One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 271

Edwin

Avis’s shop was quiet as the others filed in one by one, each giving me a quick nod or a whispered greeting before settling into the scattered chairs around the display table. The bell over the door chimed softly as Peter entered last, closing it gently behind him.

Once everyone was there, Avis glanced around, raising an eyebrow. “Alright, Edwin. What is this secret meeting about? You sounded like we were pulling off a heist or something and needed to use my shop as our criminal headquarters.”

“We might as well be,” I said, glancing around at everyone. “Audrey’s birthday is coming up and I want to surprise her with something big. Huge. Bigger than a party or an expensive necklace.”

“Good luck with that,” Tina muttered from where she was perched on Avis’s worktable in the back. “The girl had got a sixth sense for sniffing out surprises. You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t figure it out before we even start.”

“That’s exactly why I need all of you to help me,” I replied. “Look, she’s got her heart set on starting this charity–and she’s doing great, selling a lot of designs online to save up for a space. But right now, she’s doing all of her work out of the apartment, and well… It’s a disaster in there.”

As I spoke, I couldn’t help but picture the state of our small apartment. We’d both decided to remain there rather than moving to the estate–I was still teaching at Grayspring and Audrey’s friends and mother were nearby, so it just made sense -but it was cramped.

Very cramped.

“Trust me, we know,” Betty chimed in, chuckling. “I was there yesterday and the place is covered from top to bottom with fabric and packing materials. I feel like one or both of you is gonna die of suffocation in there.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Exactly. And that’s why I was thinking we could do something about it.”

A silence settled over the room, and I could sense that they were getting what I was hinting at.

“I want to find her a real workspace,” I continued. “A small office, maybe. Just somewhere she can have a desk, some shelves, and a little breathing room. I figured I could quietly look around and maybe find a place she could afford on her own, something she wouldn’t feel guilty about. You know how she is about taking help from others.”

My Silver Star. Always offering help, but never wanting to take it

slowly, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “That could work, I guess. Or, there’s always…” She gestured toward the empty storefront across the street, a silent mention of

head immediately. “She won’t go for

along. “Gavin’s right. It’s too expensive, and she wants to be able to afford the place for

she was being stubborn about this. We had the money to buy

Betty hesitated, scratching her head. “What if we just did it? Before she had a

her perch. “Are you implying that

curved into a grin. “Why not? She’s done so much for us, for this whole community.

the back of my neck uncertain. “I don’t know… She

to pay us back,” Peter added somewhat bitterly. “Selfless

said, resting her hand on his arm. “We can give

blinking in confusion. Even I was a little bit lost as to what

+5

plan, it all began to fall into place. It was a foolproof plan, one that would perhaps piss my silver–haired mate off at first, but foolproof

to plan, then Audrey wouldn’t feel

reveal arrived faster than I expected. My nerves were wound so tight I could hardly stand

claiming that it would just be a quiet day without any big celebrations. She didn’t mind that, of course; she was so infuriatingly selfless that she likely wouldn’t have minded if we all flat–out ignored

so much more planned

table. A bolt of rare fabric from Avis, a journal from Tina, a hilariously ugly sweater from Peter,

tie?” she asked, holding it up. “Is this a joke? Edwin,

grin. “The tie is just part of the gift. Fasten

piece of

us,” Tina said with a mischievous little smirk.

but I could see the flicker of curiosity in

we were all satisfied, we helped her to her feet and led her out

taking me?” she whined, stumbling a little