One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 109 Audrey

I trudged into the house late that night, my feet aching as I kicked off my shoes. The sound of laughter and the faint glow of the TV drew me to the living room, where I found my friends sprawled across the couches, video game controllers in hand and half-empty pizza boxes strewn about.

"Well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence, Tina called out with a grin, pausing the game.

I collapsed into an empty armchair, sinking blissfully into the sol c**hions. "Don't mind me," I mumbled, my eyes already starting to close. "Til just be here, quietly dying"

"Rough day?" Betty asked, offering me a slice of cold pizza.

I waved it away, too exhausted to even consider eating. "Oh, you have no idea."

Avis, munching on one of her famous chocolate chip cookies, said. "This is the second night this week you've come home. late. What's going on?"

"Where do I even start?" I huffed, rubbing my temples as if that would somehow soothe my migraine.

Over the next few minutes, I recounted my day-starting with the mannequin incident, followed by the permanent marker. After that, I had gone on a wild scavenger hunt all over the building in search of some special cleaning solution to get the marker off of the board, which had taken all day.

"That put me behind on my second project," I muttered. "So I had to stay late to get it done."

“That's ridiculous," Betty fumed. "And let me guess, Linda is just skating by?"

The mention of Linda's name made my blood boil, but I forced myself to stay calm. I refused to let her get under my skin, even when she wasn't around to see it. "As far as I can tell, yeah. She hasn't had a single issue since we started. Although. I don't think the design she presented this morning was actually hers."

Tina growled softly. "I wouldn't put it past her. Let's not forget how she stole your cheerleading uniform design."

"Exactly."

"I still can't believe she got that internship," Avis sighed. "After everything she did to you at school? Something about this is fishy."

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant even though I was seething inside. "It doesn't matter. Even if I say something, 1711 just be painted as the bad guy in the situation. It's easier to keep my head down and work hard."

I

"But Audrey," Gavin protested, "you can't just let her walk all over you like this."

"What choice do I have?" I asked, burying my face in a nearby pillow.

sat up straight, "Oh, I can think of a few

Like what?"

began, ticking off ideas on her fingers, "we could sneak into her apartment and plant

a private investigator to follow her around and catch

date and then trap her with her

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Chapter 109

schemes, I couldn't help but laugh. Their enthusiasm was infectious, even if their ideas such as making a giant net and

of laughter from my eyes. "As much as I appreciate the creativity, I think I'll stick to my original plan of just working hard and hoping Linda exposes herself." "Boring." Tina groaned, but she was

"If I were

catching up with ine" think I need to call it a night before I do

up the stairs to my attic room. But, despite my exhaustion, sleep eluded me. After tossing and turning for what felt like hours,

room was dimly lit by a single lamp, casting an amber glow over the small space that was oddly soothing. I lost myself in the rhythmic hum of the machine, the fabric sliding

a soft knock on the door broke my concentration. "Come in," I called out, not looking up from

in. "Hey, I

to see him settle cross-legged onto my bed. "Too much going on

a few moments before speaking again. "Listen, Audrey, I wanted to apologize for

hands stilled under the sewing machine. "Gavin, you

a hand, cutting me off. "No, I do. I was drunk and not thinking straight. I'm sorry I keep doing

don't blame you," I said softly, finally turning to face him with a small, sad

he asked, "Do you think... Do

on the bed, the springs creaking as I settled in. "Gavin," I began gently, "it's not you. I'm just.." I paused,

that word:

that it was true. I loved Edwin, as impossible and painful as that love might be. Still, the thought made my cheeks flush,

my eyes, but there was understanding in his voice. "L... I get it," he said softly, flopping

same way

flopped down beside him and

I muttered.

long time after that, although we didn't need to. There was

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Chapter 109

that we were both in the same difficult position, and there