Tessa’s POV “Tessa, where is the ketchup?” “Tessa, we are going to need more drinks!” “Tessa, get more napkins!” I wiped the sweat off my brow and walked through the loud gathering of people. “Okay, just give me a minute,” I shouted over the music. This was my boyfriend Brian’s birthday party. I fell in love with Brian during our freshmen year. He was my first love. He was a boy who came from a wealthy family, and I was the girl who grew up in the countryside and worked on my father’s farm. I felt inadequate when it came to Brian and his friends. They all grew up living a wealthy lifestyle and I never quite fit in with them. However, I made up for it by trying to be the best girlfriend that I could be. That included throwing him the best parties. Like this one. Despite our differences when it came to wealth and elegance, I always believed that Brian and I would be endgame. That is why I tried so hard to make our relationship work. My best friend Ruby was leaning against the counter when I entered the kitchen, folding her arms across her chest. I already knew what she was going to say before she spoke. “Brian has been talking to Amanda all night,” she pointed out. I could feel her eyes on my face as I pulled the cans of soda and beer out of the fridge. “It’s his birthday party,” I said in return. “He can talk to whoever he wants to talk to.” “He’s also your boyfriend. He should be talking to you all night, not her.” “She’s his best friend, Ruby.” “You’re his girlfriend, Tessa.” “Please, just leave it alone. I don’t want any issues tonight. Especially with all his friends here.” They already judged me enough. “You work too hard,” Ruby said, grabbing the ketchup off the counter and following me as I entered the living room. I began placing napkins on the tables I had set up for the food and drinks. “They treat you like you are their slave, and they always have. How many more hoops are you going to jump through for them?” “As many as necessary to get on their good side,” I answered. “I’m doing this for Brian, not for them.” “You should rest and enjoy some of the party.” “I just want everything to be perfect,” I told her with a grin. She rolled her eyes at my response. “Must you always be an overachiever?” I didn’t answer her. Brian was my first boyfriend. I didn’t know about other people, but I’m used to trying my best for those that I loved. “On a new note, tomorrow is our first school day this semester. Have you heard who’s coming to our school?” Ruby changed the subject realizing I did not have an answer to her question. “No, I haven’t.” “Joseph Evergreen. That fantasy novelist you love so much!” “Wait seriously?” I asked, raising my brows. “He’s coming to our school?!” Joseph Evergreen was an incredible writer and an inspiration for my own writing, but he had been so mysterious. It is my dream to be a famous fantasy writer. But so far, my hard work didn’t help me much with that. “He’s coming to our school to teach a special writing course. We should sign up for that class together!” “I love that idea,” I agreed. “We will go first thing in the morning to sign up. I absolutely love Joseph Evergreen. He just reminds me so much of my writing idol, Christopher Moore.” I couldn’t help but get excited. “Maybe they are the same person,” Ruby teased. “Christopher Moore was alive hundreds of years ago. He would have to be some immortal vampire or something,” I teased in return. We laughed again. Soon, Ruby’s demeanor changed in an instant and I saw her looking at someone past me. I felt a pair of strong arms wrapping around my waist from behind me and I knew who it was instantly. I could tell that Ruby was trying hard not to roll her eyes. She never liked Brian and she made that painfully obvious. “Hey beautiful,” Brian said, kissing the back of my neck. I chuckled, turning around to hug him. “Brian, not in front of everybody,” I said, peering up at him. “What were you two laughing about?” He asked, kissing the top of my head. “Joseph Evergreen is teaching a special writing course at our school next semester. Ruby and I were thinking about signing up.” “A writing course?” Brian asked, narrowing his eyes at me, and dropping his hands from my waist. “Do you think it’s wise to dedicate a whole course to a hobby?” “Well, it’s not just a hobby for me—” “Writing isn’t a career, Tessa. We talked about this.” “I beg to differ. Joseph Evergreen is very successful—” “Okay, one in a million make it as real writers,” Brian said, cutting off my words as he often did. “I thought we discussed taking a business course for your last semester so you can be prepared for when you intern at my father’s company.” My heart fell into my stomach. I hadn’t told him that I chose against taking a business course. More importantly, I decided I didn’t want to intern at his father’s company. I wasn’t sure how to tell him and I certainly didn’t want to do it during his birthday party. “I know,” I said, lowering my gaze. “But it’s our last semester and I wanted to take something I really enjoy.” “If you want to be successful, you need to start thinking about your future and writing is not a plausible career,” he said, shaking his head with dismay written all over his face. “It’s nothing more than a hobby.” “I could learn so much during this course, Brian…” “Forget it,” he muttered, turning away from me. “Do whatever you want.” He disappeared through the crowd of people, leaving me staring after him. “He’s such an arrogant asshole,” Ruby said, folding her arms across her chest. “Why do you let him control you like that?” “He’s not that bad…” I told her. But even I didn’t believe those words. “I’ll be right back,” I told her. I went through the crowd and in the direction Brian went. I didn’t want to leave the conversation like that. By the time I found him, I saw that he was back to talking to Amanda. They were in the back corner, and she was leaning against the wall, staring up at him. “She doesn’t care about a thing that I want. She’s too set in her ways. She might be pretty, but she can be incredibly dumb sometimes.” Those cruel words came from Brian. I stood frozen with a heavy heart as I listened to my boyfriend talking about me to his best friend. “I’ve said this countless times before, she’s not good enough for you,” Amanda said, putting her hand on his arm and leaning towards him. I widened my eyes. They were kissing. And it wasn’t a small sisterly kiss either. That was the moment I realized that I was probably the only one trying to make this relationship work. “You two bastards!” When I was about to step out, Ruby did it before me. Brian quickly pulled away from her. “Tessa… it’s not what it looks like!” Brian started walking toward me. “I can explain—” “That’s the end of it!” I said with my eyes beginning to betray me. “I have done enough for you to make this relationship work, Brian.” “But I will never try for a cheater,” I said it word by word, trying to stabilize my voice. “He’s not worth it,” Ruby muttered, draping an arm around me, and pulling me away from the party. Brian followed us until we reached the door, then he stopped and let us leave. When I glanced at his figure for the last time, I tried my best to not croak as tears fell out of my eyes. But I was surprised that I felt relieved at the same time. Maybe I didn’t need to try so hard for everything in my life, especially for someone like Brian. “Where are we going?” I asked Ruby. “You’ll see,” she said with a grin. We drove for about 30 minutes until we reached downtown, then she parked the car. “We are going to a bar,” she finally announced. “You need to loosen up and forget about that loser.” I sighed and got out of the car, following her down the streets until the bar, lit up in neon lights, came into view. As we continued walking, I brushed past a tall and incredibly handsome stranger. Goosebumps instantly formed on my skin. I paused and looked over my shoulder at him and that’s when I noticed he was no longer walking. He was staring with such a ravenous look in his eyes. It almost felt like I was on his menu. Strange feelings.
Tessa’s POV This man was insanely attractive, and he had to have been in his mid-twenties. He was tall and had a broad figure. My heart was pounding heavily in my chest, and I forgot where I was for a moment. I couldn’t move my eyes from him. It felt like that look in his eyes nailed me to the ground. It was as if he was looking at more than just my face. He was staring into my mind, heart, and soul. “Tessa, come on!” Ruby urged, pulling me along with her. “Only a little further.” Ruby obviously didn’t notice this man, but I reluctantly turned away and went with her into the bar. His eyes were otherworldly. I couldn’t get them out of my head long after seeing him. Not to mention how he looked at me made my heart skip a beat. “Surprise!” Tessa said, motioning around as soon as we stepped into the bar. I frowned as I looked around. This wasn’t just a normal bar. I saw incredibly hot men walking around with their shirts off, serving tables. There were other men dancing on a stage and flirting with women. “You took me to a callboy bar?” I asked. “You need to loosen up and have a good time. Forget about that loser Brian. There are so many better guys out there for you.” “I don’t think I’m going to find him at a bar like this,” I said, shaking my head at her. She laughed and grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the bar stools where we sat down. “Two tequila shots please,” she asked the bartender. “And a water for me.” “I don’t want to take any shots,” I said to her. “We came to a bar, you must drink. I’m going to make sure you forget about Brian. At least for tonight.” “I’d rather not get drunk,” I said sheepishly. “I’ll be the responsible one and drink water tonight. I got both those shots for you,” she explained. The bartender put the shots in front of us along with Ruby’s water. She smiled and motioned for me to take a shot. “Humor me.” I knew she was right. I needed to loosen up and have a few drinks. I didn’t often drink because Brian didn’t like how I looked drunk. I took a shot and winced as it stung my throat. Ruby laughed. “Atta girl,” she said, nudging me with her shoulder. The last time I had a drink was when I was with my father on the farm. We would often drink together during our evening chores. “I don’t know what I’m going to do…” I said, staring down at my hands. “I can’t go home, and all of my things are there.” “Don’t even worry about that, Tessa. You know you can live with me. I’ll swing by your place in the morning and get your stuff. You don’t have to worry about a thing.” I was thankful to have her at that moment. My heart ached so much at the thought of Brian’s betrayal. It was obvious now that it was never me that he wanted. I had done everything for him. I went to the brunches with his friends, I wore the clothing he liked, and I ate the foods he suggested. I worked out daily, so I would be fit enough for him. I even took the classes he wanted me to take. I completely changed myself for him and it was for nothing. But now I realize he was just trying to turn me into her. “You keep drinking, I’m going to get you a guy,” Ruby said as I took the second shot. “Ruby, no…I—” It was too late. she was already gone. I sighed just as the bartender placed a couple more shots in front of me. She must have ordered them before she left. My head was already whirling from the other two, but I took another shot anyway. Soon, a platinum credit card was placed on the bar countertop, causing me to freeze. My eyes trailed up until they met the same eyes I couldn’t get out of my head. It was the man from outside. Ruby must have noticed our encounter after all and found him somewhere in the bar. He worked here as a callboy. No wonder he gave me that ravenous look. “Put her drinks on that card,” he said to the bartender in a firm tone like he was the one in charge. He kept his eyes locked on mine, even when he spoke to the bartender. It was as if I was hooked in a trance. “You didn’t have to do that,” I found myself saying. “Gave me an excuse to talk to you.” His voice was much deeper than I imagined. “You wanted to talk to me?” I asked, my heart racing in my chest. Before he could answer, the bartender returned with his card and receipt. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a $50 bill, slapping it on the counter as a tip to the bartender. I took the last shot of tequila and slid off the barstool. “Let’s just get out of here,” I said to him, trying not to fall over. “Where would you like to go?” “The hotel,” I said to him, furrowing my brows together. He must have been new to this callboy stuff. “And why would you want to go to a hotel?” His tone was low and incredibly sexy. It sent warmth throughout my body. “To obviously have sex.” What was wrong with him? His eyes had darkened and maybe my eyes were deceiving me, but they almost looked red. He stood back and scanned my body for only a moment before that ravenous look returned to his eyes. “If that’s what you wish,” he said as he offered me his hand. Taking his hand, I went with him outside, not seeing Ruby in sight. I made a mental note to send her a text later. Parked nearby was a black Bentley that he walked towards. I paused once he reached the car and opened the passenger side. After a pause, I finally slid into the passenger side of the car, and we had to drive for about 20 minutes until we reached an incredibly expensive-looking Villa. “This isn’t a hotel,” I pointed out. “It looks more like a resort.” He smirked and got out of the car. “Hotels are disgusting, and I’d prefer to have sex at my home,” he said as he went toward the main entrance. “You live here?” I gasped, scrambling out of the car. He didn’t bother responding. Once we got inside, I was amazed by how huge and gorgeous the Villa was. “Do you have a restroom I can use?” I asked. “I’d like to wash up beforehand.” He motioned down the hallway. “Down that hall to the right,” he said as he took my coat. I nodded my thanks to him and made my way to the bathroom. I just needed a minute to gather my thoughts. I was still incredibly dizzy from the alcohol and his looks were so intimidating. Brian was the first and only guy I’d ever been with, and I didn’t want to make a fool out of myself. I didn’t realize callboys made so much money that they could afford luxurious houses and cars like that. I should probably text Ruby and let her know that I made it here safely and expect me back at her place late. But just as I pulled my phone out of my pocket, the bathroom door swung open, and he was leaning against the frame. Swinging around to face him, I swallowed a lump that had formed in my throat. He gave me a devilishly sexy grin and I couldn’t help but want him even more in that moment. “You have a scent that drives me wild,” he breathed hungrily. I had no idea what that meant, but it definitely turned me on. He rushed toward me, wrapping his arms around my waist, he lifted me onto the sink and kissed me in a way that set my soul on fire. The sink turned on and I felt the water soaking into the back of my blouse and dripping onto the counter. I wrapped my legs around him and pressed myself further into him, allowing his kiss to deepen and his tongue to explore my mouth. He finally pulled away from me and I saw that his eyes had turned red. I wasn’t afraid though. In fact, I was mesmerized by him. “Are you sure you want to do this?” He asked in a husky whisper. “We’ve only just met.” I looked him over for a moment longer. I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol that gave me this boost of confidence, or because he made me incredibly hot for him, but I answered his question by taking off my shirt and throwing it to the ground. His eyes grew even redder. It was surreal, but he began to kiss my neck without hesitation, sending goosebumps across my body. I felt a little stinging at first, but then, on top of the alcohol, there was a new layer of beautiful dizziness.
Tessa’s POV I just had a one-night stand… with a callboy. I woke up and was told by the faint sunlight that beamed through the window shades, it was morning. My entire body tingled at the memory of last night. It was certainly incredible, and I can’t remember the last time I’ve been touched like that. This man definitely knew what he was doing last night. At least I’m not crying over Brian. As painful as his betrayal was, I feel like I could actually move on from him. Maybe the best way to get over somebody really is to get under someone new. My face reddened at the very thought. Sitting up in bed, I frowned at my surroundings. This was obviously the master bedroom with the king-sized bed. It was a vast space, however, it was veiled and gauzy. The curtains dimmed the natural lighting from outside, making it almost dreary. I felt a slight sting in my neck, making me reach my hand towards my neck and feel a small swollen patch. I quickly slid out of bed and dressed in my jeans and hoodie before making my way to the bathroom. My face grew warm as I remembered how passionate we were on that sink. I looked at the ground and saw that the crystal soap dish was cleaned. I frowned when I saw the bitemark on my neck. As fun as last night was, that callboy certainly left his impression on my body. However, it was strange that it didn’t hurt last night when he did this. I remember him licking and nibbling on my neck, but I remembered it feeling good. It wasn’t until this morning that it started hurting. It was also red and a little swollen like a bug bite. “Ouch,” I muttered to myself with dismay written all over my face. I left the bathroom and stood in this man’s bedroom. I didn’t like how dark it was in here and I wondered where exactly I was. I went to his window to open the curtains. As the sunlight started seeping through and I got a glimpse of what looked like a garden, a pair of hands pulled the curtains shut. I quickly turned around to see the callboy staring down at me. He was frowning and I noticed that his eyes were no longer red. Maybe they were never red. It could have been my drunken brain playing tricks on me. That was the only thing that really made sense. He stood only inches from me, and he stared down my body until his eyes landed on my lips. My heart was thudding violently against my chest and for a moment, I worried that he could hear it. I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until he took a step away from me. “Join me downstairs for some breakfast,” he said, reaching his hand out for me to take. I stared at it questionably for a moment before taking it. I allowed him to guide me out of his bedroom and down a long and wide set of spiral stairs. I was in awe of how big his home was and incredibly confused as to how he was able to afford such a luxurious home on a callboy’s wage. We went into a dining room area, and I saw the large wooden table with a couple of plates of delicious-looking food, orange juice, and coffee. As soon as I saw the food, my stomach instantly growled. “I wasn’t sure what you liked to eat or drink for breakfast, so I made an assortment of things,” he said, pulling out a chair for me to sit. He was certainly a charming callboy. I had to give Ruby some credit for choosing such an elegant guy. “It’s perfect,” I said as I sat down. He sat across from me and stared at me for a moment as I started eating. Then, he slowly started to eat as well. “I hope you slept well,” he said to me. It was such a casual opening statement that it caught me off guard. “Yes, your bed is incredibly comfortable,” I answered. It was like he didn’t know what to say in response to that, so he just looked at me quizzingly. I could tell he was trying hard, but what he was trying to do was unclear to me. “And your home is very beautiful,” I added. “How were you able to afford something like this on your salary?” As soon as I asked that question, I regretted it. My father had taught me that it was rude to ask about one’s financial situation, but I couldn’t take the question back once it’s been spoken. “A lot of the money I have is due to the investments I’ve made,” he answers casually. “I just recently moved here.” So, I was right about him being new to this callboy stuff. I wondered how many other women he’s had while he was here and how I ranked in comparison to them. But I quickly brushed that thought out of my mind, not wanting to think about it. “Your service has been incredible,” I said to him, meeting his eyes. He furrowed his brows at me. It was at that moment I realized how rude I was being. I didn’t even know his name. “I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I never got your name.” “Joseph,” he answered. He had the same name as Joseph Evergreen. How strange. “I’m Tessa,” I said in return, and I wondered if he even cared what my name was or if I was just another customer to him. Which reminded me. I grabbed my purse. “I’m not sure how much she already gave you, but let me give you a tip—” “Why would you give me money?” He asked, just as I pulled a 20 out of my purse. I raised my gaze up to his. “For your performance…” My face grew warm. “My performance?” “Yes—” I went on to say, but then I paused when I saw just how confused he truly was. “Do you know what we were last night?” Realization soon flashed through his eyes, and he ran his fingers through his dark mass of hair. “I’m sorry, I know having sex on the first day we meet is fast. But we can get to know each other quickly and I can try my best to be a good enough boyfriend to you…” I nearly choked on my coffee. “Boyfriend?!” I gasped, staring up at him. What was he talking about? “Yes,” he answered. “I would never just toss you aside after having sex with you.” “Isn’t that your job?” That confused look returned to him. “I’m not sure I understand what you mean,” he said, eyeing me carefully. “Can you excuse me for a moment,” I said, grabbing my phone from my purse. “I should probably tell my friend where I am.” I felt his eyes on the back of my head as I scurried out of the dining room. As I stared at my phone screen, I frowned when I saw that Ruby had called me at least three times last night. “Tessa! Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you last night. You just disappeared,” she went on to say as soon as I called her. “I’m sorry. I went with that callboy you ordered me—” “What? Tessa, what are you talking about? I never ordered you a callboy.”
Tessa’s POV “You didn’t order a callboy?!” I asked, feeling my stomach sinking. “No…” she confirmed. “I mean, I was going to. But by the time I found one and returned to you, you were already gone.” Then, she gasped. “Did you find a man and go home with him?!” “Ruby, I’ll see you at home,” I said quickly before hanging up the phone. My heart was racing against my chest at a rapid speed. That man, Joseph, in the dining room right now, was not a callboy. How could I have made a mistake like that?! I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and returned to the dining room, trying to hide the pure embarrassment on my face. “I’m so sorry,” I said, meeting his curious eyes. “I thought last night was just a one-night stand. I never—” “A one-night stand?” Joseph asked, raising his right brow. “And what exactly gave you that impression?” His voice lowered slightly, and I could see the annoyance on his face. “My friend last night went to find me a callboy and I thought you were who she ordered for me…” I admitted, feeling my face growing warmer. “You thought I was a callboy?” He asked. “I’m so sorry…It was an honest mistake considering the bar we were at,” I went on to say. “What were you even doing there if you aren’t a callboy?” “I saw something I was interested in and went inside,” he said in return, narrowing his eyes at me. “And I was mainly looking for a conversation.” “Well, you should have been clearer about that last night,” I said. I was trying to hide my embarrassment. He leaned back in his seat, keeping his eyes locked on mine. “Are you always so frivolous?” My eyes widened at his words, and I couldn’t help but feel annoyed. “Excuse me, but there’s nothing wrong with having a one-night stand in this day and age.” “I didn’t say there was,” he said in return. “I just didn’t think that’s what this was. You don’t seem like the type to—” “You don’t know me like that,” I said quickly, folding my arms across my chest. “We’ve only just met.” “Yes, and during this time you thought I was nothing more than a callboy,” he said without expression. “Why exactly were you at that bar?” “That’s not your business,” I shot back firmly. He took a deep breath and looked at me for a moment longer, silently, until he finally composed himself enough to speak again. “You should probably get going. I wouldn’t want your friend to worry any further.” He must have heard me on the phone with Ruby. But he was right because I was also going to be late for school if I didn’t hurry. However, I found it difficult to get my legs to move. My eyes remained on his and I thought I saw a slight ping of hurt. I could have been mistaken, but maybe he was serious about developing a relationship. There was no humor in his tone when he brought it up and he’s been so proper that I was starting to think that maybe he was a bit more conservative. Joseph’s sigh brought me back to reality and I realized he was waiting for me to leave. I was about to apologize again, but then I thought it would be better if I just left. I grabbed my purse and quickly scurried out of his home. As soon as I got outside, I realized I not only left that money on the table, but I also forgot to put my bra on. It was still somewhere in his room. I turned back to his Villa, but I was way too embarrassed to go back, so I turned back around and continued walking away. Thankfully, my hoodie was thick enough that it was not noticeable. Once I gained enough distance, I called an Uber to take me to Ruby’s house. She was already dressed for the day when I got there, and she looked relieved to see me. “I’m glad you made it here in one piece,” she said, giving me a hug. “I have clothes for you to wear. Hurry up and take a shower. After classes later, I’ll swing by your apartment to grab your stuff.” “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I said, giving her a fond and relieved smile. “Thankfully, you’ll never have to find out,” she said in return. I went into the bathroom and quickly showered. It felt good to allow the hot water to warm my frigid body. I didn’t notice how badly I was trembling until the water hit my skin. The bite mark on my neck stung as the water washed it, but not before long the pain went away. I made such a fool out of myself. I was glad I was never going to have to see that man again. Ruby was waiting for me by the time I finished showering and dressing. “So, tell me about last night,” Ruby said with wide and excited eyes. “There’s not much to tell. I had sex with a complete stranger,” I said, shaking my head at her. “We should have never gone to that bar.” “Are you seriously going to tell me that you didn’t have fun?” Ruby teased. “Didn’t it get your mind off that jerk?” I couldn’t even deny the fact that I had fun, and she was right. I barely thought about Brian the entire time I was with that stranger. Joseph. My heart skipped a beat when I spoke his name in my head. But then my face grew warm when I remembered he called me frivolous. The audacity of that jerk. I shuddered at the thought. I didn’t want to talk about Joseph anymore and decided not to answer any more of her questions. She was annoyed by this, but eventually Ruby dropped the subject as we left for school. Ruby lived close to the school, so it didn’t take long for us to get there. We went directly to the registration office to sign up for that new writing course. “I’m sorry ladies, but the professor asked that all interested students attend his course and prove their writing before he accepts anyone,” the receptionist said, staring between the two of us. “Okay…when is the class scheduled again?” I asked. “Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Today is Monday, so make sure you are there on time.” As we left the office, Ruby was muttering under her breath, “Why would he schedule a class at night?” I tuned her out though. I was more nervous about not being chosen to attend this class. If Joseph Evergreen didn’t like my writing, it would break my heart. However, I knew I wasn’t nearly good enough to impress the famous fantasy author. But I still thought I had some talent. “Tessa? Are you still with me?” Ruby asked, waving her hand in front of my face, and bringing me out of my head. “I said we will meet at the Literature wing tonight and go to the class together.” “Sounds good,” I agreed. Later in the evening, I met Ruby in the Literature wing of the school. As we began walking toward the classroom, I paused when I saw a familiar man walking amongst the students. My heart fell deeply into my stomach and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. Ruby paused when she noticed I had stopped walking and she followed my eyes to the man across the hallway. “He looks familiar,” she pointed out. “Where have I seen him before?” “The bar last night,” I breathed. “He was the man I left with.” “Woah! Seriously?! Tessa, he’s insanely hot!” “Keep your voice down!” I said between my teeth as I grabbed her arm. “I can’t believe he’s here. I had no idea he was attending this school.” “He must be a transfer,” she asked, glancing in his direction. “Whatever, I just hope his classes don’t correspond with mine,” I said, hiding behind Ruby as we continued walking toward the classroom. “I don’t really need that kind of mess during our last semester before graduation.” Ruby only chuckled as we went into the room and we met with a bunch of other students. I instantly grew nervous as I found an empty seat beside Ruby. This moment could make my dream of becoming a writer a reality. I looked around the room at all the curious students and was thankful that Joseph wasn’t among them. At least I could relax knowing we weren’t going to share this class together if I were to be accepted that is. However, there were also signs of Professor Joseph Evergreen, and the class was just about to start. Not before long, the door of the classroom swung open, and everybody silenced as the Professor finally arrived. “Oh God,” I heard Ruby whisper. It felt as if the walls had closed in when I looked up at the Professor. Joseph Evergreen. My one-night stand.
Tessa’s POV In an instant, it felt like my entire world had crumbled down around me and I could no longer breathe. It was Joseph. The same Joseph from last night. “I heard he’s super famous and very rich!” “I saw him in the hallway. I couldn’t believe he was so handsome!” “I hear he looks so young for being 40!” I remained frozen in my seat as I stared at Joseph. All the whispers from the students were not exaggerating. Joseph was rich, handsome, and young. That was why I had no idea he was Joseph Evergreen. I was on pins and needles. I slept with my Professor? My favorite writer? And thought he was a callboy? As he scanned the room, his gaze met mine. But as quickly as he looked at me, he looked away. Maybe he didn’t recognize me. I was sitting kind of far away and I was wearing different clothing. “I am Professor Joseph Evergreen, a fantasy novelist. I’m sure you are eager to get started. Firstly, I’d like to start off by explaining that I only accept the best writers and those who work the hardest to participate in this course.” He scanned the room briefly before continuing. “With that being said, I’m only allowing 15 students in this course, so only about half of you will make it. By the end of today’s class, you’ll have everything you need to construct a 1000-word sample due in two days, which is Wednesday. From there, I will choose 15 of you to be my students.” A knot formed in my stomach. Despite last night’s venture, and knowing that Joseph was the professor, I still really wanted to take this course. But I worried that I had already screwed things up. “Before we discuss that further, I’m going to speak about a few different fantasy authors whose works we will discuss in class. Kenneth Regan, I will talk about first. He was born in the early 1900s and wrote some of my favorite books. He was largely known for blending complicated historical issues in Fantasy novels, but he himself was quite funny and light-hearted.” The way Joseph spoke about Kenneth Regan was like he was talking about a friend. His knowledge of not only his professional life but also his personal life was astonishing. “Another author born in the early 1800s was none other than Christopher Moore. If you are anything like me, Chris was probably the reason you took an interest in writing,” Joseph continued. “Chris grew up as a poor boy. His family abandoned him when he was a child and he found himself orphaned. His only escape in life was writing. He wrote everything you could imagine but his main passion was, of course, Fantasy writing. Chris didn’t go to college like Ken did. Chris felt as if he already had all the knowledge he needed. He spent his entire childhood into his adolescence writing. Even when everyone doubted him, he never gave up….” Joseph’s voice trailed off as he got lost in thought. “I always admired that about him,” he said fondly. “He went on to write a number of books that are still number-one sellers to this day. Unfortunately, his life was cut short, and he isn’t able to see the difference his writing made in this world. The hearts he had touched and the inspiration he had created.” I could tell from Joseph Evergreen’s writing that he loved Christopher Moore just like me and was influenced by him, but I didn’t expect the way he talked about Christopher was full of…nostalgia? He shook his head at the very thought and then proceeded to talk about a couple more authors before changing the subject. Later, he discussed the assignment in more detail and handed us worksheets to go along with the samples to write. As he reached my desk, I kept my eyes from looking up at him, but he stood beside me for only a moment, keeping his hand on my desk with the paper underneath it. I thought he was going to say something, but he didn’t. He continued to pass out the papers before standing at the front of the class. “We have time for a Q&A. If you have questions now is your time to ask.” Every single person in the room had their hands raised, including Ruby, who looked as if she was about to burst with excitement. Joseph chose a girl from the front row. “Professor Evergreen, I’m a huge fan. Your books are an inspiration to me. Which brings me to ask you, who’s your main inspiration?” “The main source of my inspiration came from my personal life experiences,” he spoke without hesitation. Everybody seemed perplexed by his answer. He was a fantasy writer. How many personal real-life experiences could have happened? “How is that possible?” The same girl asked, mimicking my thoughts. “You’re a fantasy author, so your writing is fiction.” “It depends on your definition of fiction. I have a broader sense of the word. What makes something fiction? Just because you can’t see something with your eyes, doesn’t make it not real.” “Like air…” I found myself talking softly from the back of the room, getting Joseph’s attention. His eyes found mine and held them for a moment. “Like air,” he agreed. “We can’t see air, but we know it exists.” “But there’s research that proves air…” that girl said, turning his attention back to her. “Scientists have—” “In literature, you must have an open mind about everything. If you think too logically while writing, you might not make it as a fantasy novelist. Learn to think outside of the box and have faith in things you can’t see or have no proof of being real.” More hands rose and he chose a boy that sat nearby me. “Not a question, just an observation. I’ve noticed your writing is very much like Christopher Moore.” Joseph nodded his head once. “That author greatly influenced me,” he explained. “He’s an incredible writer,” I found myself saying in agreement, causing Joseph to look at me once again. “What is your name?” He asked me. I felt blood rushing to my face as everyone turned to look at me. “Tessa,” I answered, trying to compose myself. “Tessa…” he repeated my name out loud, and it sounded so incredibly sexy coming out of his mouth. “Do you mind waiting here for a while after class?” I was shocked by the proposal, but I managed a head nod before he turned to the rest of the class. “That’s all the time we have. Make sure to have your samples sent to my email by 10 am on Wednesday. I look forward to reading them,” Joseph turned around and announced to the class. “If you don’t have anywhere to be this evening feel free to stick around and I’ll answer any extra questions you might have.” Quite many students, including Ruby and myself, stayed behind. Who didn’t want to have a face-to-face conversation with the mysterious writer Joseph Evergreen？ “Wait until we leave before you throw up,” she whispered teasingly. “I’m just worried this is going to affect my chances of getting into his class,” I told her honestly. “Just do the best you can,” she said. “If he’s professional, he won’t let your relationship affect his true evaluation of your writing.” “Why did he specifically ask me to stay then?” “To warn you not to tell anyone about last night? But I already knew it…” I looked back in his direction and noticed he had left the room. Everyone who stayed after class stared at the closed door, wondering where the mysterious author had gone off to after promising he’d answer further questions. Joseph returned moments later, only this time when he walked into the room, he ignored everybody and walked directly over to me. I stared up at him with an alarmed expression when I noticed he was holding a bag. “You forgot something.” Joseph handed me the bag. “You are free to go now.” “What—” I began to ask, but he was already walking away once I had taken the bag from him. The other students in the room were staring at me questionably, wondering what Joseph had just handed me. “What’s in the bag?” Ruby asked, raising her brows. I glanced inside the bag and instantly shut it, feeling the blood draining from my body. Inside the bag was the bra and money I had left at his place.
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