Chapter 24 SLOANE
Chapter 24
SLOANE
The class was silent, everyone held their breath but whatever breeze filled the air crawled up my skin, making me uncomfortable. My eyes settled on my professor whose eyes didn't leave mine. He tilted his head to the side, scanning me from head to toe, not in a creepy way but in a way that made me uncomfortable.
I hated that look on his face. Why is he picking on me?
“Your name is Sloane Everest?” He said, his voice deeper than normal, his eyes held something I think I can call disgust.
“Yes, it is, Professor Hanson.” I fired back, teeth gritted. My blood coiled and I swallowed hard.
His hands wrapped around his chest and he scoffed. Then he carried on to call out other students.
I turned to Rave and Daisy, “What the hell was that about?” I grumbled.
“Did you know?” Rave asked, worry slipping through her mouth.
“No.” I grunted, “I have never seen him before in my entire life.”
“What the hell? So why is he acting that way towards you?” Daisy sneered.
The class began and I’ll give it to him, he is good but no matter how good he was, I couldn't stop glaring at him, wondering why he had called me out like that, why he had that look on his face, and why he scoffed.
I couldn’t concentrate on any of the things he was saying. The more I listened to his voice, the more it took me back to the way he glared at me.
Did I know him from somewhere?
My brows arched, and I found myself searching my memories for any person named Hanson. I exhaled, finger dragging through my forehead. I kept thinking.
“Ms Sloane!” His voice filled the class, yanking me out of my thoughts.
I jolted, eyes settled on him.
Rave leaned, “Are you okay? You never space out in class.” she whispered.
I slammed my eyes shut and exhaled.
“Spacing out in my class?” He grunted.
I bowed, “I’m sorry, sir.” I apologized.
“Do I look like I need your apologies?” he sneered, “Stand.”
Bewildered, “Sir?”
“Would you like me to repeat myself, Sloane?”
My eyes flickered as I peeled myself off my chair.
“I read your file before this class. I heard that Isaac had a rival, someone smart and a girl at that. I went through your scores from your tests down to your exam.” he paused, “They were quite impressive.”
What is he getting at?
“But strange.” he finished.
What is strange?
“Girls like you rely on their face to get what they want in life. Hence they cannot sit still and focus in class because they know things would be handed out to them eventually.”
“Excuse me? What are you getting at?” I fired.
He scoffed, “You know damn well what I am talking about, Ms Sloane.”
Is he…
“I have no idea what you are talking about….”
“This is my class. My course. If you are dumb, sit and do not make a noise, and do not expect me to give you a pass card…. There is only so far that face will get you… Now you either sit or you get out of my class.”
This fuckig bastard!
My fist clenched as I stood, watching his mouth move like a sharp razor.
“I read your files too.” I blurted before I could control myself again.
“Excuse you?”
“Three years as a guest professor but not once have you given a girl a pass mark. At first, I assumed you were just strict like everyone claimed but then it became a pattern. It’s not because you were strict but rather because you were biased.” I fired.
Everyone began mumbling, whispering something to themselves, Rave and Daisy held my hands. I wanted to look at their face to see if they were trying to get me to stop or if they were egging me on.
I didn't want to stop.
This man would not pen his filthy mouth and trash the work I did all those years just because of his biased mind. He won’t accuse me of sleeping with a professor shamelessly and expect me to cower.
“Sloane, do you have any idea what you are saying!” he grunted, taking a step forward, teeth gritted, eyes darkened as he glared at me.
“Do you have any idea how many girls spend nights in that library reading every day? Of course, you don’t because you don’t care because somewhere in your mind, you already branded us as pretty faces who can’t even answer simple questions at school.” I sneered.
“Sloane!”
“Do not accuse me of something I didn't do, Mr Hanson. I worked hard every single day, painting, reading and I didn't do all that for you to stand in front of me and call me a pretty face with no brain who bribed her way to the top.”
I returned to my seat, hands crossed over my chest not giving two shit if he kicks me out of the class which I am sure he can’t do because I just called everyone’s attention to his bullshit.
The rest of the class went on and surprisingly I was able to concentrate.
Class ended and he stepped out not before glaring at me.
I assumed the whole class would hate me. I assumed they would scold me but as soon as Hanson left the class, the whole class erupted with a sound round of applause.
They hugged me, smiled at me, gave me a thumbs up and even Isaac who was his favorite winked at me.
So it seems I am not the first to be shamed but the first to speak up.
I couldn't go home so I went to Xaden’s studio. I sat on his couch, eyes glued to the ceiling. The more I thought about what happened that day, the more I got pissed.
That bastard! How dare he accuse me of using my beauty to get my scores in school? Who the hell does he think he is?
Argh!
I’m so pissed.
I should have punched him right in the face.
Ah!
The door creaked opened and Xaden walked in, head tilted to the side, dressed in his suit, a huge box in his hands. He most definitely came in from work. Eyes flickering in awe to see me in shorts… his shorts in his studio.
His eyes dragged down my body with a freaking pleased look on his face. “Wearing my clothes fearlessly, I see.” he teased as he walked in.
I tsked.
He settled the heavy box in his hands, “Are you okay?” He asked, “You look like you want to murder someone.”
“I do.” I sneered, “I am not okay.”
“Oh… what happened?” he asked.
Taking a seat next to me.
I jumped on the couch and turned to him, “You won’t believe what happened at school today.” I started, he took off his jacket, adjusted his tie with his left hand adjusted his tie and gave me his full attention.
And he did all that, looking freaking sexy. I knew damn well that I still like him but this man is giving me reason every day to keep falling for him.
“So he assumed you slept your way to get your scores?” Xaden summarizes after I ranted about my day. His brows arched in ways I haven’t seen before. His eyes darkened and he asked, “What did you say his name was again?”
My lips parted to tell him but then something kept bothering me about that look in his eyes.
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
He shrugged, “Nothing.”
“Really? Tell that to the expression on your face.” I mocked.
“Fine, maybe I’ll just have him touched here and there,” he said nonchalantly.
Then I realized, that look in his eyes, was the look of a boss, a gangster…
I gasped, “Xaden, are you a mafia boss?”