Page 3 of Where We Met

Professor Luke looks my way as I smile, excitement filling me. I think I see the start of a smile form on his face, but it’s gone in a second.

Again, I must be imagining things.

I observe him while he continues his lecture. His dark jeans fit his body exquisitely, his crisp white shirt underneath a brown jacket doing absolutely nothing to hide the lean muscles of his upper body.

“Finally, before we get started with today’s lesson, I want to announce something. Your spring break is just about two months from now. This just so happens to coincide with a very important meeting I have with a potential client in Italy.”

I look over at Rebecca, who smiles at the class. She seems sweet enough, very pretty. Her long red hair is full, falling in gorgeous waves down to her breasts. I wonder if she gets to spend a lot of one-on-one time with Professor Luke, and I am hit with an unwarranted pang of jealousy.

“Two weeks before break, you will be given a written exam that will be graded by Rebecca. The highest score on the exam will be accompanying me to my meeting in Italy for some real, hands-on experience in international business.”

Based on the high-fives, whistling, and cheering going on around me, it’s clear everybody here wants a free trip to Italy. I have no doubt every girl in the class is dying to get a chance to spend a week with our professor.

A whole week in Italy! The idea of it alone has me wanting to do cartwheels down the hall. I get out my to-do list and addget a passport. Just in case, by some miracle, I happen to win.

While Professor Luke proceeds to our class material, I can’t help but fantasize about what a trip to Italy with him might be like. Trying new wines, eating pasta, and indulging in gelato. Meeting the owners of wineries and learning all about how they make their wine… It sounds like a dream.

My mission for the semester is clear: win this trip of a lifetime.

Chapter Two

Luke

“Lookslikewe’reoutof time today. I look forward to spending this semester with you. See you all on Wednesday,” I say as the students begin to pack up their things.

I made it. My first time teaching a class, and I survived.

When my buddy Eric, a full-time professor here in the business department, asked me to fill the role of adjunct professor for a class in this semester’s International Business program, I was shocked.

It’s honestly a lot of extra work on top of my already incredibly demanding role at the company, but I was honored to be asked. I enjoy what I do, love it actually, and I hope I can pass on some useful information to my students.

It’s going to be a hectic five months doing both jobs until this class ends in May, but I’m up for the challenge.

I swore to my siblings this wouldn’t interfere with my normal duties for the company, and I'm determined to keep my promise. So, if that means waking up at four a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to make it into the office and get my tasks done before leaving early to teach this class, so be it.

As I pack up my brown leather briefcase, made from real Italian leather that I got in Milan, my eyes move on their own accord to the blonde beauty sitting in the front row.

She’s packing up her things while her friends are laughing and chatting around her. There’s something different about her, making her seem different than the rest of the girls in class. When I mentioned the idea of a trip to Italy, she didn’t react like the other students. I saw her real enthusiasm at the idea of getting paired with an international student for her project.

I appreciate the fact that her eyes lit up from hearing she’ll be connecting with someone from another country. It’s a passion of mine too, and the real reason I wanted to teach this class was to encourage people to do the same.

"You did such a great job.” Rebecca approaches my desk. “That’s so kind of you to bring a student with you to Italy. I think most girls are going to be studying their little hearts out for a chance to spend a week alone with you,” she says, her eyes fluttering at me.

I shrug my shoulders. “I’m sure all of my students will study hard for the assignment. It’s a big opportunity for all of them, not just the girls.”

She laughs. “Oh, Lucas. You have a lot to learn about women if you believe that. I’ll see you in class on Wednesday. I’m looking forward to working closely with you.”

I don't like her insinuating that only my female students are excited for a chance to go to Italy simply because it’ll be with me. I’ve been told enough times that I’m a good-looking guy to know that it’s true, but I think these students are more interested in experiencing the trip of a lifetime rather than being near me.

As I walk to my car, I pull my phone out and call my brother Marcus. He’s one of my three siblings, and the youngest of the three boys. I’m the middle son, Gabriel is the oldest, and Mia is our baby sister.

“Hello, Professor Lucas,” Marcus says with humor in his tone. “Mia and I are just sitting here in my office brainstorming how we can sneak into your class and see how in the world anyone with half a brain would ever take you seriously.”

I shake my head when I hear Mia chuckle in the background. “You’re fucking hilarious,” I say sarcastically.

“Leave him alone,” Mia defends. “How did it go?”

As I take a seat in my Mercedes, the smooth sound of the engine comes to life. I don’t usually care to spend my money frivolously, but getting this car was something I did for myself. I’ve worked my ass off, along with my siblings, to make our company what it is today.

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