Da**it, Edwin! I hissed. "I told you that it was fine.

my outburst, but I didn't back down. Even when he stood imposing frame towering over me,

up, his

step in because I knew there was more to the story, he replied c**lly, pressing his fingers into the surface of his

crossed my arms, looking away. "It doesn't matter. I

my

sending out new emails to potential mentors," I said-another half-truth, conveniently leaving out the part where I

he spoke, his voice had softened slightly. "Well, I suspect that there's more going

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

falling asleep in my class?" Edwin asked

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

to hit Edwin like a physical punch to the gut le went silent, his gray eyes studying me intently

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