Page 35 of Arrogant Professor

Vincent

“Idon’t see a ring on your finger, Professor Stonebridge,” Helene said. “Don’t tell me an attractive man like you is still single.”

I pried her hand off my arm. Seeing Elle humiliated like that in front of the school made my blood boil. Meanwhile, her sister was breezily flirting without a care in the world as if nothing had happened.

“Actually, I am seeing someone,” I replied.

Elle was still inside the dining hall. It killed me that I couldn’t go back inside and take her away from all this.

Helene switched tactics at lightning speed.

“Well, she’s a very lucky woman. I hope she won’t mind if I borrow you for an hour or two for our tour. I promise to be on my best behavior.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I hurried to retrieve it, eager for an interruption that would put distance between Helene and me.

A text appeared on my screen from Elle.

I quit.

My heart lurched. I reread the text over and over, endeavoring to make those two little words sink in. There had to be some mistake or a misunderstanding. Not after everything Elle had been through. She was doing so much better and now this?

“I’m surprised at you, Professor,” Helene said with a hint of frostiness edging her tone. “Getting distracted by your phone is something the younger generation does all the time. I thought an educated man like you would prioritize his guest.”

“My apologies, Helene,” I replied. “Something has come up. You’ll have to tour the campus on your own.”

She sputtered. I turned and headed away from the dining hall as I dialed Elle’s number. Her phone rang, again and again, but she didn’t pick up. I swore under my breath and punched out a text instead.

Where are you?

When I was out of Helene’s line of sight, I stopped and stared at my phone’s screen, willing a response from Elle into existence.

“Come on, baby,” I muttered. “Talk to me.”

Finally, a text showed up.

Chadwick hall courtyard.

It was a quiet little place, secluded, surrounded by autumn foliage and statues tinged green with moss and lichen. A fountain bubbled pleasantly in a grove of old oak trees. The roses were faded, petals withering after a recent cold snap.

I found Elle on a bench, shielded by a swath of ferns, shoulders slumped, scrubbing at her cheek with the sleeve of her hoodie. As soon as she saw me, I held out my arms. She practically ran to me. I rocked back on my heels at the force of her collision.

“What happened?” I demanded.

“I quit school,” Elle mumbled into my chest. “I had to.”

I tightened my grip on her, fighting the urge to track down her father and give him a piece of my mind.

“You can’t quit,” I said. “You’ve worked too hard for that.”

Elle sniffed and pulled back. Her cheeks were wet with tears.

“I don’t know what else I can do. Dad found out I was studying English. He changed my major back.”

I squeezed Elle’s shoulders. A muscle twitched in my jaw. It was a good thing Daniel Roche was nowhere near me right now. I wasn’t a violent man, but I was more than ready to knock his teeth out.

“When I told him that I quit,” Elle continued. “He said I’m on my own. Don’t come home. Don’t call him for anything because I won’t get a single red cent from him until I apologize for my behavior. I have a little money saved up that he doesn’t know about, so I’m not completely broke, but there’s no way I can pay for college now.”

I frowned. Elle’s father did everything in his power to prevent her from earning her own money, and then abandoned her like this. What an asshole.

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