Page 1 of Forbidden Obsessions

Chapter One

Tomas

“Hello, Professor DeLuca.” Her crimson nail polish glimmers in the light as she outstretches her arm. Time stops as I gape in horror at Vanessa’s hand, then her sadistic smirk. I feel the blood draining from my face, probably bleeding straight into her nails. I wouldn’t put thesorcery past her, given the vile creation she is. Just like two years ago, I’m watching my life implode. All that I’ve worked tirelessly to change, the reparations to the damage Vanessa caused, might as well be turning to dust before my eyes.

“Oh, I didn’t know you had a daughter.” I school my features, swallowing my bile and increasing panic, as I turn to Jonathan Byrne. I know Jonathan is a pompous prick and will pounce on any weakness I show. Even as he sits at my desk, hands folded demurely, I know he’s trying to get a rise out of me. In a crisp, tailored suit, he’s all business today. He watches me like a hawk through narrowed blue eyes as icy as his non-existent soul. His impeccably styled ash-blond hair with just the perfect amount of gray blending in makes my stomach churn. I bet women fawn at his feet.Disgusting.

Before his unanticipated arrival, I wasn’t sure I wanted to hit anyone as badly as I wanted to punch his son, Nathan, who stabbed me last semester. The tide has changed, so it seems.

“She’s my stepdaughter, actually. I’ve been in her life so long that I consider her my own blood. Anyway, as you may recall,Iwas the final vote you needed for this,” Jonathan says, gesturing to my new lab. Silly me for believing his vote was based on professional merit. Hell, I would have even taken a “sorry that my son fucked up and stabbed you” vote. “It would be a shame for the funding to be revoked for your shiny new lab, no?”

He’s partially bluffing. I know the university was able to secure some grant funding to cover half of my salary and thirty percent of my lead assistant’s salary. On the other hand, the university shoulders a significant cost. Given that the board votes on funding and budgeting, the message is crystal clear: dance, puppet, and we won’t have a problem.

And Jonathan’s right— itisashiny, beautiful lab. The morning sun reflects off of two rows of stainless steel tables, long enough to seat six people at each. Black leather stoolssit tucked underneath, waiting for the dozen students who will work with me this semester. At the back of the room, a table to the left houses various neatly organized glass beakers, test tubes, and other equipment. The table to the right has an array of microscopes. Shelves above and below hold even more. Large glass windows overlook the grassy knolls of the campus.

I turn my attention to the various students making their way to class. I need to compose myself before I lash out and ruin everything. I pivot and stare at him, pretending I’m as unphased as he is.

“I do. It was kind of you to vote in my favor.” The acrid taste of copper fills my mouth as I chew on my cheek.Did I really just have to make myself sound like such a kiss ass?

I steal a glance at Vanessa. She watches quietly, her cherry-red lips stretched in a Cheshire Cat grin. It seems her signature shade of lipstick hasn’t changed. She smiles at me in a silent, brazen taunt. Gritting my teeth, I hastily look away.

She already knows she’s winning, and I fuckingloatheit. My stomach twists as she continues to dredge up everything that I’ve been trying to forget. Everything I hate about myself: the need for attention, the impulsivity, the anger, and especially my questionable, self-destructive coping mechanisms.

“Vanessa has been working in Oncology research for the past two years. I think you know something about that. Don’t you, Tomas?” His eyebrows lift at the rhetorical question. I nod curtly, watching his control falter as he bites back a sarcastic smile.

“And?” Just spit it the fuck out already.Christ.

“Vanessa will be your lead research assistant through the duration of the semester, at a minimum. Since I had a hand in securing your future, you’ll have a hand in securing hers.”And there it is.

“With all due respect, Jonathan, I don’t think that would be a wise decision,” I argue. My eyes dart between the duo, trying to discern whether this was a solo or joint decision.

Jonathan gives a soft laugh. “Why? Isn’t Hamilton’s daughter enough for you?” The offhanded mention of Olivia loosens my tether of restraint a bit more, already at risk of snapping.

I have worked too hard to let this, of all things, get out of hand. Between the sleepless nights, fretting over curriculums, grading papers, mentoring students, and peer-reviewed publications, I can honestly say I have sacrificed and earned my career.

“Yes, Olivia is more than enough. I love her, and we’ve been doing well together,” I snap, my fists balling at my sides.

“Then enlighten me. What’s the problem with having my daughter here, DeLuca?” The black leather chair groans as Jonathan leans back in my chair, arms crossed over his chest. He looks too comfortable as he shows that just as easily as he shall give, he shall take away. The blatant disrespect shouldn’t really surprise me, given everything I know about him and his family. Nathan’s cut from the same cloth and seems to get it honestly.

“Given our history, it would be unwise and immensely inappropriate.” The pair of them have the gall to look surprised, as if they never expected this. To my knowledge, Jonathan was never directly involved in the fallout from our discretion. I would bet money that he knows, though.

There isn’t much in this area that his family doesn’t know. The Byrne family has controlled the city since the early fifties. Jonathan’s dad, Harry, was the police commissioner for over twenty years. My father was a young trauma surgeon at Cambridge Health throughout some of Harry’s career. Dad said little about his interactions with Harry, but he told me enough with the ominous warnings—stay clear of the Byrne family, and don’t piss them off.

I’m trying to be less reckless, but I’ll never be docile, either. I don’t give a shit if it’s a Byrne or not. If you threaten what’s mine—who I love—I will fight for it. So, whether Jonathan truly knows about the past between Vanessa and me is inconsequential. There’s plenty of animosity to go around given the history between Nathan and I. If any of them try to fuck up what I have with Olivia and her family, I will bare my teeth.

“You’ll find a way and get through it, DeLuca. Otherwise, you may as well kiss your lab, your tenure track, and everything else goodbye,” Jonathan says, menacingly calm. I don’t doubt him. Even with Olivia’s father, James, in my corner, it may not hold enough weight to withstand Jonathan’s wrath. I’m not going down without a fight, though.

“Some ground rules, then.” I give Vanessa a pointed look. Heat smolders in the piercing stare she returns. She’s always had an intensity about her. It’s somewhere betweenfuck meandI hate you. Another wave of nausea roils through me. I’m not going to let this old fuck and vindictive bitch intimidate me.

“We are never here alone. I don’t care if it’s another student or another RA. I want a witness here at all times.” Neither of them acknowledges the demand, but I continue anyway. “She does not get my phone number. She only contacts me through email.”

Jonathan glances at Vanessa, then back at my face. “Fine,” he finally concedes.

Not that I expected Vanessa to be extremely chatty, but I figured she would have something sarcastic to say. My eyes flit to hers. She looks away, pretending to watch the birds playing in the willow tree outside.

She’s been tapping her foot relentlessly and picking her nails like she’s nervous. Someone should give this girl a fucking Academy Award already. I can tell she’s on best behavior, trying to play the doe-eyed innocent stepdaughter to daddy dearest here, when we both know what a viper she really is.

Jonathan rises from the chair. I expect Vanessa to follow suit, but she stays seated, watching me out of the corner of her eye. Jonathan stops at the door before turning around with a nod in our direction. A warning to me, or her, perhaps. He exits wordlessly. His leather shoes scuff down the hallway.

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