Chapter 2: Seventeen
1744 Words
Professor Asher's Perspective.
As I taught the class, I couldn't help but stare seductively at the beautiful lady - Eleanor. She was indeed gorgeous with a beautiful smile that warmed my ice-cold heart.
Our gaze was locked in again as I stepped away from the podium. I could tell she was attracted to me, and I was attracted to her too. She wasn't scared, I would call her out again as she kept on staring at me.
"Our first class has ended. Are there any questions?" My eyes were fixed on her, hoping she would ask a question.
For some inexplicable reason, I had enjoyed our 'little altercation' earlier. She had proved she was intelligent, and she wasn't someone I could easily intimidate or dominate.
"Any hands?" I was disappointed as she kept her hands down. I had to search the rest of the class for a raised hand.
"One...two....three...four...FIVE!" I stressed the last word, as her hand finally sprang up. Immediately, I was done selecting any other student.
"Eleanor", I called her first, ignoring the four boys before her. "Please state your question." I swallowed my saliva, trying to conceal any emotions.
I watched as she stood up from her seat. Her blonde curls resting gracefully on her shoulders. Her black tank top and denim miniskirt, revealing her alluring hour-glass figure.
"I don't really have a question, Professor Asher..." Her golden voice, as angelic as her look. I raised an eyebrow, confused. Why did she raise her hand then?
"...I just wanted to ask, how can I contact you?" She stared at me innocently. I swallowed my saliva harder, my Adam's apple trying to jump out of my mouth.
"I see... I'll have the class president send you all my official email address. You can contact me anytime with that. Is that alright?"
I watched her closely to see her reaction. Was there more to her question?
"Yeah, but one more question." She looked amused as she paused. Her tone of voice is innocent.
"Where can I find your office?" Her radiant emerald eyes conveyed her hidden message. She was flirting with me.
She was audacious! As much as I was attracted to her, I was still trying to create some boundaries between us.
I had dealt with similar attention before from my female students. Each time I managed to control the situation and set clear boundaries between us.
Eleanor was not going to be any different, I just needed to enforce my boundaries with her.
"My office location is no secret." I smirked, trying to conceal my disapproval at her question.
"You can find it located on the second floor to the right, with a sign of my name on it."
"But I assure you, you won't find me seated in my office. I have far more important work to do in my research lab." I revealed it to the class.
I answered her question without a fuss. I also made it clear that I did not want anyone to come looking for me at my office.
"Okay." I heard her say the last word on the matter as she gracefully sat back down.
I didn't know what to make of it. Did she agree with what I said or did she simply acknowledge it?
She was looking at me again as she had done all through my class. It was dangerous!
It felt like it was a challenge of wills. I took it as a challenge, as I loved challenges. If it was a clash of wills she wanted, then I was ready!
"Please state your question number four". I resumed listening to the questions of the other boys, counting backwards.
***
10 minutes later, I was back in my office. I know I said I would be busy in my research lab but i had to stop by to look up someone's details.
I could have done this anywhere on my phone, but my office provided me with the much-needed privacy.
I closed the door behind me and made sure I secured it with my key quickly. I didn't want a lecturer or a student walking in on me and catching me off guard.
I hurriedly settled in my office chair, relaxing my poised demeanor. My phone was already in my left hand, as I typed out her name.
"Eleanor Rivera...enter!" I hit the search button. I logged onto the school website to view her details.
"Here it is!" I saw her student profile pop up. I could see her personal information, but I was searching for one in particular.
"Age, age." I scrolled down hurriedly.
"Age seventeen!" I stopped scrolling, as I found what I was looking for. I was taken aback, as I reconfirmed what I had just seen.
She was still below eighteen! I dropped my phone on my table as I sprang up from my seat.
Why was I surprised by her age? - She looked her age. Maybe I was desperately hoping she was older.
"She was openly flirting with me - the nerve!" I paced anxiously in my office.
"She knows I can have nothing to do with her!" I was both indignant and disappointed.
Indignant because her stare, her words and her beauty were a course for worry. Disappointed because she had warmed some parts of my frozen heart.
I stopped pacing as I picked up my phone from the table. I stared once again at her age and her beautiful digital passport photograph.
Despite her age, it was still illegal to be involved with her. She was my student.
I wished I had not hidden in my office to look up her personal information. I have never done this before with any student, until now. It meant I had a weakness for her.
Her profile page was still open on my phone. I had only one choice to make - close her profile page and completely forget about her going forward.
I closed her tab on my phone - that was the easy part. Shutting her out of my life and enforcing my boundaries - that was going to be the hard part.
I walked to the closed door of my office, and I unlocked it. I had to kill whatever attraction I have for her. If not, it would kill me! My career, my reputation and my freedom!
I opened the door, as I stepped out with resolve. The resolve I made 10 years earlier when I was accepted to the university as a lecturer.
"Never get involved sexually or romantically with anyone from work." I uttered in a low voice. I was twenty years old when I first said those words. Now I am thirty.
All females in school were off limits to me - lecturers and students. I felt much better within myself as I closed the door behind me.
I could see my research lab a couple of feet away in the passageway.
"I have more important things to do than occupy my mind with her." I was pleased with myself, as my poise returned. With that, I went back to work.
***
I was preparing a new glass slide to view under a microscope. I was deeply engrossed with my work in the research lab.
I have built a reputation over the years to live up to. My name was associated with intelligence and excellence at the university.
I was the only one left in the lab by this time. My colleagues and students had all left me for their homes.
"Just an hour more before I leave." I looked at my wristwatch. It was 10 P.M. I sat on a stool to view what I had prepared under a microscope.
I enjoyed my work so much. Not only did it make me the lecturer with the most awards, but it also made me very rich!
"Wow, look at the time!" I glanced at my wristwatch again. It was now past 11 P.M. but it felt like only a minute had gone by since I last viewed it.
"I'll finish up tomorrow," I stood, as I made my way out of the lab. Everywhere was quiet, except for a security guard who greeted me.
"Goodnight Professor Asher."
"Goodnight." I smiled, as I made my way to the only car left in the parking lot.
I unlocked it remotely as I got in. I settled in as I took out my phone to charge on the wireless charging pad on my drive home.
I could see I had an email notification, as I held my phone in my right hand.
"Can You Memorize These Numbers?"
I read out the caption of the email. It was unconventional, but I was tempted to open it.
'Click', I did.
It was a video. There was nothing else contained in the email. I had to play the video if I wanted to know what the 'numbers' were about.
'Click', I did it again.
"Hello, it's me - Eleanor Rivera." She waved.
I was in shock as the video played. She recorded a full-body video of herself to highlight her alluring figure and beauty.
"I wanted to speak to you right after class, but you said you would be busy. I really want to learn from you and be like you - the very best." She spoke softly and politely.
"I am sorry I had to send you a video, but I feared written words may not convey the right emotions. I will be so happy if you could be my mentor." She said innocently.
"I will be open to discussing this matter some more with you. This is my phone number..." She goes right ahead to say it.
I wasn't listening, but I am certain my brain registered it somewhere in my memory. I never liked to lose a challenge.
"Calling or texting, I am fine with either. I look forward to hearing from you soon." Her smile was captivating as the video ended.
I exhaled deeply, relieving the pressure I was holding inside all through the video. What game was she playing? Where was she going with this?
I placed my phone on the wireless charging pad.
I could see the security guard as I looked through the windshield.
"If I don't drive out soon, he will think something is wrong and come over here."
With the click of a button, I quickly ignited the car's engine as I drove off.
- Writer
