ARIA

I overslept... thanks to the leftover beer Laura brought after dinner yesterday.

We ended up drinking while eating pizza and binge-watching Pretty Little Liars until i passed out on her couch.

Now, we're running late for our first class... Literature. The same class where I was supposed to hand in that damn assignment... and see him again.

Laura and i rushed out of her dorm like maniacs, barely dressed, hair still wet. By the time we got to the building, we were ten minutes late.

"Crap," i muttered, my heart pounding in my chest.

Laura rushed in first. She was also in a hurry that she didn't even notice she had left me standing outside the classroom, alone... with my stomach in knots and fingers white from gripping my literature textbook like it was a stress ball.

I couldn't move. I just stood there, frozen.

He's in there.

I couldn't stop thinking about the way he looked at me last night.

I was too nervous to go inside the classroom after seeing him yesterday.

"Aria Giovanni" a voice said coolly.

I almost jumped out of my skin when i heard my name. I turned back to look at who it was.

I blinked at the guy standing a few feet away from me.

Taller than I remembered. Tousled dark hair. Clear, amused eyes. With an easy, effortless smile.

"James. You scared me" i said with a half smile.

"Oops sorry, i didn't mean to sneak up on you" he said rubbing the back of his neck.

"What are you doing here?" I asked curious but still a little bit shaken.

Hoping he wasn't a freak that followed me to class.

"Oh, i'm also in this class" he smiled.

"Really how come? Didn't you say you were a law major?"

"Oh yes, but i opted for this class for my pre-law program. Literature can help develop critical thinking, reading comprehension, and writing skills, which are valuable for legal studies." He rambled on.

"Right" i mumbled.

"So what are you doing outside?"

"Too nervous to step in"

"Let's go in together"

Before i could even object to what he just said, he was already taking me inside.

When we got in, the class

went silent and i brought my head down and used my textbook to cover my face.

"Look, there's free seats at the front row" James said.

He took me straight to the front seat.

Great. Right under the professor's gaze.

Laura gave me an apologetic smile from the second row. I shot her a death glare.

Traitor.

This was the second time professor Carter has seen me late to class. He must think i was slacking off.

I found the seat and sat down next James, trying to disappear in my oversized hoodie.

I dropped my textbook on the desk and i slowly lifted my eyes.

Professor Carter was leaning against his desk. Arms crossed. Jaw tight.

His dark eyes weren't just watching me they were drilling a hole straight through James's skull.

His gaze was dark and cold. Nothing like what i had experienced in the hotel.

But I knew better.

"Nice of you to join us, Miss Giovanni. Mr...?" Professor Carter's sharp voice finally broke the silence again.

"James Thatcher," James replied confidently, extending a hand toward him.

Professor Carter didn't take it.

"Let me remind the class," he said coldly, turning away. "That your assignments were due today. I hope no one's tardiness affects the quality of your submission."

His words weren't directed at the class. They were directed at me.

Every syllable was like a slap to my face.

I swallowed hard and stared at the floor.

"Well, he's a ray of sunshine." James leaned over and whispered to me.

I didn't answer. I couldn't.

Because I knew something James didn't.

That man wasn't just a random professor.

He was the stranger i kissed. The one who touched me like i was the only girl in the world.

And now, he was glaring at the guy sitting next to me like he'd already claimed me.

Like i belonged to him.

"Let's continue." he said.

I exhaled quietly and opened my notebook with shaking fingers, pretending to pay attention.

Professor Carter continued with the lecture, but i wasn't very focused.

Something about postmodern themes and intertextuality. Maybe Virginia Woolf. Maybe not. I couldn't hear anything over the pulse pounding in my ears.

James kept stealing glances at me. I could feel that too. His smile was boyish and innocent.

But his thigh brushed against mine under the desk, and I couldn't tell if it was an accident or not.

Then... finally... the class ended.

Students shifted in their seats, slamming their notebooks shut and gathering their bags.

Laura stood up quickly, stretching, saying something about coffee. I nodded vaguely.

"Before you go," Professor Carter said suddenly, making everyone stop in their tracks.

"Please leave your assignments on my desk. All of you."

Everyone started moving towards the front desk with their assignments.

I stood up too, gripping my folder, ready to add mine to the stack of folders already piled up.

But his eyes locked on mine. And he spoke again, but this time he was speaking to me.

"Except you, Miss Giovanni." His velvet voice was calm.

I froze.

"Sir?" i managed to say.

"You'll bring them to my office," he said, "since you arrived late... again... consider it a... personal penalty. You do remember where it is, yes?"

A few students looked back at me, muttering quietly. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Yes, sir," I said quietly.

"That's kind of extra, isn't it?" James said.

I didn't answer again. It felt like James was making my problems worse.

I avoided the professor's eyes and nodded, sliding my assignment back into my bag.

"See you outside?" James asked, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"Yeah," I lied.

Laura shot me a good luck look before she and James left the room together.

The classroom was empty.

The professor also packed his things and headed out of the classroom.

I took a breath and slowly walked forward, taking the neat stack of papers and i followed him back to his office.

We got to his office and i put the files on his table.

"Here," I said softly, "all the assignments... and mine."

"Good." He finally looked up.

"You've made a habit of being late, Aria."

DAMON

"I didn't mean to," she murmured. "It's just..."

"You don't need to explain," i said, standing up.

Suddenly, the space between us felt much smaller than it was.

I stepped around my desk, closing the gap between us.

"I saw you walk in with him."

"James?" she blinked.

"You seem comfortable around him."

She didn't answer. Because it wasn't a question. It was a statement.

Then, my hand brushed a strand of hair from her face, soft and slow.

"You have no idea what kind of attention you're pulling, do you?"

"From James?" she asked innocently.

I leaned down slightly, voice dropping.

"From me."

Her cheeks flushed immediately.

She was driving me insane.

"But you already knew that, didn't you?" i added.

She opened her mouth to speak... maybe argue, maybe run... but i stepped back before she could do either of those.

"Close the door behind you, Aria," i said, my voice back to normal. Cold. Professional.

She stood there a moment longer, stunned, flushed, shaken.

Then she turned and walked out.

My back was still turned to her when i heard her shut the door behind her softly.

I let out of breath of relief.

I brought out my gripped hands from my pocket.

I keep wondering what i see in her that attracts me to her so much.

Was it her intelligence?

Her eyes that looked like the sunset?

Her slim curvy figure?

I have seen and been with much of those like her. So why?

I looked at her file of assignment from the top of the pile of files.

Her name was boldly written at the top.

Aria Giovanni.

Giovanni.

I would never forget that name.

'I can't forget why i'm here' 'i need to stay focused'

I walked to the window in my office for some fresh air.

But she was down there, standing with that... James.

She laughed at something he said. He was smiling back at her like he had the right to.

If only my wife were still alive.

If she were here, i wouldn't be pretending to be a professor, someone i'm not.

I got the position of the literature professor by killing the previous professor and bribing the others.

Anyone who found my abrupt position as Professor a problem, would find their selves six feet under that very day.

I sat down back on my desk and started reviewing their assignments... only hers, I would just pass the rest.

I was only interested in Aria.

Then a knock came to my office door. The door flew open and professor Mary was standing there, smiling at me weirdly.

Since i came to this school, females threw their selves at me, not just the students but also the professors.

"What can i help you with professor Mary?" I asked uninterested.

I already knew why she was here.

"I just saw that student leave, is she bothering you? Because if she is i can talk..." she was saying but i cut her short.

"I can handle my own students professor Mary. But thank you. If you have nothing else to say, you can leave" I said and gave a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

She didn't leave, instead she moved closer and leaned on my desk.

Her sleeves were rolled up and the two top button on her shirt was undone. I could smell her perfume from a mile away.

"Oh c'mon professor Carter" she smiled seductively, "let's not pretend you don't want this"

"I don't" i said flatly.

"I see the way you look at me" she continued, showcasing her big breasts.

I lifted my head from her breasts to her face. Too much make up.

I didn't look at her any way. I always preferred the slim types.

I wasn't interested in any student or lecturer in this school or even outside of school, well... except for Aria.

She moved to the other side of my desk and sat on it, facing me.

"Professor Mary..."

"Call me Mary"

"Professor Mary, it wouldn't be wise if you keep coming to my office like this" i said.

She was married for God's sake. And if we weren't at school, i would have shot her dead by now.

"Maybe we could take this somewhere else instead" she smiled yet again.

"Maybe i would inform the school board about it. You don't seem to like your job very well"

Her lips twitched but she didn't falter.

"Wouldn't you be implicating us both?"

"What if i tell your husband to put a leash on his wife?" i growled.

Her face went pale, and then red with anger.

She muttered a few things i wasn't interested in and then walked out of my office, slamming the door behind her.

I heard her yell outside but i didn't pay it much heed.

Until i heard another knock on my door and it opened again.

"Get out!!" i shouted.

When i looked up to see the intruder, it was Aria.

Shit.

I thought it was professor Mary coming back with her scandalous reproach.

Aria looked pale and scared.

I felt horrible.

"Aria, please come in" i said shamefully.

She hesitated before walking in.

"I'm sorry sir, i didn't mean to be of inconvenience" she said with a shaky voice.

"You're not. I didn't mean to yell either" i said with an apologetic look.

"I just forgot my literature textbook here, that's why i came back. I'll just take it and leave"

I was so invested in alot of things and distracted by professor Mary, that i didn't even notice an extra textbook on my desk that wasn't mine.

I took the textbook and handed it to her.

She hesitated again, skeptical if she should come forward and take her book.

When she finally collected the textbook from me, she breezed out of my office immediately.

I wanted to apologize for yelling, it was unprofessional. If only professor Mary didn't spoil my mood...

Fuck.

She must think that i'm a monster.

ARIA

I have no idea why the professor behaved like that at the office.

Maybe he was in a fowl mood.

I brushed the thought off and went for my remaining classes.

When the school day was over i met up with Laura again and we went to my place together.

She prefers staying with me than at her dorm. She said the students there were crappy.

I would invite her to live with me but she already paid for the dorm until she graduated.

"Ugh, our first semester exams is in 2 weeks" she said as she flopped on my bed.

"Yeah, after this semester we have one last semester before we graduate" i said.

"Fucking finally, i'm so tired of this darn school" she groaned.

"Aren't we all" i rolled my eyes.

"There's a party next weekend..."

"Laura please tell me you're not thinking of going to that party, we need to prepare for our upcoming exams" i said turning to face her after removing my hoodie.

"It's a school party. Besides the school wouldn't host it if they thought it would be of any harm to the students"

"Laura..."

"Pretty please" she said giving me the puppy dog eyes.

"You're such a party freak Laura"

"And you love me anyway" she smiled as she rolled on the bed.

"Whatever" i muttered and climbed onto be with her.

"Your boobs are so perky" she said touching them.

I slapped her hands off.

"Don't make me think you're a lesbian now" i said eying her.

We spent the remaining day ordering takeout and watching TV until Laura was fast asleep.

I checked the time and it was 11pm, and i was still wide awake.

Thinking about the professor.

He seemed so mysterious though. Nobody knew his background.

Like what was his previous job?

Is he married?

If he was, he'd be wearing a ring.

Does he have a girlfriend?

Why does he look so sexy and young?

Laura googled him before, but nothing came up.

No social media, no university press, no LinkedIn, nothing but a mare Westbridge staff profile account... which had no photo and only said "Visiting Professor, Department of Literature."

That's it?

Who the hell has zero online presence in 2025?

Unless... he was hiding something.

Or someone.

Now i was curious and wide awake.

They say he's 38 but i hardly believe it. Maybe I do, i just didn't want to accept it.

'God why did you decide to punish me like this'

I shouldn't be thinking about my professor. That man wants nothing to do with me, at least he made that clear. But that only annoyed me.

I picked up my phone and googled: how to seduce older men.

"God i'm so stupid'

I scrolled and clicked on the first link.

#1. Be confident.

Right. That was already a disaster.

I could barely walk into his class without tripping over my own anxiety. I literally used a textbook to hide my face like a 12-year-old at confession.

#2. Make eye contact. Hold it. Let it linger.

Have they met Professor Carter?

His eyes could swallow me whole. One glance and my brain short-circuits. I'd rather eat chalk than hold his gaze longer than five seconds.

#3. Dress mature, but alluring.

Does hoodies and jeans stained with coffee count?

I sighed, dropping my phone onto the bed beside me. Laura was snoring gently on the other side, her face half-buried in a pillow, legs tangled in the sheets like she'd gone twelve rounds in her sleep.

Must be nice... being carefree.

Me? I was wide awake and spiraling over a man who clearly didn't even like me.

Worse? He looked through me. Like I wasn't even there.

Except in that office.

The way his fingers brushed mine when he handed my textbook back to me. It was brief, probably nothing.

But i swear i felt something electric. Or maybe that was just my blood pressure reacting to his cologne.

I reached for my phone again, flicking the screen back on.

"God, I'm really stupid," i whispered to myself, but still, i clicked on the next link that read:

"Older Men Crave Power: How to Seduce Without Trying Too Hard."

I blinked.

Power?

I kept reading.

"Many older men, especially those in positions of authority, are drawn to women who make them feel powerful and needed. It's not about being weak... it's about knowing when to step back and let him take the lead. Men love mystery, softness, and subtle submission in a relationship."

I reread that part.

Subtle submission?

My face flushed instantly, and i dropped my phone on my chest.

Why was my heart suddenly racing?

I wasn't some fragile, submissive girl who needed a man to lead her. But then again... when i pictured his sharp green eyes, his cool commanding voice, his intense presence and his touch that burns.

I couldn't help but wonder what it'd feel like to just... let go.

Let him lead.

Ugh. What was wrong with me?

I sighed.

"Nope," I whispered. "Not going there."

Still, I picked up my phone again.

And kept reading.

*****

I tried to concentrate, I swear.

But the more Professor Carter talked about Romantic literature, the more my thoughts drifted... not to the syllabus, but to the man standing at the front of the room.

Why was he so... composed? Why did he never smile?

Laura was beside me, jotting down notes like her life depended on it. James sat on my other side, and every now and then, he leaned in to whisper a sarcastic comment about the reading.

I laughed quietly but Professor Carter looked up at that exact moment.

Our eyes locked. Just for a second.

Long enough for me to forget how to breathe.

"Miss Giovanni," he said, "if there's something humorous about Frankenstein, please, do share with the class."

Heat rose to my face like a fire alarm had gone off in my bloodstream.

I lowered my gaze.

"I'm sorry, sir." i muttered.

He didn't reply. Just turned back to the board and continued with the lecture like i didn't exist.

I hated that. I hated how invisible he made me feel and how badly i wanted him to look at me again.

God help me.

I tried writing something down, but I realized all i had scribbled was his name.

Pathetic.

James leaned in again. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," i whispered. I wasn't.

"Before we end today's session," he said, placing the marker down and turning fully to face the class, "I have an announcement."