Page 86 of The Professor's Possession (Crystal River Billionaire Brothers)

“Who’s it from?” Ava asks me from over my shoulder. She’s so curious, and I don’t blame her. Not everyone gets a whole freaking bouquet of flowers and a nice hardback book delivered anonymously to their dorm room every day.

I shake my head. “Nobody. Just a friend from back home. It’s a practical joke.”

Yeah, I really am such a terrible liar.

“That’s a shame,” my roommate says. I can clearly tell her curiosity is not sated by my half-hearted answer. But what can I tell her? My professor is really pushing the limit and sending me expensive gifts in the post?

No freaking way.

This was really not how I envisioned my college experience to go. Bad marks and sleeping with my mysterious wealthy professor?Ha.

“Just a prank, then?” Ava asks, mooching off to zip up her bag. “Nothing else?”

“Just a silly prank,” I reply.

“So no secret boyfriends I’ve got to keep an eye on?”

I let out an involuntary laugh.

“Nope. Not in a million years.”

“Well, that was nearly not as fun as I thought it would be,” Ava says, sighing. “I was really hoping that it was some big romantic gesture from a man totally in love with you.”

“Nothing like that at all,” I lie. I watch her fling her bag over her shoulder. “Where are you going?”

“I’m seeing Luke now,” Ava tells me, checking the time on her phone. “He told me to come over.”

“You’re always off to see him. You two are really serious, huh?”

Ava smiles. “I really hope so.”

“Well, have fun.”

“Enjoy your weird Gothic book,” she laughs.

“I will.”

Ava skips out of the dorm room, giving one final curious glance at the lavish delivery before shutting the door behind her.

I immediately rip up the letter in my hands and throw the scraps into the trash. I don’t need to read it a second time, I’ve already memorized it on my first look.

Another feedback session, Miss Weldon.

My place.

Tonight.

Nine o’clock.

Don’t leave me waiting, girl.

40

OLIVIA

“You can’t send me gifts.”

It’s the first thing I say to the professor when he unfurls his front door. It's what I declare before he even gets the chance to say hello.

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