Page 17 of The Professor's Possession (Crystal River Billionaire Brothers)

Who the hell is she and why is she here and not chained away in my dreams?

With the door to the lecture hall definitely safely locked, I head back to my desk. I pull out the list of students attending my class. I find myself immersed in an uncharacteristically tumultuous, frenzied, and even borderline desperate state of mind as I scour the contents of the page. My gaze meticulously travels over all the names, searching. I need to look. I’mcompelledto look by something deep in me.

And there it is. Right there in black ink at nearly the bottom of the page.

Olivia Weldon.

Yes.

That’s her. I am positive that’s her, even without any material proof. I can simply sense that it is her name.

Shesoundslike an Olivia Weldon.

I need to stop. What the hell am I thinking?

My mind must be losing all logic.

I take a seat in my chair. I am rattled for sure and I need a moment to process every single crazed thought that’s racing through my head.

The universe is playing a dangerous trick on me. The very last thing I need in my life, right now, is this.

The very last thing I need in my life isher.

But, then again, I am not a man to back down from a trial.

Maybe Ihavefound my dream girl sitting there in my class. Maybe miracles do come true. Maybe I was supposed to find her, as insane as that sounds.

And now I’m going to find out more about her; I simply can’t resist.

I look back down at the student attendance list and take a long stare at that name.

Olivia Weldon, who the devil are you?

8

OLIVIA

Well,it appears that Crystal River is quite the charming place when the rain isn't pouring down like heaven itself has opened above your head and you're not running around completely disoriented and lost in the darkness.

Just like the university, I'm really starting to like this place.

I told Ava this morning that I was planning to explore the town outside the campus walls, seeing as it’s a sunny Saturday and there’s nothing else to do. Ava has suggested I should head for a cute coffee shop next to the park on the main street, a place called The Oak. They have the best almond croissants in the entire country, according to my roommate.

Guaranteed. That was the word she used.

“It’s my favorite thing in the whole world,” Ava told me when I left. “You’ve got to try one. But be warned, there’s no coming back from the taste.”

Like I did with CRU, I geeked out and did a deep dive into everything about Crystal River before I boarded the coach here. This small town is quintessential Americana. The main street is dotted with historic old brick buildings. There are a whole bunch of small, independent local businesses that line the main street - the big corporations thankfully haven’t seemed to discover this place just yet. The population is just a few thousand, like the university. It’s still a hell of a lot more people than the even smaller town I’m from.

I find it so damn charming around here. Apparently, the woods around the small town are famous for being good fishing spots and long hikes.

I aimlessly walk around the park listening to music through my earphones and I let a smile cross my face. Even though it’s sunny and nice, I still have my favorite oversized hoodie on. It’s been nearly a week since I’ve arrived, and despite the uncertainness of the first few days, I’m starting to feel at home in this town. Dare I think that everything is actually coming together?

I might be on the right track after all.

I spot The Oak on the other side of the road - the café Ava told me about.

Well, I better try these famous almond croissants, then.

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