Page 10 of Irresistible Professor

The admission caught me off guard, and I looked up, meeting his gaze. There was a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes, a glimpse of the man beneath the professional exterior. “I see,” I said softly, unsure of what else to say.

He nodded, his expression closing off again. “It’s a long story, one I’d rather not get into right now. She left town after we broke up last year, and I guess now she’s back.”

I absorbed his words, trying to reconcile this new information with the Ford I thought I knew. The thought of him with Greer was difficult to process, and I felt a twinge of sympathy for whatever pain their past might have caused him.

Recognizing the name Tolliver made everything click into place. Greer wasn’t just Ford’s ex; she was the daughter of the mayor, a woman whose connections and status gave her a certain power and influence. It explained her confidence, her sense of entitlement, and the way she had breezed back into Ford’s life as if she had every right to be there.

Ford returned to his work, the subject clearly closed for now, and I followed suit, trying to focus on my own tasks despite the turmoil of emotions swirling inside me. The air between us was heavy with unspoken words, a tension that lingered even after Greer’s departure.

Later that afternoon, I went to the university library, finding an empty carousel on the third floor. Flipping on the overhead light in the cubicle, I spread out my textbooks and sat down to study for my upcoming economics exam. The library was quiet, and I tried to concentrate on supply and demand curves, on market trends and fiscal policies, but my mind kept drifting back to Ford and Greer. The image of them together, the way Greer had claimed him as hers, was a distraction I couldn’t quite shake.

My phone vibrated softly, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen, expecting a message from Jonathan, but it was an unknown number. I stared at the text as I read the message:

Hey, Bonnie. This is Greer. We met in Ford’s office this morning. I got your number from administration. Can you meet me for coffee at the cafe near campus?

My mind raced with questions. What could Greer possibly want from me? Her sudden interest was puzzling, and a part of me was wary of her intentions. Still, curiosity got the better of me, and I found myself agreeing to meet her.

With a sigh, I gathered my things, my mind a tangle of anticipation and uncertainty as I made my way to the café. The winter air was crisp against my skin, and I pulled my coat tighter around me as I navigated the winding campus paths. The café was a cozy, unassuming place, its interior warmly lit and inviting. I spotted Greer seated at a far corner table, her polished appearance standing out amidst the rustic charm of the surroundings.

Taking a deep breath, I approached her. She looked up as I arrived. A small smile played on her lips as she gestured to the seat across from her.

“Bonnie, thanks for coming,” she said, her voice as smooth as syrup. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”

I shook my head, sliding into the chair and setting my bag on the floor. “No, it’s fine,” I replied, studying her with cautious curiosity. “I was just studying for an exam.”

Greer nodded. “How is that going? Studying and working at the same time can’t be easy.”

“It’s a lot of work, but I’m managing,” I said, choosing my words carefully.

She leaned forward slightly, tucking a lock of her long blonde hair behind her ear.

“I wanted to talk to you about Ford,” she said, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. “Woman to woman.”

I stiffened at her words, unsure of where this conversation was headed. “What about him?” I asked, my tone guarded.

Greer regarded me with a knowing look, her eyes searching mine for something I couldn’t quite define.

“Has he been seeing anyone?” she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

The question caught me off guard, and I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. “Not that I know of,” I said cautiously. “But then again, our relationship is strictly business.”

She arched a perfectly manicured eyebrow in response. “Is that so?” she drawled, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Because word has it that you two looked pretty cozy at the conference party last week.”

Shock washed over me like a cold wave. Were people really talking about me and Ford? A flush crept up my cheeks, the memory of that night still vivid in my mind. I opened my mouth to protest, but the words stuck in my throat. “We’re just colleagues,” I insisted, my voice a little too defensive. “I’m just his admin, that’s all.”

“Right,” Greer said, drawing out the word as if she didn’t quite believe me. She leaned back, crossing her arms and studying me intently as if appraising me. “Well, I’m glad we cleared that up.”

I shifted uncomfortably, the implications of her words racing through my mind. There was something unnerving about her scrutiny, as if she were dissecting my every word and gesture, searching for some hidden truth. I felt pried open and vulnerable, like I had something to hide. Although I didn’t, of course.

I held up my hand, showing off the engagement ring that Jonathan had given me. “I’m actually engaged,” I said, hoping to steer the conversation in a different direction. “I have a fiancé.”

Greer’s icy gaze flicked to the ring. “I noticed,” she said, her voice casual and unbothered. “But until two people say ‘I do,’ promises don’t mean much.”

Her words unsettled me in a way I couldn’t explain and made me feel defensive. I crossed my other leg on top and opened my mouth to speak. However, before I could do so, Greer’s expression softened, and she leaned across the table again, lowering her voice as if to confide in me. “Bonnie, I want Ford back,” she said, her tone now earnest and imploring. “It was all a misunderstanding what happened between us, and I want to fix things. Will you help me?”

Her request was unexpected, and a knot of unease formed in my stomach. This was a position I didn’t want to be in, a role I hadn’t asked for and didn’t know how to handle. I didn’t want to be a pawn in whatever game Greer was playing, but at the same time, I wasn’t sure why the prospect of her and Ford getting back together bothered me so much.

I swallowed hard, fighting down the whirlwind of emotions rising in my gut as I tried to process her request. “I don’t know if I can help you,” I said finally, my voice quiet and uncertain. “Ford and I...we’re just co-workers.”

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