"Good morning, Professor Adrian."

Adrian didn’t turn around immediately.

He remained beside the window, one hand resting against the edge of his desk, his attention still fixed on the courtyard below.

The voice behind him belonged to a woman.

She sounded young, and confident.

Far too comfortable for someone who had just walked into a professor’s office.

Adrian slowly turned.

She stood several feet from the door.

She was dressed neatly, but there was something deliberate about the way she’d put herself together that morning.

She wore a fitted dark blazer, and a red blouse beneath it. The v-cut in the red blouse showed most part of her cleavage.

She added a black skirt that stopped just above her knees to her outfit. Her hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, leaving her face completely visible.

She carried a folder against her chest, and her smile was confident.

"Professor Adrian," she repeated.

Adrian said nothing.

His eyes moved over her once.

Not appreciatively, but assessing.

The woman seemed to notice. If anything, her smile became wider. "I’m sorry. I should introduce myself properly."

She took a few steps forward. "My name is Victoria Laurent."

She extended her hand.

Adrian looked at it, then back at her face.

He didn’t take it.

After a moment, she slowly lowered her hand. Her smile didn’t disappear. "I suppose you’ve heard of me."

Still, he said nothing.

She gave a small laugh. "Maybe not." She placed the folder on the edge of his desk. "I’m a graduate student."

Adrian’s gaze dropped briefly toward the folder.

Victoria noticed.

"Twenty-six." She said it casually. Almost as though the number had somehow become relevant to the conversation.

"I thought you should know."

Adrian looked back at her.

She held his gaze. "I recently transferred into the graduate program."

Still, he said nothing.

Victoria seemed amused by his silence. "You really don’t talk much, do you?"

Adrian’s expression remained unchanged.

She walked around the desk slowly, stopping on the opposite side.

"I’ve heard things about you." Her fingers rested lightly against the folder. "Very strict."

She smiled. "Very difficult to impress."

Adrian’s eyes remained on her.

"Apparently, you’re also very private." She tilted her head. "I like private men."

He stared at her, giving her no response or reaction.

Victoria opened the folder. "I brought my research proposal."

She pushed it across the desk, and Adrian finally looked down.

The first page carried her name.

Victoria Laurent. Graduate Research Program. Blackwood University.

He pulled the folder closer.

Victoria watched him, as he began reading it.

The office became quiet. The only sound was the faint movement of paper beneath his fingers.

Victoria waited.

At first, she remained standing. Then she pulled the chair opposite his desk closer and sat.

She crossed one leg over the other.

Adrian continued reading.

She watched him read.

There was something almost unsettling about the amount of attention she gave him. Most students waited nervously for a professor to finish reviewing their work.

Victoria seemed more interested in his face than her research.

Every few seconds, her eyes moved from the pages to him.

Adrian noticed. He said nothing. He turned another page.

Victoria smiled slowly. "You really concentrate."

His eyes remained on the paper.

She let out a soft breath, pushing her chest stylishly to the front. "I mean it as a compliment."

He said nothing, and it felt like a slap when he didn’t even spare her a glance.

She leaned back, almost disappointed, but she didn’t give up. "Twenty-six," she said again.

Adrian’s eyes finally lifted.

She smiled. "I told you that already." Her tone was playful. "I just wanted to make sure you remembered."

His gaze held hers for several seconds.

Victoria didn’t look away.

If anything, she seemed pleased.

Then Adrian looked back down at the paper.

She laughed quietly. "You’re difficult."

He continued reading.

Victoria rested her elbow against the chair. "I suppose that’s why everyone finds you interesting."

His eyes moved over another paragraph.

She waited. "Do you have a wife?"

Adrian’s hand stopped. Only for a second, then he continued.

Victoria noticed.

She smiled. "That was a direct question."

He said nothing.

Her smile fell for a second but she pressed on. "No wife?"

His eyes moved across the page.

She studied him, and smiled again. "Girlfriend?"

His expression remained unreadable.

"Someone waiting for you?"

Still nothing.

Victoria’s smile became smaller. "Or are you one of those men who doesn’t tell anyone anything?"

Adrian turned another page.

She watched his long fingers. A throat less moan left her lips, followed by a sly smile.

"You know," she said, "I think silence can be very attractive."

He didn’t react.

"But only when it’s intentional." Her gaze moved over him. "You don’t seem like a man who is quiet because he doesn’t know what to say."

His eyes lifted.

For the first time, something sharp appeared in them.

Victoria noticed.

She leaned back slightly, then smiled.

"See?" She lowered her voice. "That’s exactly what I mean."

Adrian looked at her for another second, then he returned to her proposal.

Victoria’s confidence didn’t falter. If anything, she seemed more intrigued.

She watched him continue reading. "You haven’t asked me anything."

His eyes remained on the paper.

"I thought professors usually ask questions."

Adrian did not bother to say anything.

"Maybe you’re trying to decide whether I’m actually qualified."

She smiled, and lowered her voice. "Or maybe you’re distracted."

Adrian’s eyes lifted again.

Victoria held his gaze. She smiled slowly. "Am I distracting you?" She asked with a soft breathless tone as she took off her blazer.

His expression gave her nothing.

She laughed beneath her breath.

"Right." She sat back. "Very professional."

Adrian continued reading.

Several minutes passed. Eventually, he reached the final page, and he closed the folder.

Victoria immediately leaned forward. "Well?"

Adrian looked at her.

She waited.

His eyes dropped briefly toward the folder, then returned to her. He pushed it across the desk.

Victoria picked it up.

"That’s it?"

His expression didn’t change.

She looked at the folder, then at him. "You really aren’t going to say anything?"

Adrian finally parted his lips. "When you are of good conduct, return to my office. For now, leave."

She smiled. "Interesting."

She stood.

Instead of leaving, however, she remained beside the desk. She gathered the papers against her chest.

"I’ve heard you’re difficult." Her gaze lingered on him. "I think you’re worse than they said."

Adrian’s eyes followed her.

Victoria stepped closer.

Not enough to touch him, but enough to make the distance between them noticeably smaller.

She lowered her voice. "I’m not easily intimidated."

Adrian didn’t move.

She smiled. "I thought I’d let you know."

His gaze remained fixed on her.

There was no invitation in it, or encouragement. Only observation.

Victoria seemed to interpret his silence however she wanted.

"I like men who know what they want." She tilted her head. "And men who don’t waste time."

Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Victoria smiled. "Don’t worry." She straightened. "I’m not asking you for anything."

She paused. "Not yet."

She turned.

She took two steps toward the door, then stopped. Her hand slipped into the pocket of her blazer, as she wore it back.

She brought out a small black card.

She walked back toward his desk.

Adrian watched her move forward.

She placed it carefully on the polished surface. The card was completely plain except for a name and a number.

Victoria Laurent.

She tapped it once with her fingertip.

"For when you decide you want something uncomplicated."

Adrian’s expression didn’t change.

Victoria smiled. "I like one-night things." She said it casually. "No expectations." She pushed the card slightly closer to him. "No complications."

Her eyes remained on his. "And I don’t mind taking the initiative."

Adrian stared at the card, then at her.

Victoria’s smile widened. "I have a feeling you appreciate that."

He said nothing.

She turned toward the door, then looked back.

"Oh." Her fingers rested on the door handle. "I’d bring cuffs."

For the first time, Adrian’s expression changed.

His eyes lifted slowly, and the amusement disappeared from Victoria’s face. For one brief second, she seemed to realize she had pushed too far.

Adrian didn’t say a word. His stare went completely cold.

Victoria swallowed.

Then, after a moment, she smiled again. "See you around, Professor."

She opened the door, and walked out.

The door closed behind her.

Adrian remained exactly where he was. His eyes stayed on the black card sitting on his desk.

He picked it up, and turned it over. There was nothing on the back. His gaze hardened.

He placed it face down, then his eyes moved toward the office window. The blinds were still open, and the courtyard was visible below.

Somewhere down there was Emilia.

Adrian’s eyes remained on the courtyard.

His expression gave nothing away, but his fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the desk.

There was something about the way Victoria Laurent had entered his office, the way she’d spoken, and the way she’d pushed past boundaries that didn’t sit right with him.

He looked toward the card again, then toward the closed door.

His face remained unreadable.

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