Page 42 of Loving the Liar

His gaze is on me too, still translating his unhappiness about my clothes, but I’m not bowing to his will. I have one problem to solve at a time, and my current issues with him are not at the top of my priorities. Keeping out of trouble with the Silent Circle is.

Reeves splits the class in two today. We’re studying the same case, but the half with him is studying the defense, and the half with Chris the prosecution. To my luck, I end up with Reeves. It also means I witness all the girls fluttering their eyes at Chris, smiling brightly every time he teaches them something nicely, or every time he slips them a kind word. He’s not flirting. He doesn’t try to seduce them; he’s just naturally a magnet for people who need care.

On my side, I’m almost ashamed of how obviously I flirt with Reeves. I would be if things weren’t so dire. And when he puts a hand on the small of my back while he looks over my shoulder at the notes I wrote down, I know I’m doing the right thing.

I need that invitation at all costs, and he’s the only Shadow I know apart from Chris. And Chris will never let me in. He’s already refused my mom. Not only that, but historically, I know him to put my brother before me.

When the class finishes, I take my time to pack my bag. I look at my phone as students exit in silence. Chris lingers too. He talks with Reeves about his next assignment, about what the professor needs from him. But when he runs out of excuses to stay, and Reeves notices I’m still here, he asks Chris to go back to the office to prepare for Monday’s class.

My ex massages the back of his neck, walking past me on his way out. He doesn’t say anything to me. He doesn’t even glance at me.

I do my best to brush off the sting and look back at Reeves, placating an innocent smile on my face.

“Miss Baker,” he says, leaning back against his desk and crossing his arms over his chest. His white button-down is well-fitted, and his defined muscles show under the material. “I’m sure there’s something I can do for you.”

I get up on shaky legs, making sure my skirt is short enough but still hiding my band-aid and the scars around it.

He smiles knowingly by the time I’m close to him—close enough that I could push my breasts against his torso if I took too big of a breath.

“Wasn’t a B enough?” he asks in a serious voice.

“More than enough, Professor.”

“Then what could you possibly be debasing yourself for?”

The words hurt, but I swallow the shame, putting my pride to the side for this. I put a hand on his chest, my heart skipping from the fear of this blowing up in my face.

“You know my family’s situation with the Circle.”

The second I mention the secret society he’s part of, his eyes flick behind me, probably double-checking that no one is within earshot.

“I do.”

For someone who tried to get me to give him a blowjob in his office, he’s making this unnecessarily hard for me. Or maybe that’s exactly his goal.

“Professor Reeves,” I huff. “I need an invitation to the initiations. My brother was refused one, and we have to make it up to the Silent Circle one way or another.”

I’ve barely finished asking my question when that disgustingly smug smirk spreads on his handsome face. His blue eyes sparkle with excitement, and he stands taller.

“An invitation?” he chuckles. “Ella, those are very hard to get even for a member. We need a reason to bring a woman to initiations.”

“Please. My family correcting their mistakes to the Circle is reason enough. I’m willing to do anything to put this issue to rest.”

His smile drops. Cocking an eyebrow, a shadow of danger crosses his features.

“Willingness to do anything is a very risky thing to say to a member of the Silent Circle. I would be very careful about the kind of favor you ask a Shadow.” He brings his thumb to my lower lip, pulling it down before leaving it completely alone. “We wouldn’t want you to get out of your depth here again, would we?”

I shake my head slightly. “I mean it. Get me an invitation and I will?—”

“There is absolutely nothing you can do to convince me to get you invited, Ella. Because if I do, I’ll have all I want from you anyway. You’re probably the least likely candidate to get a husband at the initiations. No one will want to take on the debt your family owes. You’ll end up being an Aphrodite, and I’ll have access to your body whenever I want. There isn’t anything you can offer I wouldn’t already have.”

He puts his hands on his desk behind him, leaning back. “So, really, your future depends on how kind I’m feeling.” He shrugs. “And I’m not feeling too kind today.”

My heart drops. “W-what?”

“You heard me. You should have thought twice before acting like a prude in my office. We both know what you really are.”

“No. No, please.” I act on instinct, dropping to my knees as my hands fly to his belt. “I’ll make it right. I’m not a prude. I was scared.”

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