Taught by the Billionaire Professor

Chapter 9: I’ll Do It

I pushed some scrambled eggs around on my plate, trying to muster up an appetite.

I had another dream about Professor Bennett.

Ever since he took me to his office a week ago, those dreams had been happening on a nightly basis. Last night, for example, he rescued me from a demon-like monster with Penny's face. I shot up in bed around two in the morning and was unable to fall back asleep, my brain trying to decide if it had been a dream or a nightmare.

Aiden sat down next to me with his tray, pushing some of his sandy-colored hair out of his bright blue eyes. “Morning. Only you this morning? Where's your twin?"

“Mal's over there, still in line," I answered.

“Ah, okay." Aiden seemed to be a bit disappointed. Then his gaze landed on my plate. “Hey, you okay? Not feeling well?"

“I'm fine."

“Lies. Tell me what's bothering you." He took a big bite of his chocolate pancake.

I sighed, “I'm thinking how difficult it is to get a good grade on my literature lesson."

Another lie. I couldn't really share my ridiculous lust over my professor, nor did I want to tell him the stuff about Penny, knowing that Aiden was the type to confront the bully if he learned that she was messing with me. I would appreciate the sentiment, but I didn't want Aiden to get in trouble, especially over something trivial.

“How so?"

“I don't know… I just don't get him." I pressed my lips together for a moment. “Sometimes he's really nice, but most of the time, I get the feeling that he likes to pick on me."

Otherwise, why would he only ask me questions when he knew I didn't know the answer?

Aiden scoffed suddenly, surprising me. He narrowed his blue eyes into icicles. “I wouldn't worry about it. That professor is a weird one, the way he always has girls fawning over him. It's kind of sick really."

I tried to hide my amusement. It was obvious that Aiden was jealous, and I could hardly blame him. Aiden was one of the school's pretty boys. He was used to getting a lot of attention from girls.

I tried not to grin as I deduced that Aiden saw Professor Bennett as competition.

“Professor Bennett can't help it if girls find him attractive," I said, shaking my head fondly at Aiden. He was such a dork sometimes. I sent a smirk his way. “I seem to know another guy who has a similar problem."

I regretted my attempt at teasing Aiden immediately when his eyes lit up as he looked at me hopefully. A sly smile appeared on his face and he leaned forward from his spot across the small table we shared. “And how would you know that I have that problem?"

I leaned back, rolling my eyes at him. It was Aiden's way of wanting to hear someone—anyone to compliment his good look.

Not giving him that pleasure, I moved away from my friend and laughed, “C'mon, Aiden. I have eyes obviously. Now would you please stop leaning over my breakfast? We gotta finish eating if we're going to get to class on time."

Aiden relented with a light chuckle. “There goes the nerd girl being all uptight again."

I giggled, relieved. This was what I loved when Aiden was my friend as opposed to some weirdo trying to hit on me.

I waved at Mal, who was walking over with her breakfast tray. She slid into a chair next to Aiden, her chocolate brown eyes shining with excitement.

I raised an amused eyebrow. “Something happen?" I asked knowingly, used to seeing that look in her eye.

“The Edenbrook Gala is only a couple of weeks away!" Mal gushed, setting her tray down so that she could throw her hands around animatedly. Aiden leaned away from her slightly so her hand wouldn't hit the side of his head.

Aiden rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “It's impossible to not hear about it these days," he drawled. “This will be our third one and I still don't get what the big deal is."

The Edenbrook Gala was a fair of sorts, a glorified club fair where students showed off what their respective clubs were working on. Aiden and I were equally unenthusiastic about the school's biggest event of the fall semester but for entirely different reasons.

He was dreading the amount of work we were doing to prepare. Everyone would be required to attend club meetings after classes, which would cut into his social life.

To me, I didn't particularly see the event as a waste of time if it wasn't so lavish and over-the-top. The one-day gala had to cost tens of thousands of dollars with the expensive food that was provided and the decorations that really should only exist at black-tie events.

I rolled my eyes. Damn rich kids.

The gala was more of a way for these wealthy students to show off than for the purpose of building a sense of community in Edenbrook Academy.

“Ellie, do you have any ideas what your theater club is going to do?" Mal asked.

I shrugged. I'd be fine with whatever the rest of the club members decided on. We were working on a musical, and I'd much rather spend time practicing the musical than preparing for an expensive party. “We'll come up with something, I guess."

“Are you going to perform?" Mal's voice was exciting. “I haven't seen you dance on stage for a long time!"

“I don't know about that," I grabbed my backpack and my tray. “The only thing I know is, if I don't get going, I'll be late for my Shakespeare class."

“Oh god," Mal waved at me understandably. She was well aware of Professor Bennett's expectation of punctuality by now. “Get going, girl. Later!"

***

When I arrived at the lecture hall, Professor Bennett was already there. As usual, he was dressed in his usual gray suit. I should have gotten over the fact that he was hot as hell by now, but every time I looked at him, somehow I found him more handsome.

My favorite part of the class was hearing him read lines of Shakespeare. He had the perfect deep, velvety voice. I wondered briefly if he considered going into theater himself at some point. The tickets to any play he was in would sell out, I had no doubt.

While it was nice listening to him speak, indulging myself in his intoxicating voice, the problem was, I started to find it hard to focus on what he was actually teaching.

“...lastly, I have an announcement."

I snapped out of my daydreaming when Professor Bennett's eye landed on me for the first time today.

“I'm under the strong impression that many of you who are involved in the gala may resent it due to the amount of effort, time, and money it takes outside of class time."

I swore when he said “money", that was to get my attention. Did he notice that I was a bit distracted?

His tone turned lecturing as he continued. “You've been given an opportunity to showcase the skills and knowledge you've gained not just in your clubs, but as students of Edenbrook Academy. So for those who are in clubs, I must urge you not to waste this opportunity you've been given and to do your best."

No one reacted audibly.

“For those who aren't involved in a club, the gala is still looking for volunteers to help with the general running of the event. That being said, you are all encouraged to participate in one way or another. I will be doing my part by offering extra credit as I see fit."

He dismissed us then. I took my time gathering my things as the usual line of girls started to form in front of the professor's podium. I rolled my eyes as I slipped my books and papers into my backpack. It was obvious by the students' fluttering eyelashes and casual hand gestures that they were flirting with him.

It took a while for the line to dissipate and for me to be the last one in the room with him. I tried to appear casual as I slung my bag over my shoulder and started toward the front of the large room.

Professor Bennett was gathering his stuff, slipping folders into his leather bookbag. He raised an eyebrow almost teasingly, which surprised me. “Did you need something from me, Miss Collins?"

I tried to fight back my blush. Did I really need anything? I just wanted a moment alone with him, I realized with mortification. Was I just as bad as those other girls who were shamelessly flirting with him just a minute ago?

“I was wondering about your devotion toward the Edenbrook Gala," I found myself saying honestly.

Other professors also encouraged us to participate, but no one offered extra credit. Not only that, he also seemed to be threatening us in a casual way as well, like he would be extremely disappointed if we didn't take it seriously.

He raised both eyebrows and the corner of his mouth curved upward. “Is it so surprising that I'd like my students to participate in extracurriculars?"

“No," I said slowly, my cheeks burning. “Not surprising. Just interesting." I was right in front of his desk now, allowing me to make out the subtle details in his face, like the curve of his strong jaw and the golden flecks in his green eyes.

He hummed as he gazed at me, his eyes searching my face in a way that made me fidget. He grinned. “You're in the theater club, correct?"

“Yes," I said with a nod, wondering where this was going.

“Do you perform?"

“Well, sometimes, but—"

“Then I look forward to seeing you in the event then," he said with a faint smile that took my breath away.

My face was burning as I exited the classroom, my brain turning over the exchange that had just occurred over and over. I was so beside myself that I didn't notice Penny standing in the middle of the hallway right outside the classroom, clearly waiting for me.

“What the hell were you bothering Professor Bennett about, you little slut?" she demanded, getting right in my face.

I felt my temper flare immediately as I played back the little textbook incident from just a week earlier. I attempted to brush past the crazy b***h. “Why don't you go ask him yourself if you're so concerned?"

“Now is that how you speak to me when I decide to offer you a nice deal?" Penny's amber eyes narrowed.

I continued to walk away. “I will not make deals with the likes of you."

She stepped in front of me again and I resisted the urge to slap her across her face. “Out of my way, Penny."

Penny rolled her eyes, not the least bit intimidated by me. “You want me to leave you alone, right?"

My eyebrows shot up in disbelief. “And why would you ever do that?"

“Let's say if the theater club wins the gala competition, I'll agree to pretend that you don't exist. But if my club, the debate club, wins, you have to leave your club."

I stared at her in disbelief. Forcing me to leave the theater club might seem like a big deal, but it was common knowledge that being in a club gave huge advantages to students in Edenbrook.

For example, the theater club had large connections to agents, local theaters, and entertainment companies. Through various performances, club activities, and networking events, not only we could gain valuable experiences, but also we were more likely to secure jobs after graduation.

I was just about to shoot down her ridiculous deal when I saw Professor Bennett exit the classroom. Panic immediately ran through me when he spotted us and started to walk over. This was bad. If Professor Bennett came over and defended me, Penny would only hate me more and find more ways to make my life a living hell. Plus, I really didn't want him to save me a third time.

Penny's face looked as if it was carved out of stone. She clearly wasn't going to back down, so I groaned. “Fine! Whatever, I'll do it!"

I had just enough time to see her stupid face spread out in a wide, sinister grin before I ran off.