One Night With My Alpha Professor

Chapter 118 Edwin

That night, I had waited in my office for Audrey to leave, just as I always did. But 1 had waited for hours, and it was after midnight, and she still didn't emerge from the building. I had begun to think that she must have slipped out without me noticing, and maybe she was home already.

But then I found her at the bus stop, and I couldn't just let her wait there on her own.

Audrey's face cycled from confusion to fear and finally to what almost looked like mild annoyance once she saw my keys dangling from my fingers. "No thanks," she said, turning away and folding her arms across her chest. "I'm taking the bus."

"It's past midnight, Audrey. The bus isn't running anymore."

She looked around, her eyes scanning the empty street as if expecting the bus to suddenly materialize. "1. I'll walk, then."

I raised an eyebrow. "At this hour! In this part of the city? It's not safe."

Then I'll-NôvelDrama.Org owns all © content.

"Audrey, unless you want to sleep on the sidewalk here, you should just accept my ride."

Audrey seemed to flounder for a moment, her eyes darting between me and the empty street as her mouth opened and closed wordlessly. I could almost see the gears turning in her head as she weighed her options.

Finally, she sighed, her slender shoulders slumping in defeat. "Fine."

We walked to my car in silence, the only sound our footsteps echoing on the pavement. She wore a smart pair of trousers, a matching vest, and a loose button-down beneath-no doubt she had made all of it herself. Those **n heeled boots of hers that she loved so much clicked on the sidewalk, causing me to shoot a glance downward.

Instantly, I regretted it; the sight of her toned legs in those heels made my heart throb, and she almost noticed me looking

"Here we are." Clearing my throat, I stopped in front of my sleek black car waiting at the curb. I opened the passenger door for her, but she hardly acknowledged the gesture as she slipped inside. As I closed the door, my wolf growled in frustration. "You need to make things right with her," he said. "This is getting ridiculous."

I knew my wolf was right, but I couldn't help glancing around nervously before getting in the driver's seat. Fiona's threat to ruin Audrey's reputation if I kept talking to her hung over me like a dark cloud. There was no telling what Fiona might do if she found out about me giving Audrey a ride home...

Let alone if she knew that I had Audrey and her friends in my house one night.

I still remembered that day like it had been just yesterday; the scent of cool water on Audrey's skin, the sound of the rain attering against the windows. She'd looked exceptionally beautiful that night, even with her foot bandaged and her hair soaked.

both When I had found her sitting on the end of my dock, imagine my surprise-my mind quickly trying to decide if I had just found a real-life mermaid sitting on my property or the one person I'd wanted to see the most. Maybe

But of course, despite the joy of the unexpected visit, there was also the guilt. Because if Fiona knew, if she found out that Audrey and I had almost kissed on the porch that night, she might go to drastic measures to hurt Audrey.

Still, I doubted she was watching right now. It was probably fine.

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13:02 Wed, Sep 18 Chapter 118

As I started the car and pulled away from the curb, the silence between us was palpable, I could feel the tension radiating off of Audrey in waves. She didn't look at me, just sat with her arms folded and her gaze fixed on the city streets as they blurred

past.

The city was eerily quiet at this hour, the streets deserted except for the occasional car passing by. As if it weren't already silent enough in the car, it was also dead quiet outside. Surprisingly, she was the first to breakqhat silence. "What were you doing out so late?"

My eyebrow raised of its own accord, the urge to bite back a witry retort almost overwhelming. But my wolf stopped me; being snarky wouldn't help the situation

I hesitated, my hands tightening on the steering wheel. How much should I reveal? Finally, I decided on the truth.

"I've been staying at the office late every night," I admitted, keeping my eyes on the road. "I don't leave until I see you get on the bus safely."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Audrey's head snap toward me, her blue eyes wide as saucers. "So you've been watching me?" she asked, although there was no real heat to her voice. Something told me that she wasn't as mad about it as she was letting on.

"Not in a creepy way, if it's any consolation," I said. "I just don't feel comfortable leaving until I know you're safely heading home. Tonight, you were working extra late. You should be glad I was here to take you home."

She blinked at me for a moment before muttering, "I could have just called an Uber"

The city is unsafe this late for a young woman on her own," I reminded her. "Any creep could pick you up

A

k played at one comer of her mouth, and for a moment, 1 saw a flash of the old Audrey coming back. "Any creep?" she teased, gesturing to the car around her.

I had to bite back a laugh at that. Despite everything, her wit was still as sharp as ever. "Point taken," I conceded.

As we drove through the quiet streets, I found myself stealing glances at her. The streetlights cast a soft glow on her face, highlighting the tension in her jaw, the hurt in her eyes. I wanted nothing more than to explain everything, to make her understand why I had been pushing her away.

And, Goddess, I wanted to pull over and kiss her right now. A few times, I almost did, my fingers itching to jerk the steering wheel over to the curb. But I didn't

"How's the internship going?" asked trying to break the tension

Audrey shrugged, still not looking at me. "Fine"

"Paris Fashion Week is just.. fine?" I retorted.

This got her attention. She turned to me, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you going?"

1 shrugged noncommittally. "I might."

"You're the CEO. You should go."

"Why?" I asked, c**king my head. Now, it was my turn to be witty. "Are you planning on turning it into a date?"

Audrey's face reddened, and she quickly looked away, "I still have to win the contest," she said, her voice**se. "Against... Linda."

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13:02 Wed, Sep 18

Chapter 118

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Right. Linda. I still had to get to the bottom of however the hell that happened. I never would have allowed someone like her into my internship program; although, with everything going on lately. I had been rather distracted. Maybe I hadn't paid as close attention as I'd hoped.

When we finally pulled up to her house, she hardly waited a moment before flinging off her seatbelt and reaching for the door handle. I felt a sudden, uncharacteristic panic overcome me. This might be my only chance to talk to her alone, to make things right.

Before I could think better of it, I said, "Wait. I want to explain myself."

Audrey stiffened, her knuckles tightening around the handle. She wouldn't look at me. "There's nothing to explain. Professor Brooks."

The formality of those words stung more than I liked to admit. Topened my mouth, but the words wouldn't come. I was torn between wanting to tell her everything and not wanting to get too close for fear of Fiona's retaliation. And now, seeing the pain etched on Audrey's face, no matter how hard she tried to hide it, I felt even more cornered.

"Audrey, please." I tried again. I never begged, but I would do it now if I had to. "Things aren't... they're not what they seem." She finally turned to look at me, her eyes blazing. "Oh So you didn't sleep with me twice while engaged to someone else!"

Her words hit me like a slap to the face. "It's complicated," I said.

"It always is with you, isn't it?" Audrey shook her head and flung the door open. "I'm tired, Professor. I just want to go inside." The silence stretched between us, heavy and uncomfortable. I wanted to reach out, to touch her, to make her understand. But I knew I couldn't. Not now, maybe not ever.

Finally, I sighed. "Very well."

Audrey didn't waste another moment. She was out of the car, mumbling a thank-you for the ride, and hurrying inside before I could say anything else. I watched her go, feeling a deep ache in my chest. "Coward," my wolf snarled.

And he was right. I was a coward. But if being a coward meant keeping the human girl I had fallen in love with safe.... Then I would gladly wear that label until the end of my days. SEND GIFT