Page 39 of Lessons in Sin

Before anyone can ask me what I’m doing, I’m running with only one thought on my mind.

Tristan, please forgive me.

Chapter 24

She opens the office with a smile on her face, a smile that slips when she sees me at her door, melting away to nothing. Her lips are painted red again, and I know that there’s a pair of garter belts hidden beneath her skirt.

She recovers quickly, her lips spreading into a reluctant, sneer of a smile. ‘Can I help you?’

I push my way into her office, a devilish smirk on my lips.

‘You know who I am don’t you?’ I say, hopping up to sit on the edge of her desk.

She closes her office door, silent, her face void of that sour leer.

‘No? Will this jog your memory?’ I hold my phone up, the video of Tristan and me playing, my moans stroking the jealousy I can see in her eyes.

She wants to be me in this video. She wants it so bad that she would ruin a man’s life in spite to try and obtain it.

Pathetic.

‘What do you want.’ She sneers, her true colours shining through her facade of professor.

I smile. ‘You’re currently writing a novel right? I read about it in the school newspaper - sounds like boring stuff to me but then again, I’m not an academic.’ I run my fingers over the edge of the desk, something dangerous playing in the undertone of my words.

She stays silent, sensing the danger.

I carry on. ‘You see, you could ruin Tristan’s life, exposing us as you threatened. But then what would I have to lose? I don’t care about my degree. Now you, on the other hand, have quite a bit to lose.’ I cross one leg over the other. ‘I’m sure Underwood Publishing would have a lot to say about you filming revenge porn don’t you think so? It’s not good for book sales you see.’ It only took Ruby a second to find out that little miss garter-belts has been signed on to wright a non-fiction book at underwood publishing, easier still to use it against her.

Her eyes widen, and it makes a dark, hidden part of me smile, teeth glinting. She opens her mouth to say something, but I click my tongue, doing my best impression of Tristan. ‘No. I want to know exactly why you did what you did.’

Her jaw clenches and it only makes me smile. ‘I wanted him.’

I raise a brow. ‘It’s that simple?’

‘Yes.’ She spits. ‘I wanted him, and he didn’t want me and to top it off he chooses some snot-nosed fucking student instead.’ Her eyes are blazing. ’Tristan is very well known in our circles. He’s the professor that no one can obtain and I just … thought I could have him. And then he doesn’t show me a lick of interest, too busy slobbering over you. I wanted to make him see his mistake.’ She takes a breath. ‘Are you going to tell him?’

’No need. You already did.’ I jump off the seat and show her my phone, my finger clicking send on the voice recording before she can even blink. ‘Now you even blink in his direction and I will go straight to your publisher, and we’ll see how fast I can ruin your life.’

With my hand on the door, I look into her eyes - the jealousy still simmering in her hateful depths - and say, ‘Oh, and those photos? They’re currently being deleted from every device you have by a friend of mine. Good luck with your book.’

I slam the door behind me and without a second thought I half-walk, half-jog to Tristan’s office, begging whatever entity rules this earth that he’ll be there.

Taking a breath, I knock and wait.

And wait.

And wait.

I knock one more time but still, his door remains shut.

With a dejected sigh, I turn but as I do, the door opens.

Tristan looks … well he looks like shit, still sexy as hell, but he’s sporting the I haven’t slept look. His hair is messy as if he’s tossed and turned all night searching for dreams that won’t come. And his clothes? They look like they could do with a good ironing.

’Tristan.’ I breathe.

His eyes shutter. ‘What do you want.’

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