The early morning sun filtered through the half-drawn curtains of Adrian’s office, spreading a pale glow on the city below. He stood by the window, his fingers drumming absently on the desk, his thoughts still tangled around the enigma that was Elena Harper. She had stirred something in him something he couldn’t ignore.
From the moment he saw her file, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was more than the innocent small-town girl the world seemed to think she was. Every detail about her had a carefully crafted edge. Her involvement with Gabriel Kingsley and Andrew Harrington didn’t sit right with him.
It was all a game.
Adrian couldn’t decide if he was intrigued or frustrated. Maybe both. His eyes narrowed as his thoughts drifted back to the photos of her with Gabriel. She looked too comfortable with them. Too relaxed. Like she had been part of their world for years.
He turned his attention back to the computer screen, reopening Elena’s file. A new picture had been added one taken at a campus beach . Elena stood with her arms crossed, gazing out at the ocean. She wasn’t smiling in this one. Instead, her expression was sad almost lonely.
Adrian leaned forward, studying the photo. There was something haunting in her eyes. Was this the real Elena Harper? Or was it just another mask she wore?
“She’s just like every other girl who uses her looks to climb higher,” Adrian muttered, leaning back in his chair. But even as he said the words, he knew he didn’t fully believe them. There was something about her something different. But what was it?
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing. It was Harvey, his assistant.
“Sir,” Harvey’s voice crackled through, “I’ve just received confirmation from Kingston University. They’ve prepared everything for your first day. Your class routine is set, and a meeting with the department heads has been scheduled for tomorrow.”
Adrian’s lips curled into a faint smile. It was time.
“Good,” he replied coolly, “But I’ll take a detour before that. I want to see her for myself.”
Harvey was silent for a moment, clearly unsure about what Adrian meant, but then he quickly composed himself. “You mean Miss Harper?”
“Exactly.” Adrian’s tone was sharp, but there was something else a tinge of curiosity he couldn’t hide. “I’ll check upon her class tomorrow. I’ll watch her. I’ll make sure I know exactly what I’m dealing with.”
Harvey hesitated again but didn’t argue. “Understood, sir.”
The line went dead, and Adrian set the phone down. He stood up, walking over to the window again, his gaze drifting out to the bustling streets below. He could feel the weight of the decision weighting on him.
Adrian Blackwood’s first day as a professor at Kingston University was everything he had expected-efficient, controlled, and devoid of any unnecessary distractions. As he entered the lecture hall, his gaze was sharp, scanning the room as if he were already assessing the students. His suit was immaculate, every wrinkle perfectly ironed, his shoes polished to a mirror shine. He wasn’t here to make friends. He was here to uphold the standards of this prestigious institution, standards that his mother had built with her own hands.
He stood at the front, his posture straight, a quiet authority filling the room. The students immediately felt the change in atmosphere. Adrian didn’t smile. He didn’t joke. He didn’t care for small talk. He was there to teach, and that was all.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice steady, clear, and commanding. “I’m Professor Blackwood. I’ll be teaching English Language this semester, and I expect you to be serious about your studies. This is a university, not a playground.”
There was no warmth in his words, only cold professionalism. His eyes swept over the students, noting who was paying attention and who wasn’t. Some students seemed nervous under his gaze, others tried to impress by sitting up straight, but Adrian didn’t care. The only thing that mattered to him was the quality of their work, not their charm or pleasantries.
He went on with the lecture, seamlessly diving into the day’s topic. English grammar, sentence structure, and the art of proper communication-subjects Adrian knew inside and out. His lectures were direct, and there was little room for error. His pacing was quick, and anyone who lagged behind was left behind.
As he wrote notes on the board, Adrian’s gaze occasionally flickered to Elena Harper. She was seated in the second row, her posture slumped slightly, and her focus was clearly not on the lecture. Her eyes were distant, a faraway look clouding her usually calm demeanor.
Adrian noticed this immediately. While the other students were scribbling notes or keeping their attention on him, Elena seemed distracted her pen tapping nervously on the desk, her gaze drifting to the window every few seconds. It was obvious she wasn’t entirely present.
He didn’t mind the others. They were here to learn, and if they were distracted, that was their problem. But Elena Harper? She had caught his eye. Not because of her looks, though she wasn’t unattractive, but because of the way she seemed to carry herself. There was something about her-the way she sat quietly, always on the edge of her seat, like she was waiting for something or someone. But today, her attention seemed to be elsewhere.
He couldn’t help but wonder what could be so important. As a professor, he didn’t care much for his students’ personal lives, but Elena’s disinterest struck him as odd. She seemed like a student who had everything together calm, composed, quiet. Yet today, she was anything but.
He stopped mid-sentence, his sharp gaze falling on her.
“Miss Harper,” he called out, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. “Are you with us today, or are you lost in your own thoughts?”
The room fell silent. Every student’s gaze shifted to Elena, who snapped out of her reverie. Her face flushed slightly as she met his cold stare, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment.
“Sorry, Professor Blackwood,” she muttered, her voice soft, almost apologetic. “I… I was just… distracted.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow, his gaze never wavering. “Distracted? Is that why you’re here? To be distracted? If you can’t focus, perhaps you’d like to step outside and gather yourself.”
Elena opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, he spoke again.
“You’re here to learn, Miss Harper, not to daydream. If you want to pass this class, you need to put in the effort, not let your mind wander.”
She nodded quickly, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She felt the weight of his words, and for a moment, she almost wanted to apologize. But it wasn’t just his words that were harsh-it was his entire presence. Adrian Blackwood exuded a cold, sterile energy. He wasn’t here to coddle anyone.
The class carried on, and Adrian continued his lecture with precision. He moved around the room, asking questions, calling on students to answer. His questions were not easy, but he expected correct answers, and there was no tolerance for mistakes.
Elena tried to focus, taking deep breaths and forcing herself to pay attention. She scribbled notes, but her mind kept drifting back to the phone call she had received this morning. Her father had sounded worse than usual. The argument between her parents had only escalated over the past few weeks, and it was weighing on her shoulders. But she didn’t want to let it affect her here, not in front of everyone, especially not in front of Professor Blackwood, whose cold eyes seemed to pierce through her every time she lost focus.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t push the thoughts out of her mind. And that was exactly what Adrian had noticed.
When the bell rang, signaling the end of the class, the students began to pack up their things. But Adrian wasn’t finished with Elena just yet. As the students filed out, he walked over to her desk, his steps purposeful.
“Miss Harper,” he said, his tone still sharp. “I expect you to be fully present in my class. If you’re distracted, I will not tolerate it.”
Elena looked up at him, her face flushed. “I understand, Professor. I’ll do better next time.”
Adrian studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. “See that you do. Your performance reflects not only on you, but also on this university.”
He turned and walked away, leaving Elena alone with her thoughts. She had a feeling this wasn’t going to be an easy semester. But one thing was certain-Adrian Blackwood was not the type of professor to give anyone a free pass.
As the classroom emptied, Elena remained at her desk, staring at her notes. She tried to shake off the discomfort his words had caused, but something about his cold, calculating gaze stuck with her. He was strict, rigid in his expectations, and had little patience for anything that wasn’t perfection.
But Elena couldn’t ignore the underlying tension. Something about Adrian Blackwood intrigued her, despite how distant and harsh he seemed. She knew it wasn’t just about the class it was something more.
And as she left the lecture hall, she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of professor he truly was.