Aurora was on the verge of tears; had she known his true identity, she would never have provoked him. Although he had taken her virginity years ago, he had also done her a significant favor, balancing out their past encounter. When she had bumped into him at a nightclub, it was a spontaneous decision to seek revenge for the incident from three years ago. It had felt satisfying at the moment, but now she could no longer muster a smile.
“Mr. Barnet, that night was just a joke on my part,” she said.
“What a pleasantly surprising joke,” he replied, his smile growing more devilish.
Since Aurora had left, he had people investigate everything about her, including her unexpected founding of a public company in the United States during her years away. Besides seeking revenge, she was also preparing to launch this new company, with the location already secured; the next steps were all about its management.
When he learned she was busy with her new venture, he deliberately leaked news of his upcoming lecture at Clothville University. Given his status, she would surely approach him, which she did, clearly unaware of his identity from their last encounter. Offending him and still expecting to thrive in business? He wasn’t in a rush to confront her, preferring to let her walk right into his trap.
And now, the fish had taken the bait.
“Not funny,” Aurora muttered with a twist of her lips.
“Get in the car,” Julian said, pulling her towards his vehicle.
“Sir, I don’t know you! Please let go of me, we both have things to do; don’t waste each other’s time,” Aurora protested, trying to pull her hand free.
“We’ve shared a bed, and you still say you don’t know me?” Julian whispered harshly.
“Scoundrel!” Aurora exclaimed, appalled that a man of his stature would speak so crudely.
“There are worse things I could do. We don’t have to get in the car; this spot is quite scenic, I think…” he said, pinning her against a tree, his lips nearing hers.
Though most people were at a lecture in the auditorium today, they were on a main path of the school, where some students and faculty still passed by.
Aurora quickly pushed him away, “I’ll walk myself.”
Watching her retreat, Julian’s lips curled into a sly smile. “You can’t run away, woman.”
Aurora got into the car, and Julian sat beside her, commanding coldly, “Take me home.”
“Don’t you have a lecture?” Aurora thought of the eager girls and the waiting officials, surprised at his sudden decision to leave.
“How else could I lure out you little fox?” Julian smirked, eyes twinkling mischievously.
“You are…” Aurora realized it was too coincidental that he stopped the car as soon as she signaled, understanding that he had set a trap for her.
Knowing his status, it would indeed be easy for him to gather information about her.
“Sir, should I cancel your evening plans?” asked Rocky, adjusting his glasses in the front seat.
“Yes,” Julian responded simply.
“So many students were looking forward to your lecture, and you just decide not to go?” Aurora said anxiously.
“Did you look forward to it?” he countered.
“If I had known it was you, I wouldn’t have…” Aurora blurted out.
“I might still go, but you have to listen from the audience,” he proposed a condition.
Seeing her current disguise, Aurora had no intention of revealing her identity yet. If she showed up in the classroom, wouldn’t Ivy and others know she was back?
“No,” she flatly refused.