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I smile to myself, so tempted to tell her all about Raya, but knowing that I shouldn’t. Hell, I shouldn’t even know about her myself. In the back of my mind, I keep thinking about what Silas said about our engagement not being confirmed yet. The words seem more ominous now than before.
“There’s someone I want to learn a little more about, and she’s a student at Astor College,” I end up admitting, unable to keep much from Leia. “I can’t quite figure her out, and I just need to observe her a little longer.”
She falls silent, no doubt reminded of the way she fell for her own professor, back when Adrian was her thesis supervisor. “Well.. don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she says, moments before her husband bursts out laughing in the background.
Ten
Raya
“You’ve been absentminded all day,” Adam says as we find seats in my most anticipated class of the semester, his gaze roaming over me. “Actually, you’ve been out of it for a while now, ever since my birthday. You never told me what happened that night.” He hesitates, his expression conflicted. “I saw you leave with that guy, you know.”
I bite down on my lip nervously as I throw him a furtive glance. I’ve never kept secrets from Adam, but something about my evening with Lex just feels private, and not just because of who he is.
“Nothing happened,” I tell him, my words truthful yet empty. It’s silly, really. All we did was kiss and play Truth or Dare while sipping wine. Though only a few weeks have passed since then, I doubt Lex even remembers me. His charisma and the fact that he had a bachelor pad separate from his main residence spoke volumes. I clearly wasn’t the first girl he brought there, and I won’t be the last. He isn’t interested in love, and I’m not foolish enough to believe I’d be an exception.
I meant what I wrote in the note I left him — I’m not interested in a fling, not even with someone like him. I know I can’t reform a billionaire playboy, and even if I could, I’m not sure I’d want to. I’ve always wanted a relationship similar to my parents’ marriage; a simple life, the kind you could never have with a Windsor. My night with Lex was incredible, but it was a onetime experience that I have no intention of repeating.
“Then why haven’t you been yourself?” Adam asks as we sit down at the very front of the lecture theatre. “Not even sneaking into your father’s lab and experimenting with the solar panels has lifted your spirits. It’s been weeks, Raya. I’m a little worried about you. Did he do something to you that you didn’t consent to?”
My eyes widen at the insinuation, and I turn in my seat. “No, of course not,” I deny, my hand wrapping around his biceps.
His shoulders relax, and he nods, seemingly not all that convinced. I suppose Ihavebeen a little lethargic since that night, but even I’m not quite sure why. I knew exactly what I was doing when I sneaked out of Lex’s bed, my decision made, but I just can’t stop thinking about him. I kept wondering what might’ve happened if I’d stayed. If I’d at least left my phone number, would he have wanted to see me again?
I sit up as the doors to the lecture hall swing shut loudly, and my melancholy makes way for excitement. Professor Leia Astor and her husband, Professor Adrian Astor, are the main reasons I chose to study at Astor College. They’re different to most other professors and practice what they preach. They frequently consult on high-profile projects, and they’re known to bring industry experts such as Aria and Grayson Callahan in for guest lectures.
Not just that, they offer valuable hands-on work experience by way of practical projects throughout their classes, at companies that simply aren’t accessible to most, like SinclairSecurity and Aequitas. Though I have every intention of following in my father’s footsteps, I can’t pass up on such valuable work experience. Leia Astor is a true inspiration for women like me. Watching her succeed makes me believe that I can do it too, and learning from her is a true dream come true.
Whispers cascade through the room, following the footsteps I can hear behind me, and I turn to look over my shoulder, only to be met with the same deep green eyes that I haven’t stopped thinking about in weeks. My heart stutters, and he pauses mid-step, our eyes locking.Lex. What is he doing here, in my classroom? He grins at me, his dimples making an appearance, and then he moves past me.
“Good morning, class. My name is Lexington Windsor.” Giggles and murmurs erupt all around me, but I can’t tear my eyes off Lex. He’s looking right at me, his gaze the same as it was that night. “You may refer to me as Professor Windsor. I’ll be taking over this Mechatronics class from Professor Astor for the duration of this semester.”
Adam taps my thigh and leans in, breaking the spell I was under. I turn toward him, causing his nose to brush against my cheek. “LexingtonWindsor? It’s him, isn’t it?Lex.”
I nod nervously, unable to deny it.
Adam stares at me wide-eyed for a moment, comprehension dawning. “Fuck. You went home withLexington Windsor?” he whispers. “Did you know he’d be here today?”
I shake my head, my cheeks flushed. “I haven’t spoken to him since your birthday. Honestly, I didn’t actually realize who he was initially, and once I did, he made it so easy to just stay in the moment with him.”
Adam’s eyes flash in an unfamiliar way, and he lowers his eyes. “I’m sure he did,” he mutters.
“This class will be unlike any other,” Lex says, his gaze roaming over the room. His expression is different now, moreserious, with a hint of something I can’t quite place. Standing there in his three-piece suit, he looks every inch the powerful, unattainable billionaire that I know him to be. “I suggest you take your first assignment seriously, since the top three students in this class will receive internship positions at Windsor Motors. If you do well during your internship, you’ll be offered a permanent position upon graduation.”
His words leave the room in uproar, understandably so. Windsor Motors doesn’t offer internships, and this is unprecedented. Their graduate program is notoriously hard to get into, and thousands of people apply every year from all over the country, when there are never more than twenty available spots.
Unlike other firms, Windsor Motors offers very comprehensive one-on-one mentorship, and Lex is known to personally mentor at least a handful of people every year. Each of his mentees has published groundbreaking research papers with his help, and they’ve all gone on to create innovative products for Windsor Motors. Working for Lexington Windsor is life changing, and without a doubt, it’s one of the biggest dreams of every single person in this room, Adam and I included.
“I can’t believe he’stheLexington Windsor,” Adam murmurs, his voice strained.
I sigh and slump in my seat, a soft pang hitting my chest as I take in the reactions of every single woman in the room. All of a sudden, the evening we spent together seems inconsequential in light of who he is.
“I’ll start you off easy,” Lex says. “Can someone explain the concept of mechatronics to me?”
Most hands in the room rise at alarming speeds, everyone eager to gain his favor. He glances at me for a moment, before settling his gaze on Adam. “You.”
Adam hesitates. “It’s essentially designing electromechanical systems, whereby the operations of a system and its housing are designed together to comprise a complete system, rather than one working around the other.”
Lex nods. “Any mechatronics specialist needs a comprehensive understanding of technical and electrical engineering, and that’s exactly what I’ll be testing with your first project. I’d like drone designs from each of you on my desk by next week. You’ll then be split into teams to build the top three designs, fully funded by Windsor Motors. Both design and execution will be judged, so don’t worry if your design isn’t chosen. Every design will have flaws, and the way you handle those in the implementation process is often just as important as the design itself.”
