One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 279

Audrey

Edwin and I emerged from the small room, his hand still resting protectively on my back. The hustle and bustle of last- minute preparations immediately hit us, assistants running back and forth, models being ushered into position, and the soft hum of the audience’s chatter drifting through the walls.

“I guess no one would have noticed our little tryst anyway,” Edwin mused under his breath with a smirk.

I glanced up at him, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively. But a sound caused us both to whip our heads toward the dressing

area.

“Owww! My ankle!”

Exchanging worried glances, Edwin and I rushed toward the sound. A small group had gathered in a huddle near the back of the dressing area. In the center of the commotion was a young woman, one of the models, seated on a chair with her head in her hands. Her shoulders shook as she cried out.

I hurried over, Edwin following closely behind.

“What happened?” I asked, kneeling in front of the model. She looked up at me, her face pale, tears clinging to her lashes. “I–I twisted my ankle really bad,” she stammered, wincing as she shifted her foot slightly. “I was fine earlier, but it hurts to put any weight on it now…”

Someone behind her chimed in, “She tripped backstage. I thought she’d just shaken it off, but…”

I glanced down at her ankle, which was already beginning to swell slightly under the delicate straps of her shoe. The show was minutes from starting. Panic might have been setting in, but I couldn’t afford that luxury–not now.

I took a calming breath, tapping into that silver pool of energy inside of me. With a reassuring smile, I reached out to touch/ her ankle. “May I?” I asked.

She winced, flinching away.

“It’s alright,” I murmured. “I’ll help you.”

moment of hesitation, the

touch her ankle.

my fingertips.

ankle release, her muscles relaxing as the pain ebbed away.

I whispered, pulling my hand

of surprise and relief on her face. Her tears

breathed, a smile breaking through.

nodded, rising. “It’s what I’m here for. Now,

from the surrounding crew was palpable, and I looked up at Edwin, I saw a look of pride in his eyes. He gave

as

everyone,” the stage manager said, clapping

58%

and the music began to play, a hush fell over the audience. I slipped into the shadows by

as the first model stepped

set with an oversized, masculine fit. The shoulders draped easily over the

everything together glimmered under the stage lights. Cameras flashed, the crowd oohing

arm bands making her look as if she was bound by gold threads. Her hair was long

intricate stitching, the late–night sketches, and the

focused on the runway but his approval humming through the bond. My mother

None of us could. We just watched in awe, holding each other. Piece after piece walked the runway, and the audience’s murmurs of appreciation grew louder, a few exclamations of awe reaching my ears as each new design was revealed. It seemed that our collection was being received well. Very

then, finally, it was time for

tightening around Edwin and my mother. I hoped that this piece wasn’t too out there, too

nonsense.

haunting melody as the final model stepped onto the runway. I held my breath as she took her first step, the fabric billowing out behind

and silver, with Joseph’s drawings interwoven into every inch of the design. There were the cheerful drawings he’d shown me, the flowers and birds and rays of sunlight. But there were also the darker ones, the shadows, the

there were hundreds, all of them coalescing into