THE NEXT MORNING

Bianca stirred under the soft, expensive sheets, her body still tingling from the night before

She slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the bright morning light streaming through the large window.

For a moment she felt peaceful, warm, her mind blank. Then her eyes darted to the sleek digital clock on the bedside table.

10:32

Her heart slammed against her ribs at that instant.

“Oh my GOD!” She gasped, throwing off the blanket. Her class was supposed to start at 10:30 and she only had minutes to get there.

She stumbled out of the huge bed, her mind racing as she grabbed her clothes from the floor.

Memories of last night, the way Theodore had touched her, whispered to her, made her forget everything came rushing back.

Her cheeks flushed red.

She forced herself to focus. She quickly dressed, her hands shaking as she pulled on her denim skirt and struggled to zip her top.

She didn't even have time to look back again at the man who had changed everything last night.

She dashed out of the room, her shoes clutched in one hand. As she stepped outside, she slipped them on hurriedly and sprinted to the main road.

Luckily, a cab appeared just in time. She hopped in, slamming the door shut.

“To market street, please! Fast, please I need to get home as soon as possible” she said breathlessly

Her phone buzzed as the cab sped off. She glanced down and saw a message from her bestfriend Jessica.

“I see someone didn't sleep alone last night. Tell me everything later, girl!”

Bianca groaned, her cheeks burning even hotter. She typed a quick, shaky reply:

Not now! I've got to go home and shower then rush back to college because I have a class. Will explain later

The cab driver sped through the streets, but by the time she arrives at the house, it was already 10:55.

And when she showered then dressed up and took another cab to Greenfield college, it was 11:30

Bianca threw some cash at the driver the instant she arrived at the college gates and sprinted out, her bag bouncing against her hip.

She burst into the lecture hall, gasping for breath.

Every eye turned to her, wide, judging, curious.

Her supervisor, Mr Collins, turned sharply toward her, his face dark with disapproval.

“Miss Bianca Johnson! How nice of you to finally join us,” he said his voice cold and sarcastic. “I suppose the rest of us should also start strolling in whenever we please, right?”

She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.

Her throat felt dry, her heart still thundering from the run and from the memories of last night.

Last night was great for her and a part of her wished to have another taste of last night experience.

But now, now was her reality.

“I…. I'm sorry sir,” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper

Mr Collins gave her a long, scornful look before gesturing toward the seats. “Find your seat and try not to disrupt the rest of the class further.”

She hurried to her seat, her head bowed low. She could feel the stares following her, whispers buzzing around like angry bees.

As she slid into her chair, she heard a low mocking voice behind her.

“Late because you cried yourself to sleep? Or did you forget the time while hugging your teddy bear?”

Benson's voice.

His words cut her like glass, but she forced herself not to turn or react. She clenched her fists under the desk, trying to focus on breathing.

My Collins cleared his throat again, facing the students.

“As I was saying before our late guest arrived,” he continued, adjusting his glasses, “the department has employed a new professor. He'll be handling our advanced clinical research and surgical techniques module this semester among other specialized sessions. I expect you all go show him the utmost respect and professionalism.”

Just then, the door swung open.

Bianca barely noticed at first because she was rummaging through her bag, searching desperately for the name tag, realizing it wasn't pinned to her blouse.

But the sudden silence in the room made her pause.

Slowly she looked up.

A tall, broad shouldered man stepped into the room. He wore a crisp, perfectly tailored suit that hugged his strong frame.

His hair was styled neatly, a few streaks of gray at the back of his head adding to his mature charm.

Bianca only saw his back and didn't see his face but she was still absent minded because she failed to find her name tag in her bag.

Mr Collins stammered mid sentence, his mouth hanging open as he stared at the man in awe.

“Oh…uh.. welcome, sir…I..I was just introducing you..”

The man offered a polite, charismatic smile that seemed to quite the entire room without a word.

He stepped forward, placing his hands lightly on the desk.

“Good morning, everyone,” he said, his voice deep, rich and smooth as velvet.

“I'm professor Miller. I look forward to an engaging semester with you all”

Bianca felt like her heart had stopped beating.

Her fingers fumbled in her bag, her breaths coming in short, shallow bursts.

She still couldn't find her name tag, her mind too busy trying to process what her ears were hearing and she didn't glance up.

Jessica had been reminding her to change her bag for weeks.

The inside was torn and things she put in it would slip into hidden corners or get stuck in the holes.

But because she didn't have enough money, she kept ignoring Jessica's advice and kept postponing buying a new one.

Now, the bag was punishing her for it and her name tag was probably stuck somewhere deep inside one of those torn pockets.

With her gaze fixed on her bag, she didn't take note of the smirk Benson had on his face.

Then his voice cut through the heavy silence in the class.

“Hi dad,” Benson called out from behind her, a sly smirk on his lips.

Dad?

That was the first thought that shifted Bianca's attention from her bag.

Her head snapped up so fast it nearly made her dizzy.

Her wide eyes flew to the front of the class again and there he was. The same man who held her, kissed her, touched her in ways that made her forget her heartbreak

Mr Theodore?

Professor Theodore?

Benson’s Father.

Bianca felt the blood drain from her face. Her stomach twisted painfully and her vision blurred for a moment.

No.

No, no, no.

Her entire body froze as if she'd been dropped into ice water. The realization hit like a brutal slap.

Her fingers finally stilled inside her bag as her mind spun out of control. Bianca stared blankly ahead, her breath caught in her throat.

Her hands trembled violently as she slowly lowered them onto her lap.

The entire world around her seemed to disappear leaving only the shocking and devastating truth ringing in her head.

She had slept with her ex boyfriends father.

Her professor.