Chapter 26: Professor's Demands

The steady hum of the campus buzzed outside, but inside Professor James’s office, the air was thick with tension. Eliza sat across from him, her notebook resting on her lap, but her mind was miles away. The familiar setting of the office, once a place where she felt inspired and intellectually stimulated, now felt like a cage. Every minute spent here felt heavier than the last, weighed down by the unspoken emotions that had been building between them.

Professor James sat behind his desk, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her stomach churn. His voice, once soft and encouraging, had taken on a sharper edge in recent days, and Eliza could feel the subtle shift in their dynamic. What had started as a professional relationship, blurred by an unexpected connection, had become something else entirely—something dangerous.

“Eliza,” he said, his tone more commanding than she was used to. “I’ve noticed you’ve been distant lately. Distracted.”

Eliza looked down at her hands, her chest tightening with anxiety. She had been trying to distance herself, to put space between them ever since she had realized how deeply she had let herself get entangled. But it was becoming harder. Professor James was pulling her in more and more, demanding her time and attention in ways that made her feel trapped.

“I’m just… overwhelmed,” she said quietly, her voice barely audible. “With school, with everything.”

Professor James leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re not overwhelmed with school. You’re overwhelmed with us.” His voice softened, but there was an unmistakable possessiveness in it. “You can’t run from this, Eliza. You can’t just shut me out.”

Eliza’s heart raced, and she could feel the weight of his words pressing down on her. She had tried to create distance, had tried to focus on herself and her writing, but Professor James had a way of pulling her back in, making her feel like she owed him something. Like she couldn’t escape.

“I’m not trying to shut you out,” she said softly, though even as she spoke, she felt the lie in her words. She was trying to shut him out. She needed to, for her own sanity. But how could she tell him that?

Professor James stood up from his desk and walked toward her, his gaze never leaving hers. “You don’t have to hide from me,” he said, his voice low, as if he were trying to soothe her. But instead of offering comfort, his words only made her feel more trapped. “I see you, Eliza. I know what you’re going through.”

Eliza swallowed hard, her hands tightening around her notebook. “You don’t understand. Things are complicated right now.”

“They’re only complicated because you’re making them that way,” he said sharply, cutting her off. “You can’t keep dividing your time and attention between everything else. I’ve been patient, but I need more from you. More of your focus. More of you.”

Eliza felt her chest constrict with panic. The possessiveness in his voice sent alarm bells ringing in her mind, and suddenly, the walls of the office felt like they were closing in on her. This was no longer about writing or mentorship. It was about control, and Professor James’s grip on her was tightening.

“I don’t know if I can give you that,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “I’m confused, and I need space to figure things out.”

He stepped closer, his expression hardening. “Space? Space for what? For Alex?” His voice was cold, laced with jealousy. “I know he’s been trying to talk to you. You think I don’t notice when you’re distracted by him?”

Eliza’s heart pounded in her chest, fear creeping into her veins. This wasn’t the man she had admired, the one who had encouraged her writing and made her feel seen. This was someone else—someone who was demanding more than she was willing to give.

“It’s not about Alex,” she said quickly, though part of her knew that was only half true. “I just… I need to figure out what I want.”

Professor James’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, Eliza could see the anger simmering beneath the surface. “What you want?” he repeated, his voice soft but filled with an edge. “I’ve given you everything, Eliza. I’ve supported your writing, encouraged you to push yourself. And now you’re telling me you need space?”

Eliza’s hands trembled, and she stood up, feeling the need to put some physical distance between them. “I never asked for this,” she said, her voice shaking. “I never wanted things to get this complicated.”

Professor James stared at her, his jaw clenched. “You did want this,” he said, his voice hard. “You wanted my attention. You wanted me to see you, to believe in you. And now that you have it, you’re running away.”

Tears pricked at Eliza’s eyes as the guilt and fear crashed over her. She had wanted his attention—at first. She had craved the validation he offered, the way he made her feel special, important. But now, it had become too much. She felt like she was losing herself, caught in a web she didn’t know how to untangle.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

For a moment, there was silence, the tension between them thick and suffocating. Professor James’s face softened, but the intensity in his eyes remained. He stepped closer, his voice low and almost pleading. “You don’t mean that. You’re just scared. But you don’t have to be. We can figure this out—together.”

Eliza shook her head, her heart racing with panic. “No. I need space. I need to step back.”

His expression darkened again, his eyes flashing with frustration. “Don’t push me away, Eliza,” he warned, his voice sharp. “You know what we have. You know this isn’t something you can just walk away from.”

Eliza felt a cold chill run down her spine. The possessiveness in his voice, the way he seemed to think he owned a part of her, was too much. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think clearly. All she wanted to do was get out of this room, away from him and the weight of his demands.

“I have to go,” she said quickly, grabbing her bag and moving toward the door.

Professor James took a step toward her, but Eliza quickly opened the door, stepping out into the hallway before he could stop her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she walked away, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.

She didn’t stop until she was outside, the cool autumn air hitting her like a slap in the face. Her hands were shaking, and her chest felt tight as she leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath.

She had been so entangled in Professor James’s world, in the attention and validation he offered, that she hadn’t realized how possessive and controlling it had become. But now, standing out here in the cold, the reality of the situation hit her with full force.

This wasn’t just about her writing or her future anymore. This was about her freedom, her sense of self. And she knew she had to get out before she lost herself completely.

As she stood there, the wind whipping through her hair, Eliza made a decision. She couldn’t let him control her any longer. She couldn’t let herself be consumed by his demands, by the pressure he placed on her.

It was time to break free.

And this time, she wasn’t going to look back.