My Forbidden Professor

Ethan Hayes never looked at his students. At least, that was what everyone said. Professor Hayes was known for many things at Westbridge University. His intelligence. His impossible standards. His cold personality. But never for favoritism. Never for distraction. Never for losing control. Yet somehow, for the third time in less than an hour, his eyes found mine. I looked away immediately. Maybe it was an accident. Maybe I was imagining things. But when I glanced up again, he was still looking. Not at the class. Not at the presentation screen. At me. My pulse quickened. "Miss Carter." My stomach dropped. The entire lecture hall turned toward me. I slowly raised my head. "Y-Yes, Professor?" His expression didn't change. It never did. "If you're done daydreaming, perhaps you'd like to answer the question." A few students laughed. Heat rushed to my cheeks. Great. Humiliated in front of two hundred people. "Can you repeat the question?" I asked quietly. More laughter. Professor Hayes stared at me for a moment before turning toward the board. "The relationship between memory and emotional attachment." I swallowed. Thankfully, I knew the answer. After all, psychology was my favorite subject. And unfortunately, his class was my favorite too. I explained the theory. When I finished, the room became silent. Professor Hayes studied me carefully. "Correct." That single word shouldn't have mattered. Yet somehow it did. Because Ethan Hayes never praised anyone. Ever. The lecture continued. But I couldn't focus anymore. Not after the way he'd looked at me. Not after hearing my name leave his lips. And definitely not after noticing that every time I glanced up, his attention drifted back to me. Hours later, the lecture finally ended. Students rushed toward the exits. Conversations filled the room. I quickly packed my books and headed for the door. The sooner I left, the sooner I could stop thinking about him. "Miss Carter." I froze. My fingers tightened around my notebook. Slowly, I turned around. Everyone else had already left. The lecture hall was nearly empty. Professor Hayes stood near his desk. Watching me. Waiting. My heartbeat became painfully loud. "Yes, Professor?" His jaw tightened slightly. The smallest movement. Most people probably wouldn't notice. I did. Because I'd spent far too much time noticing things about Ethan Hayes. "Come to my office." My breath caught. "What?" "I need to discuss something regarding your assignment." His voice remained calm. Professional. Distant. Yet something about the way he said it felt different. Dangerous. I should have refused. I should have walked away. Instead, I heard myself say— "Okay." For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes. Relief. Regret. Maybe both. Then it disappeared. And suddenly I had the terrifying feeling that whatever waited behind his office door was about to change everything. To be continued...