Chapter 4 A business Associate

ARIA

Tears stung my eyes as I closed the door behind me.

Was this man serious? He called me to his office to ask me if i've slept with other professors?

The nerve of that man.

"Are you okay?" Laura asked as she walked up to me, she had been waiting for me.

"Yes" i fake smiled, masking the anger rising up in my chest.

"What did he want?"

"He just uh... wanted to praise me for being a top student. Said I should keep my grades in check"

"Weird, that was why he summoned you to his office?"

"Unfortunately"

It was really unfortunately for me. How dare he pretend like nothing happened between us. How could he assume that that's the kinds of things i usually do with my other professors to keep my grades up.

God. I wish I could have punched him in the face.

Thinking about him only infuriated me and it was becoming hard to hide the emotions on my face. I needed to distract myself.

"Hey it's the weekend, want to come over? We could work on our assignment together" I said glancing over to Laura.

"Uhm..."

"What? You have other plans?"

"Yes, Diego invited me to his place tonight."

"Who is Diego" i asked with sheer curiosity.

"The guy i met at the club, remember?"

"Right. So are you two like a thing now?"

"Not exactly, we're just taking it slow for now"

"So you're going to abandon your best friend for dick"

"C'mon, it's not like that Aria" she said nudging me and I only eyed her.

Great. I was going to be alone all weekend.

"Tell you what... i'll come see you sunday evening, we could have dinner together"

"Fine." I sighed.

We held hands as we walked out of school together.

*****

Sunday rolled in quickly.

I returned to bed after a long day of studying and assignments. Tired and hungry. I needed a warm shower and some good food.

Being in college has a way of testing my patience. Thank God it's my last year.

It's nothing but torture being in school. Day in, day out. Now i was being tortured by something far worse than school and it's in the form of my professor.

Laura walked in to my room without knocking... only she could do that of course.

"Hey girl" she beamed.

"Back from dickland?" I asked feigning annoyance.

"Don't tell me you're still mad at me"

"I'm not, so just spill the beans. What happened between the both of you?"

"Oh my gosh, first of all we're a couple now" she said giggling.

"What? I thought you said you were taking it slow?" I asked concerned.

"I mean yes but..."

"Oh my God Laura, you should be careful"

"I am. Change of subject, are you hungry?"

"Yes, i was just about to take a shower and go out for dinner"

"Great. Wear something classy, let's go to a fancy restaurant" she said excitedly and i rolled my eyes.

Of course she wants to go to a fancy restaurant when I'm the one paying all the bills. Well thank God my father is a billionaire.

I came out of the bathroom after a while and dolled up.

"What restaurant do you want to go to?" I asked.

"Now you're talking, i'm so lucky to have a best friend like you"

"You've been saying that since freshman year"

"Because it's true"

We both left in my car to a five star restaurant. The restaurant beamed with life.

The place screamed expensive and luxurious. It was perfect for billionaires and rich public figures, i was glad Laura wore something decent.

Left for her, she would rather wear sleeveless tops and a bum short.

My mouth watered when the waitress brought our cart of food. She set it aside and poured us some wine. It was tasty and fruity.

She smiled and served our food on the table.

"Thank you" i said and she nodded before walking away.

Laura was so excited. She was taking pictures of the food instead of eating. I was mostly eating.

"This is delicious" Laura said after trying out the steak.

"You should try the rest" i said pointing to the other foods with my fork.

She started eating and she was making all kinds of sounds that sounded like moaning as she ate the food.

"So have you completed your assignment?" She asked.

"What assignment?"

"Literature. Professor Carter"

I almost chocked on my mashed potatoes as she spoke his name.

"Uhm...yeah, i have. What about you" I said clearing my throat.

"I have too. I just don't know if he'll pass me"

"I'm sure he will, when we get home, let me take a look for you"

"Thank you girl"

We finished eating and paid the chunk of bills with my black card.

Laura suggested we get takeout or pizza or Chinese food. Just something else. The food at the restaurant might have been delicious but it wasn't very filling.

We started walking towards the door and i caught something at the corner of my eye, then i turned to look.

It was professor Carter.

My heart almost jumped out of my chest.

He was in the restaurant with some woman. Blonde, slim, doll face, and definitely in his age range.

Maybe that's the kind of woman he's interested in.

Maybe that's his wife.

The food in my stomach suddenly became sour, i wanted to throw up.

My heart ached at their appearance and the thought of them together.

Wait. Why would i care, it was just a one night thing i had with him. And he didn't even fuck me.

Did he not like me? I think I'm just over reacting.

The blondie is more his type anyways, so why should i care who he brings to the restaurant or where they go after here.

"Are you okay?" Laura asked after noticing what i was staring at.

"Yes, i am"

"Is that professor Carter? Oh my gosh I think we should say hi"

"What? No. Absolutely not"

"C'mon, it wouldn't cost you anything"

Before I could say anything further she already had my hand, dragging me along with her to their table.

God. God. God. My heart wouldn't stop pounding in my chest.

Although i loved Laura for her indifference towards things. But i think she is going too far right now.

"Hi professor Carter" she said waving with a full smirk on her face as she turned to me.

His gaze met mine, and his eyes took in my appearance.

My cheeks got flushed at the thought of what he could be thinking of me, my dress, my body.

Gosh Aria, get a hold of your self.

"Good evening professor Carter" I said after composing myself.

"Fancy meeting you here" his deep voice came to life and all the anger i was feeling at the moment melted away.

"Same professor" Laura smiled. "This must be your wife"

"Oh no. Just an associate of mine, Sophie" he said.

Oh, an associate. Not his wife. Got it.

The pretty lady greeted and we responded back. My heart had somehow stopped racing and I was more calm.

"I hope you girls have worked on your assignments, it wouldn't be wise to party all weekend and fail academically"

"We have" Laura said.

I really couldn't say much, i was more focused on his... 'associate'

She didn't dress like they were having a meeting and she definitely seemed uncomfortable when he called her an associate. I was feeling so uneasy.

I nudged Laura and whispered that it was time to go.

Thank God she listened to me and we both headed out.

When we got to the car she eyed me.

"Are you okay Aria?"

"Yes, why?"

"You look pale. Are you still crushing on our professor?" She asked, teasing me.

"What? No." I said in haste.

"Why is your face flushed?"

"God Laura. Shut up!!!"