Page 50 of My Forbidden Billionaire

Emmy and Larisa exchange knowing glances before turning to me with identical grins on their faces.

“You like him,” they both say in unison, causing me to blush even harder.

“I do,” I admit, feeling both nervous and exhilarated at the same time.

“Hot, hot chocolate man for the win!” Emmy laughs.

I roll my eyes, but I can’t deny that I’m just as excited as my friends are. Jacob has been on my mind nonstop since the day of the cricket match. Dinner last night at Louisa May Alcott’s house was simply icing on the cake.

I can’t believe how easy it is to talk to him, and how he just gets me in a way that no one else ever has. He’s so supportive and encouraging, which is something I’ve never experienced in a relationship before. Not even with my own parents.

It’s like he can see into my soul, understands my grief, and then offers me words of comfort when I need it most. He did it last night and he did it when I was just a stranger who bumped into him on the sidewalk. Jacob makes me feel seen and cared for ... maybe for the first time in my life.

“Well, it’s about time you found someone who treats you right,” Larisa says, giving me a playful nudge. “You little rule breaker, you.”

“The only rules I’m willing to break are my own archaic ones.” I laugh.

But just then, like a ton of bricks, it hits me.

The Rule Book.

Stephanie gave me a rule book on my first day of school—the same rule book Ms. Abadie conveniently “forgot” to send me.

Why didn’t I think to check it sooner?!

I hop up and rummage through the enormous stack of papers and files on top of my desk. It’s got to be here somewhere. Although, it might have gotten buried when I unpacked the rest of my moving boxes because I can’t seem to find it. I check the desk drawers.

“What are you doing?” Emmy asks.

“Looking for this!” I hold up the large book, triumphantly. “The school rule book! I completely forgot about it until now, but surely, there must be something in here about this whole situation. Let’s see…” I flip through the pages until I find the section on personal conduct, desperate to find solace that there’s no official rule against dating a parent. “Ah, here it is.”

“What does it say?” Emmy asks, leaning in to read over my shoulder.

As I read, my heart sinks. “No employee shall engage in romantic relations with a student or the parent of a student.” I feel my stomach drop. I can’t believe I hadn’t thought to check the stupid rule book before now. I mean, they forbid the color blue, of course they don’t allow teachers to date parents.

I should have trusted my instincts on this one.

How stupid can I be?

I stare down at the page, trying to come up with a solution.

“Oh no,” Larisa says, picking up on my anxiety.

“What are you going to do?” Emmy asks, concern etched in her features.

“I don’t know,” I say, feeling tears well up in my eyes. “I don’t want to lose my job, but I don’t want to lose him either.”

“Why does the school even care?” Larisa asks, anger flaring up. “It’s not like he’s a student and you’re his teacher!”

“Rules are rules,” I say, feeling a lump form in my throat. “No wonder Ms. Abadie has been watching my every move. She probably is building up a case to fire me. First it was the color blue … and now this.”

“I’m so sorry…” my friends say in unison.

“Are you actually considering giving up on him?” Emmy asks, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder.

“You two have something special. You can’t just let it go because of some stupid rule,” Larisa adds.

I take a deep breath and wipe away the tears that have started to fall down my cheeks. She’s right.

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