JUNIPER’S POV
“What does he want from you?” Hiram’s voice cuts through.
I shrug casually, brushing him off.
“Probably to ask why I missed his class. He is my lecturer, you know.” Hiram’s brows knit together with a frown, which makes me regret my response at once, as I hadn’t intended it to sound the way it did.
“God, Hiram. Not every lecturer is out to sleep with me. Professor Victor is old, strict, and probably has a lovely family.” I try to sound nonchalant, but the unease in his gaze doesn’t waver.
“You think I’m worried for nothing?” His tone has a tinge of frustration simmering beneath it.
I sigh.
“Do you not want me to go?”
“It’s not that.” His voice softens. “It’s just… meeting him in his office. Behind closed doors. That’s unnecessary. If it’s about class, he could’ve addressed it there. Anything can happen when you’re alone with him, Juniper. I just want you to be careful.”
I lean in and kiss him, hoping to reassure him. “I can handle myself, Hiram.”
The hallway to Professor Victor’s office feels longer than usual as I keep trying to put away Hiram’s words, but they echo in my head. I try to rehearse my excuse-the perfect lie about a headache and needing a break-until it feels natural. When I finally reach the door, I pause, taking a deep breath to steady myself.
Then I knock.
“Who’s there?” his voice calls out.
“It’s Juniper Miles, sir. The third-year course rep.”
“Come in.”
I open the door and step inside.
Professor Victor sits behind his desk with his glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, scanning a stack of papers.
“Good day, sir,” I say, genuflecting slightly to show my respect.
His kind eyes lift to meet mine, and for a fleeting moment, the tension in my chest eases. Then, his gaze lingers, holding mine for far too long, and unease creeps back in.
“How old are you, Miss Miles?” he asks suddenly, and my mouth is ajar for a moment as the question throws me off.
I inhale deeply, trying to find my words.
“I turned twenty about a month ago, sir.” I try to sound natural, but his piercing stare makes my stomach tighten.
“I’ve been watching you since your first year, but I never expected such from you.” My breath hitches as I feel the disappointment in his voice.
“I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t mean to-”
“Stop talking.” He raises a hand, silencing me.
Taking off his glasses, he places them on the desk with care before standing. My eyes follow him as he moves, circling around me like a predator sizing up its prey. Then he walks away from me, causing me to exhale deeply, but my heart picks up the moment I hear the click of the lock.
“I didn’t call you here to discuss your absence in class,” he says in a deep tone, which drowns the entire room, making it feel smaller with each passing second.
My feet refuse to move, and my body freezes as his shadow engulfs me from behind.
“I’ve heard things about you, Juniper,” he continues in a low voice. “And I’m disappointed.”
“Disappointed?” I croak.
“Yes. Disappointed you didn’t come to me sooner.” When he says this, my brows crease in confusion.
I do not know what he is getting at this moment, but a part of me fears it has something to do with my grades.
“Professor, I-”
“You can drop the act.” His hands suddenly grip my waist, pulling me close before I can step back.
His intention becomes apparent at this moment, and I feel my blood run cold.
“I’ve waited long enough. Do you know how many nights I’ve thought about you? How many times I’ve imagined what’s under that little skirt of yours?” His breath is hot against my ear, sending a shiver of revulsion down my spine as his hands travel down my thighs.
“Sir, this isn’t-”
“Don’t pretend you don’t like the attention.” He cuts me off as he presses my body into his, allowing my butt to feel the bulge in his pants. “If I knew you were like this, I would have had you once you turned eighteen. I can already feel the warmth of your mouth around my…”
I do not wait for him to finish when I slam my elbow into his belly, but it does little to nothing. He lets out a chuckle in my ear.
“Don’t fight me,” he growls, his lips grazing my jawline. “You’ve teased me long enough, parading around like you don’t know the effect you have on men.”
Panic floods my system as his words sink in. My heart pounds in my chest, and Hiram’s warning echoes louder now.
“I hear you always like to put up a fight to spice things up, but I am too old for that.” My entire body tenses, adrenaline coursing through my veins as Professor Victor’s words hang in the air.
His hands loosen from my waist, and he turns me around to face him. As I look into his eyes, the kindness they always held vanishes, and I realize once more that he is a man who will never pass up the opportunity to prey on a young woman. Summoning my courage, I knee him in the balls, catching him off guard as a scream escapes his lips, and he moves back.
I don’t wait to see his reaction. I bolt for the door, my hand reaching for the handle, but then I feel it. His hand wraps around my wrist, yanking me backward. Before I can scream, he spins me and slams me against the wall, the cold surface biting into my back. His face is twisted as fury burns in him.
“You little-” he hisses, but before he can finish, a sharp knock echoes through the room.
“Professor Victor?”
It’s Hiram.
Relief floods my chest, but it’s fleeting as Victor’s hand clamps over my mouth, silencing me before I can call out. His other hand tightens on my wrist, and his gaze narrows, daring me to defy him.
“Yes?” Victor calls out, his tone suddenly composed, though his hand trembles against my lips.
“It’s Hiram.”
Victor’s jaw tightens as his eyes scan mine for any sign I might betray him. The pressure on my wrist eases slightly, and I know he’s debating his next move. Slowly, he releases me.
I take a shaky breath, and my body trembles as he steps toward the door. He unlocks it, staying calm like he hasn’t just made me live through five minutes of trauma. I force a smile, ignoring the way my heart hammers in my chest.
“I was just leaving,” I say, trying not to look at Hiram as I uphold the smile. I can feel his gaze on mine, but I do not break, rather I make my way out of the office at once while he shuts the door.
As I exit, I lean against the door, my breath shuddering as I try to compose myself.
“To what do I owe this pleasant visit from the youngest professor of this institution?” Victor’s voice shifts from predatory to sweet and welcoming.
“I have heard a lot about you, Professor, and I just thought to drop by today. You major in history, and…”
My legs feel like jelly, barely carrying me as I make my way down the hallway, not wanting to hear the rest of the conversation. Victor’s words still echo in my ears, and his touch is still vivid on my skin, making me want to rip myself in parts. I want to cry, but there are students everywhere.
Soon, the classroom door comes into view, and I feel a bit of relief as I try to compose myself. The last thing I want is to draw attention. But the moment I step inside, the hum of conversation feels deafening, and the walls seem to close in around me. I manage to reach my seat, and as I Sliding into it, my phone chimes. I pull it out with trembling hands. A new message lights up the screen:
What happened in that office?
My breath hitches as I stare at Hiram’s text, but instead of replying, I shut off the phone.
“Juniper?” Rhea’s soft voice calls out from behind. Then I turn around, forcing a smile onto my face.
“You weren’t in history class today, and…” she pauses the moment she notices my smile is fake.
Without a word, she reaches out and grabs my hand. Rhea is the one person that can read me thoroughly, but I feel scared to tell her anything.
“Let’s go,” she says, pulling me to my feet.
“Rhea, I-”
“Shh,” she interrupts, leaving no room for argument.
She leads me out of the classroom, and we make our way to a bench in the courtyard. Sitting beside me, Rhea doesn’t press me, rather she gives me space. In no time, tears well up in my eyes, falling before I can stop them. My hands tremble in my lap, and Rhea notices, reaching out to steady them with hers. I let out everything that happened in there, and she stares at me in shock.
“Does Hiram know about this?” she asks, and I shake my head.
“He texted, but I do not know if I should tell him right away. Professor Victor is held in high respect, and…”
“Hiram is a professor too, and I think he can handle it in a way that you won’t get into trouble,” she cuts me off, and I take a deep breath.
She puts her arms around me, bringing my head to her shoulder.
“I am so sorry for what happened, and I wish there was something we could do.” My sniffs falter as she says this, but the image of what happened threatens to consume me. “Just let him know, okay? I cannot imagine how many people he has done this to.”
As she caresses my hair, my body loosens up, and I focus on breathing.
After a while, I pull out my phone and text Hiram about everything Victor did.