Page 35 of One Night With My Grumpy Professor Daddy

“But I haven’t mixed with this kind of crowd since before the scandal happened. I don’t know… I just feel uneasy, you know.”

“And what will happen when you graduate? You’ll definitely need to be a regular at these schmoozy events, so get used to it girl. Plus, I think you know why your mother would like to go.”

I nod because she’s right. And even though my father’s firm isn’t booming and won’t be getting any awards, it’ll be good to show up and represent the practice.

“So, what do you think about this one?” Daphne raises another gown in front of her.

“It’s OK.”

“No, it’s not. It’s a drab… and screams last year’s fashion. If you’re trying to make an impression, you need to put in the effort, look the part, girl.”

“Right.” I resist the urge to sigh and plop down on the changing stall.

She sits beside me and pokes a hand at my side. “I bet you’d be more excited if you were going out with Drake.”

“Drake and I are just-”

“Right, you’re just fucking, and he came to an orphanage to volunteer with you.”

I sigh. “Well, whatever it is, it’s about to be over. The University’s on high alert. It’s clamping down on their fraternization policy since one of the professors was caught… you know…fraternizing.”

Daphne’s eyes grow wide, “Damn, bitch, I leave you for two days and you’ve got a new pet, you’re pregnant, and you’ve changed your name. what else did I miss?” Daphne laughs

“Hahaha…Well, to be fair, you’ve been busy too. I don’t know who you’ve been seeing but I know the way you’ve been acting all kinds of sweet on someone… “But I digress,” rolling my eyes playfully.” She blushes and looks away. “You caught me, it happened last week.”

She shares her story, and I bring her up to date with Drake and me. “Right now, we’re just keeping it low-key. But it feels like it’s over.”

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry, wanna talk about it?” She asks. But I shake my head, I don’t need to think about Drake right now.

“I don’t know what to say, But if you need anything, Ava, anything… I’m here.”

Moments later, she’s waving another piece in front of me. I imagine the look on Drake’s face if he ever saw me in that, and though it’ll never happen, the thought is enough. “It’s perfect.”

Fast forward a few hours, and I’m standing at the entrance of the hall, rocking a killer blowout, mascara, and a swipe of lipstick, ready to get this thing started. It’s a beautiful night, with a giant full moon hanging in the sky. The crowd buzzes with excitement. I’m watching a lot of notable people go into the hall, and for a second, I’m ready to get the hell out of here, wondering if my mother would notice.

Of course, she would.

I’m so lost people watching, I don’t see the face headed towards me till he’s right in front of me. “George?”

“Hello beautiful.” He takes my hand, and just when I expect him to shake, he dips his head and places a kiss on the back of my palm. I’m surprised and can’t help the nervous giggle that slips out of me.

“Oh wow, that was…” My eyes zone in on my hand in his. He’s an attractive man but has nothing on Drake.

“I never did get that call,” he comments, and I remember his business card that I’d dropped on my desk and forgotten about.

I’m about to reply when a gorgeous, familiar figure behind him steals my breath away. I raise a brow, puzzled, as Drake steps out of a sleek black limo.

“So, I was going to say…” George continues talking to me, and his words begin to sound like a murmur. I try to look engaged. But the façade falls when Drake looks around.

The air is sucked from my lungs, my temperature spikes and my mouth goes dry.

Dressed in a gray suit from head to toe, he looks like he just stepped out of a magazine. His face, stoic as his eyes scanned the crowd. But when they land on me, they take on a stormy hue, sending shivers down my spine. Our eye contact is interrupted by an elderly woman approaching him. She’s holding a little girl who runs over to Drake. The little girl signs something with her hands, and he nods and kisses her.

Maybe she’s his niece? I’m still watching the scene when a man approaches the trio, his hand sneaks around the woman and he stretches out his hand to Drake.

It’s him.

Daniel’ Strong. The man who ruined my family.

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