A PERFECT LIE

CHAPTER 5- NO I CANNOT!

~Aris’s POV~

The first rule of mentorship was neutrality.

No bias. No personal involvement.

But as Kaelen Wade walked into my office, the word neutrality disappeared.

Standing there at the door, I kept staring at him as I couldn't read the expression on his face. His dark hair fell lightly on his shoulders. His eyes captivated me.

For some reason I found him attractive.

“Professor Copper,” he said, calling me back to reality. “You wanted to discuss my proposal?”

“Yes.” I gestured to the chair opposite my desk. “Have a seat.”

He did carefully moving towards the chair. I watched him as he unpacked his notes, organized, meticulous, but marked with faint pencil scribbles that weren’t from a student trying to impress. They were from someone searching.

I folded my hands to hide my nervousness. “Emotional repression,that's what you have been studying,” I began. “That’s not a typical focus for someone your age.”

He looked up. “Neither is grief, but people study it anyway.”

The air shifted.

“I suppose they do,” I said softly. “And what made you choose this topic?”

He hesitated, averting his gaze to the window, “Let’s just say I’m curious about what people hide behind control.”

The words hit a little too close to home.

Before I could respond, he added quietly, “Your husband said something similar once, didn’t he?”

I frowned. “My husband?”

“Yes,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “In that Mind and Morality interview two years ago. He said, ‘Control is simply the art of disguising fear until it becomes discipline.’”

My pulse quickened. I remembered that interview, Julian sitting in his office, smiling that immaculate smile while reducing the human condition to data points.

“You remember it word for word?” I asked.

Kaelen shrugged. “Some words stay. Especially when they sound like something you’ve lived.”

There it was again, that strange gravity he carried.

“How do you know Julian?” I asked, keeping my tone light.

“I don’t,” he said too quickly.

“Then how did you end up quoting him like that?”

He looked away. “When you read as much as I do, you start sounding like everyone you study.”

Deflection. Smooth, almost practiced.

Leaning back on my chair, I observed him, “You seen to be careful with your answers.”

“I learned that from people who ask too many questions.”

His stared at me right in the eyes, like there were no boundaries.

Yet, neither of us looked away.

Everywhere became silent.

I should’ve broken it first. I didn’t.

The session ended forty minutes later. He thanked me politely, gathered his notes, and left with that same measured calm.

But the air he left behind felt different.

Thicker. Charged.

I exhaled, rubbing my temples. Something about the way he had said ‘your husband’ had unsettled me. Not with curiosity, but with knowledge.

He knew more than he was admitting.

And Julian’s words, repeated through Kaelen’s voice, echoed in my head long after the door closed.

‘Control is simply the art of disguising fear until it becomes discipline.’

Fear of what, Julian?

Of losing me?

Or of me finding something?

I got up and stepped outside and just then I found a note.

It was folded twice and slipped between the pages of my attendance register. No name. No handwriting I recognized.

Just six words written in blue ink:

‘Before it becomes too late, stay away from him.’

I folded the paper into my hands and immediately checked around. But it was only the laughter of students I saw, most chatting, unaware of what was going on around them.

Who wrote it? And what did ‘too late’mean? And stay away, from whom exactly?

I quickly went back into my office to steady my breath. Why was everything getting so strange. I decided to stay in my office till the next session with Kaelen.

Few hours later, he returned for another session.

He was quieter this time, almost distracted, though his eyes still held that unnerving focus.

We talked about his proposal, about the concept of “emotional boundaries in mentorship.” Ironically appropriate.

“Do you believe in boundaries, Professor?” he asked suddenly.

I blinked. “Professionally, yes.”

“And personally?”

I hesitated. “Sometimes boundaries protect us. Sometimes they isolate us.”

He smiled faintly. “That sounds like something you should write in a book.”

“I might,” I said, forcing a small smile. “If I ever have the time.”

“You’ll find it,” he murmured. “People always do when they want to escape.”

There was something in his tone that made my pulse trip, more like a mixture of challenge and confession.

He caught the look in my eyes, and for a moment, neither of us spoke.

And then, the door handle twisted.

Hard.

I froze.

Kaelen turned toward the sound, expression unreadable.

“Professor Copper?”

The voice was unmistakable, calm and terrifying.

Julian.

My throat tightened.

Before I could react, he opened the door wildly and entered.

“Aris?” Julian’s tone was smooth, but I could tell there was something behind it. “You’re still here?”

“Yes,” I said quickly, standing. “Mentorship session.”

He stepped halfway in, his eyes moving between kaelen and I. “I see.”

Something in his gaze lingered too long on Kaelen’s face.

“Good evening, sir! " Kealen greeted calmly. Every syllable was pronounced politely.

Julian’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Evening. I wasn’t aware you were in my wife’s program.”

Kaelen’s jaw tightened, almost imperceptibly. “I was just approved this week.”

“Ah,” Julian said softly. “Of course you were.”

He looked at me then, that deceptively calm mask perfectly in place. “Dinner’s getting cold, Aris. Don’t stay too long.”

I knew those words were warning but yet I steady myself not to react. He turned and closed the door.

No sooner had he left than Kaelen spoke, “I think he doesn't like me.”

“Oh, don't think like that, he just loves to be in control.” I Said without realizing it.

Kaelen’s eyes remained fixed on the closed door, “Then maybe he shouldn't have approved my transfer”

I really do not understand what was going on but as I tried to process it,Kaelen picked up his notes, his fingers brushing my hands lightly yet deliberately.

“Until next time, Professor,” he said softly, eyes locking with mine.

Then he left.

And I kept staring at the door until it was closed.

My heart was pounding for various reasons I cannot fathom.

But yet Julian's words replayed in my head like a curse.

“Don’t let emotions ruin your credibility.”

But what if emotions were the only real thing left?

Because I cannot control the amount of emotions I feel around Kaelen!

I can't let it happen, I am older and he is younger.