56

Oakley.
My eyes flicker open, and I find Eva in my arms, sleeping peacefully. I can’t help but smile the moment I see her, wishing we could wake together like this every day. A stupid fantasy because Eva and I can’t be together.
Ever since I’ve got to know her, it’s become clear that she is nothing like her parents, which means I can’t consider using her the way I intended.
Revenge seems unimportant for the first time in a long time as I stare at Eva. My desire to ruin the people that ruined me, as well as murdered an innocent woman I cared for, was all I had at one point.
My phone buzzes, and I grab it off the nightstand, finding a multimedia message from an unknown number. When I open it, my stomach dips.
It’s a photo of me and Eva, half-naked and tearing at each other’s clothes in the classroom last night. “Shit,” I mutter.
Eva stirs in my arms but doesn’t wake. I remove my arm from under her and slip out of bed, pacing quietly out of the bedroom. I don’t want to worry her about this, as she would panic.
I type my response to the number.
What do you want?
My heart pounds as I wait, expecting a swift reply. When I don’t get it, I slam the phone down on the kitchen table and slump into one of my kitchen chairs, holding my head in my hands.
Perhaps it is fate. The Carmichaels wanted to destroy my world. Now, I’ve set out to destroy them, but I may have embroiled myself in a scandal I can’t recover from. Not to mention, my feelings for Eva are anything but fake.
It’s been clear that I’ve been in love with my pupil for a while. She reminds me of the boy who chose differently, like she wants to. Years ago, the boy escaped his parents’ clutches and forsook his birthright to reign over a corrupt criminal empire.
I fled Italy at eighteen years old, took on my new identity as Brett Oakley Archer, and built Archer data corp from the ground up. All for Eva’s parents to tear it down in less than two days.
The cell phone buzzes, and I grab it.
Money. A lot. Or, this picture goes to press.
I know threats like this never go away. If I pay this jerk money, they will soon ask for more.
I dial Ainsley’s number, knowing he has a tech whizz on speed dial for this kind of shit. It will be a student behind it, so hopefully, his contact can trace the number and give me his or her identity.
“Oak, what can I do for you?”
“That whizz kid who helps out. Any chance he can help with a personal matter?” I ask.
“I’m sure he could. What exactly do you need help with?”
I run a hand through my hair. “I need you to trace a number to the owner. Some kid is trying to blackmail me, and I want to find out who.”
There’s some rustling at the other end of the phone. “Give me the number, and I’ll get him to trace it.”
“Can’t I text you the number? I suggest.
He tuts. “Very unwise. Anyone could have tabs on your messages. Now, give me the number?”
I pull up the number and tell him the digits.
“Perfect. I’ll have an answer for you within twenty-four hours.” He cancels the call, and I stand and turn around to find Eva scowling at me.
“Who is blackmailing you?” She asks.
I sigh and sink into the chair. “Before I tell you, I don’t want you to panic.” I give her a pointed look. “I’m sorting it out.” And then I beckon for her to approach.
She does, and I grab her hand, pulling her into my lap.
“This multimedia message came through this morning. I don’t know who sent it.” I place the phone in her hand, and Eva gasps, attempting to wriggle free of my grasp.
I grip her harder. “Eva, I told you not to panic. I’m handling it.”
Her eyes are wide as she stares at me like I’m crazy. “Oak, someone at this school has witnessed us fucking in a classroom on campus.” She shakes her head. “The only normal reaction is to panic.”
I kiss her lips tenderly. “I can find out who is behind it. They won’t get away with it.”
Eva tenses against me. “What would you do if you discovered who was behind it?”
“I’d get the fucker to delete the photos and confiscate all of their media until I’ve checked there’s no more incriminating evidence.”
“And what if they talk?” Eva asks.
I shrug. “It would be a stupid rumor, with no evidence to back it.”
Eva doesn’t look very convinced. She folds her arms over her chest. “Rumors have power.” She shakes her head. “And it would be a rumor with truth to it.” She sighs heavily. “My parents would be here in a heartbeat.”
“If that happens, then I will handle it.” Even though that was my original plan, I will have to deal with it if that happens. “Once we know who it is, perhaps I can find some dirt they don’t want out.”
Eva sighs heavily and rests her forehead on my shoulder. “Maybe me staying with you for winter break is a bad idea.”
I growl softly and tighten my arms around her. “You are not getting out of that. There will be no one around to catch us,” I murmur, pressing my lips to hers.
Eva’s eyes move to the small window over the cottage kitchen sink. “What if the person is watching us?”
“This is the exact reason I should have stayed away from you until the winter break.” My arms tighten around her. “But if I’d stayed a way, who knows what Dimitry would have done last night? I hate to think about it.”
Eva shudders against me. “So do I.”
“The guy I know reckons he’ll have an answer for me in twenty-four hours.” I release Eva from my arms. “I guess in the meantime, we should keep away from each other.”
Eva’s shoulders dip, but she nods in agreement. “Five more days, right?”
I nod and stand, closing the gap between us. “First, I’m going to make you pancakes.” I press a kiss on her forehead. “And then we’ll take a shower.”
Eva shivers in my arms, eyes dilating. “I assume it won’t just be washing we’ll be doing in there?”
I kiss her pillowy lips softly, enjoying the feel of them against my own. “Of course not.” I claw myself away from her and grab the ingredients I need for pancakes. “But first, we need food. We have to refuel after last night.”
Eva’s cheeks go pink, obviously remembering how crazy we were last night. I took her on every surface in this cottage after fucking her three times in the classroom. I fucked her over her desk, a second time over mine and a third over Dimitry’s as a fuck you to the bastard who tried to touch my woman.
I groan softly as that word resurfaces again. Eva isn’t mine, yet just thinking that makes my whole body recoil in disagreement.