AFTER HOURS: MY DEAL WITH PROFESSOR BANCROFT

CHAPTER 7

JULIA

My fingers flexed around the strap of my bag and my heart raced. Professor Bancroft gathered his books, not sparing me a glance until the door closed behind the last student.

And then he looked up again.

I sucked in a breath as our gaze clashed, suddenly very self aware under his gaze.

"You weren't paying attention" he said sternly and a wave of what I refused to accept as disappointment rushed through me.

I'd expected him to mention the evening at his home but from the look on his face, I had a feeling he wouldn't be addressing that.

"Julia" he snapped again, his voice echoing my name like a smooth caress.

"You've never struggled in my class before" he ground out.

"And yet I keep failing" I muttered under my breath and he arched a perfectly carved brow at me.

"If you can't concentrate in my class..."

"I'm fine Professor" I cut him off and his gaze narrowed at me. He probably hated my rude interruption, or maybe it was the impatient tone in my voice that irked him.

"Then why couldn't you answer the question on the topic today?" He pressed.

I hesitated with my answer but it suddenly occurred to me that this wouldn't end unless I gave him the answer he wanted.

"I was distracted" I mumbled and watched his features relax.

"You're letting one evening affect your studies"

I inhaled sharply and his eyes twitched as he watched me, like he'd been waiting for a reaction from me.

"I'm not" I snapped at him.

"I didn't even think about it for once. Not until you mentioned it" The lie slipped out easily but I regretted it immediately. The tremble in my voice instantly gave me away and had me looking stupid.

I shut my eyes and inhaled deeply to settle my emotions.

"That night has nothing to do with this. I was only distracted and I won't let it happen again"

Professor Bancroft hummed and looked down at his books for a moment. When he looked back up at me, his eyes were burning with intensity.

"You'll have to convince me" The vibration of his voice sent a shiver down my spine.

"C-Convince you?"

"That you can take this class seriously"

"I don't need to..."

"Five hundred words. On obsession, lust and love"

"Professor Bancroft!"

"I don't want a pile of meaningless words Julia"

An involuntary shiver rushed through me when he dragged out my name in a thick accent.

"I want to feel you in the essay" he added in a low voice and my stomach quivered at the intensity.

I didn't know if he was talking about the essay... or me.

The temperature in the room had climbed up in the last second and my face burned from the heat and his gaze.

"Tomorrow. at the close of day. In my office"

My lips fluttered. No words came through.

"Understood Julia?" He stretched my name again, in that fancy accent that made heat pool in my belly.

I gulped. "Y-Yes, Professor Bancroft"

"Dismissed" he growled at me and my legs moved as if on autopilot as I walked out of the classroom and into the packed hallway.

I let out a shaky breath as I wove through the crowd. My phone pinged as I stepped onto the stairs.

'North Cafe'

I stared at Nina's message with mixed feelings. I wanted to run home. But with other classes due later in the day, I had to wait back.

With a frustrated sigh, I made my way to the north cafe.

I spotted Nina by the large floor window, a familiar figure sitting next to her.

Their gazes snapped up as I arrived at the table and Nina took one look at me to know something was wrong.

"I'd advise you to drop the class. But that would hinder you from graduating"

I groaned and slipped into the empty chair, grabbing her untouched smoothie.

"Trouble with a professor?" Jared asked with interest.

"And not just anyone. Professor Bancroft" Nina answered and his eyes widened.

"s**t Julia. Sucks to be you right now"

Yeah. Tell me something I didn't know.

"He looked very displeased with you"

"Gave me a five hundred word essay on today's topic. Due tomorrow"

"Damn," they said at the same time.

"How do you finish a five hundred word essay before tomorrow"

I pressed my fingers against my temple. I could get to it. The problem was his damned instruction.

He wanted to feel me in the essay and I wasn't sure I could deliver what he wanted.

"You know, if you need any help... Timothy can be of assistance"

I scoffed at the mention of Jared's best buddy.

"He took Bancroft's class a semester ago. And he passed flawlessly. He could help you in any area you're lacking"

"I'll pass" I said, without giving it a single consideration. Accepting help from Timothy meant welcoming him into my space and it would take a lot to get rid of him.

I saw Nina nudge Jared as I looked up.

"I'll be fine. But I have to get to it if I'm going to get it done by tomorrow"

Nina nodded with a pitiful look.

"If you need anything..."

I nodded as I moved from the table, grabbing the smoothie with me. My stomach rumbled as the scent of freshly baked snacks wafted across my nose but I ignored it.

I needed to get to work.

The library was my next stop. I chose the most isolated area and settled into it, bringing out my old laptop.

My fingers flew over the laptop as I began the essay, touching each one of them and making them personal.

After I'd written for a straight hour, I read through my work and my lips pursed.

I started my edit and ended up with less than half of what I'd written. The rest of what I had didn't feel like what I'd write. Every word felt hollow.

A frustrated groan passed through my lips and I buried my face into my palms. My mind foreshadowed his reaction when he read through it.

I imagined that empty look on his face and those two damned words slipping through his lips in a deep voice.

Entirely forgettable.

"f**k you, Professor Bancroft" I muttered.

It was midnight when I finally closed my laptop. After two changes of scenery, I'd finally settled down enough to write something and passed out right after.

The next day was full of nerves for me.

I went through the day's classes barely paying any attention to the lessons. My eyes constantly went to my phone, checking the hours as the time went by.

And after the alarm for the last class, I gathered my things and stepped out of the classroom. I walked to the professor's office, my knuckles white from holding my bag tightly.

The hallway was quiet as usual as I turned into the last curve that revealed his office.

I controlled my breathing as I lifted my arms, and knocked against the door.

Once.

Twice. I was getting ready to knock for the third time when I heard it.

"Come in"