Page 129 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 10
I stared at the roster, hating the name even though I didn’t know the kid. "Tyler Stevens?" I tried to hide the disdain from my voice.
Tyler stood up. "Honestly I got drunk and made a fool of myself. I was with this smart, beautiful girl, and I probably blew my shot with her."
Penny turned away from him. Was he the piece of shit that made her cry last night? I was going to kill him. The paper crinkled in my fist. First fantasizing over a student and now wanting to murder one? I let the list drop to the desk. This was going to be a great semester.
"Sounds like an unfortunate series of events," I said and turned my attention to Penny. It looked like she gulped. I heard Tylersigh as he sat back down, but my gaze didn’t leave Penny’s face. This was the only time it made sense for me to stare at her. I wasn’t going to miss a second. "Penny Taylor," I said.
While she stood up, I pulled out the piggy bank from my satchel. The one I’d spent hours wandering around Main Street to find because I’d apparently turned into a stalker in my free time. It was special treatment. Special treatment drew attention. But I still bought it. And I still pulled it out for her to see. Hopefully everyone was too hungover to notice. "I came prepared today,” I said. “You'll have to trust that I have some pennies in here." It was a lie. I didn’t have any pennies. She was the only Penny I wanted.
Her cheeks turned rosy as she looked down at the piggy bank and then back at me. "I went for a walk in the rain with a stranger I met at a coffee shop."
I raised my eyebrows. She remembered. And she was more confident than the blush on her cheeks implied. Bolder. Sexier. "Sounds rather enchanting, Miss Taylor."
"It was."
Would she be horrified by what I did after our late-night walk? Knowing I masturbated to the thought of her in her wet tank top and the way my name fell from her lips?God those lips.I couldn’t pull my gaze away from her. But it was time to call on the next student. The moment was over. Hours searching for a piggy bank had led to one minute with her. It was worth every second. I looked back down at my paper and called the next name. But I didn’t hear a thing anyone else said.
I stood back up after the last person recalled their dull evening. "Well, it seems as though we have quite a few interesting characters this semester. And now I have a feel for things that you can all use improvement on. Speaking of which..." I rummaged through my satchel and pulled out the syllabi I’d forgotten to hand out on the first day of classes. But I was glad I did. It had given me a chance to get closer to Penny. Even though I knew I shouldn’t. Even though every bone in my body was telling me to stop.
"I forgot to hand out the syllabus on Wednesday,” I said and pulled the top packet off and dropped the rest on a boy's desk in the front. "Take one and pass it."
The boy grabbed one and handed the stack to his neighbor. As the papers began to cycle, I sat on top of my desk. "So your first presentation isn't for a few weeks, but you'll probably want to at least pick a topic soon so you can start mulling it over. All you need to do is pick a person that has inspired you in some way and tell us all about it. But please, I'm tired of hearing about everyone's grandparents, so try to think outside the box. And next week I'll start talking about how to give effective speeches, so you'll definitely want to incorporate that advice. Any questions?"
A girl in the front row's hand shot up.
"Yes?"
"Do we need your approval for our topic?"
"Not for this one. For later projects though, yes. But if you do have any questions you can always email me. My email is onthe syllabus. And my office hours are listed on there too, if any of you have any questions or need some guidance on an assignment." I stared at Penny. She was the only one I wanted to take me up on that offer. The things I could do to her on my desk…Stop.
The two girls in front of Penny looked way too excited about my private office hours. I ignored them and watched as the pile of syllabi ran out right before reaching Penny.
She looked up at me, staring at the syllabus I was holding in my hand.
I smiled. What she didn’t realize was that this one was special for her. This morning I’d told myself that I’d be better. No fraternizing. No socializing whatsoever with students. But I’d altered this syllabus last night. And technically it was the only other one I had. "Any other questions?" I asked and waited for her to raise her hand and ask for the syllabus I was holding. But…she didn’t. She just stared at me. Maybe she wanted to approach me after class instead. Alone time that I was craving too. Or maybe she couldn’t bear the thought of raising her hand and asking for it right now. I could tell she was shy. Bold and shy? I was starting to wonder if it was a lethal combination. Regardless, it meant we’d have one more moment today. And I wasn’t upset about that at all.
"Okay then,” I said. “Make sure to brainstorm this weekend. If you have an idea in mind on Monday, then my advice will be more beneficial. Have a great weekend."
I heard the pull of zippers on backpacks and feet shuffling. I waited for the class to empty out. And while waiting, Tylerstarted talking to Penny as she packed up her backpack. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I hoped it was an apology for whatever shit he’d put her through last night.
She didn’t look happy about the conversation, so I was surprised when she handed him her phone. It was like I was watching a horror movie playing out in slow motion and I didn’t want to see the rest. I looked down at the syllabus and flipped to the page where my office hours and email were. I’d made my note to her hard to miss.
Miss Taylor,
I hate to think that you make walking around in the middle of the night a habit. But if you find yourself alone in the rain again, please do not hesitate to call me if you feel you are in need of an escort.
- J. H.
152-726-0133
An escort?What had I been thinking? That made my innocent gesture sound not so innocent. Maybe this was a mistake. I could just tell her that I’d bring her another syllabus on Monday. Or to just get a copy from her new friend, Tyler Stevens. I should be pushing her toward other people, not drawing her closer to myself. That was the right thing to do. But Tyler? He’d done something to make her cry. He was the reason she was walkingaround in the rain late at night in a white tank top. I trusted him less than I trusted myself.
“Excuse me, Professor Hunter?" Penny said nervously.
I looked up from the pages. I hadn’t realized we were alone in the room. "How can I help you, Miss Taylor?"
"I didn't get a syllabus."
