Abigail Lacoste
Once again, I threw the covers off me, looked to the side, grabbed my phone from the corner table, and when I unlocked it, I saw the time and knew that Orion had already received my note, but he hadn’t sent a message and probably understood that we couldn’t go out together, let alone keep talking.
That relationship ended before it even began. He needed to understand that I wasn’t an innocent girl who would fall into his trap—my goals and plans for the future were bigger than a fling with the governor. The night went by, I couldn’t sleep, and in the morning, I had to head straight to college. I drank a cup of coffee without even sitting down with my aunt. She watched me run around the apartment all flustered. Luckily, the dean didn’t call her, and I didn’t get a big punishment because of the fight—maybe that was thanks to Orion, who likely took care of silencing the situation.
"Can you sit down for a bit and have breakfast with your aunt?" she asked, watching me. I was trying to avoid her questions and not talk about the dinner the governor had invited me to.
"No, I’m already late and today the first class is with Mason. I can’t miss it."
I walked over, kissed her forehead before saying goodbye with a smile. I had several books in my hands when I felt my phone vibrate. My heart froze, and for a brief moment, I thought it might be Orion—but no, it was just a message from one of my brothers, telling me to be careful crossing the streets. I smiled, touched by their concern. I was the little sister they loved to protect, and I couldn’t really complain about their unnecessary protectiveness.
When I got to the street, I ran to the nearest bus stop, got on, and put on my headphones to play a random song. The weather was nice and the sun was shining in the sky. I closed my eyes, imagining what would have happened if I had gone to the dinner—if he would have tried to kiss me or just talked about his daughter, like good friends.
When I arrived at college, I went straight to my classroom. Professor Mason had already started his lecture. He’s one of the greatest psychologists of all time, and I feel privileged to be his student. Hours passed, and when class ended, I stayed behind to finish writing an essay to hand in.
"Abigail," he called, making me look up. "You can give it to me tomorrow."
"I’m almost done, professor." Smiling, he put his hands on his hips, staring at me.
"Put that pen down. You’re very dedicated—everyone else hasn’t even started the essay and you’re already finishing."
"I’m on a scholarship, I can’t slack off. Unlike everyone else, my parents can’t pay for this college."
"I looked at your grades from your previous college and they’re excellent. You’ve quickly become the top student in class." He walked to his desk, gathering his things. "Come on, I’ll buy you a coffee and we can talk more about your essay."
"All right, I’m starving."
I packed up my things, smiling, and we went together to a café next to the college. Mason talked about some important psychology books that I needed to read. I was excited—I wanted to learn more and more about the field. When we entered the café, we went straight to a table by the window. The waitress came over to take our order while I handed my essay to the professor and he started reading. I was looking out the window, distracted, until I heard a deep voice beside us. I looked up and saw a man in a suit with a small earpiece. He said something into a microphone clipped to his lapel before looking at my professor and then at me.
"Miss Abigail, I need you to come with me now."
"What?" I stood from my chair, confused. "Who are you?"
"No questions. Just come with me." He gripped my arm tightly.
"Where are you taking her?" my professor stood, angry.
"This is a matter that concerns only the young lady." Everyone was watching our argument, and I knew exactly who was behind those orders.
"Don’t worry, professor. Enjoy your coffee, I’ll be right back. I’m going to settle this once and for all."
I yanked my arm free from the man’s grip and walked as quickly as I could out of the café. I was furious. He followed me, led me down a side street, opened a door, and told me to get in. When I saw who was inside the black car, my face burned—Orion had to be insane, that was the only plausible explanation for this situation.
"Hello, Goldilocks," he said cynically, smiling. "How are you?"
"What is wrong with you, governor? I already made it clear that I don’t want anything with you, and now this?" I smiled bitterly, staring into his eyes. "Are you stalking me?"
"You’re very beautiful, you know that?" He lifted his right hand to touch my cheek, and my whole body shivered at his touch.
"Don’t touch me." I gently slapped his hand away from my face. "I’m leaving. Don’t look for me again." I tried to move away and open the door, but I heard the click as it locked from the outside. The governor’s security guards were no longer in the car—we were alone.
"I just want to talk. Understand why you didn’t come to the dinner. It was quite the snub, Goldilocks."
"What do you need to understand?" I pointed at myself, then at him. "This isn’t going to work, Orion. You’re the governor of California and running for re-election, and I’m a scholarship student at your daughter’s college."
"I know all of that, but..." he ran a hand through his hair, messing it up, "I can’t stop thinking about you for a second." He looked at me with his blue eyes, and I felt butterflies in my stomach as my heart raced.
"You probably say that to all the girls, but I’m not like the others." I shook my head. "I’m not falling for your sweet talk, Orion."
"Just one dinner. I promise I won’t try anything you don’t want." I rolled my eyes, realizing he wouldn’t give up.
"If I go to this damn dinner, will you leave me alone?" I raised an eyebrow as Orion took my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it with a smile, and looked at me, taking the air from my lungs.
"I promise I’ll do whatever you want."
"Fine, Your Excellency, I’ll have dinner with you tonight."
"Just Orion." For a brief moment, I was hypnotized by his smile until I realized how much more handsome he was up close.
"Can I go now?" I asked, running a hand over the back of my neck, completely flustered by his looks.
"Not before you tell me what you were doing with that crappy little professor." His smile faded. "I don’t want you near him."
I burst out laughing. The governor was truly insane, practically forcing me to go to dinner with him and still giving me orders.
"Mason is my professor, and I don’t owe you any explanations. Now ask your muscle men to open the door—I need to go back to the café and get my things." I had left so shaken that I forgot everything on the table.
"Goldilocks, you’re not going back to that café. I’ll send one of the guards to pick up your stuff, and I’ll take you home."
"You’re crazy."
He smiled, pulled out his phone, and typed something. One of the men who had stepped out got back in, sat in the driver’s seat, and started the car, taking us away from there. I crossed my arms, furious—he had no right.
"One of the guards will drop your things off at your apartment. Don’t worry."
"I’m not worried about that, Orion. I’m worried about what people will think. If my aunt sees me getting out of this car, she’ll ask a million questions and I..."
"Calm down." He held my hand. "I’ll drop you off a street away, and I know very well that at this time Dakota is at work."
"Looks like you did your research, Governor. And honestly, I’m surprised a man like you is chasing after me. You could have anyone at your feet, and yet you’re humiliating yourself for a simple dinner with me."
"Believe it or not, Goldilocks, I’ve been wondering since the first day I saw you why I’m so obsessed with getting to know you better."
I looked down, seeing he was still holding my hand. He looked too, and something changed. My heart melted. Orion sent me on a real rollercoaster. One moment I was anxious to see where this story would go, and in the next, I was terrified, screaming inside, afraid that at the end of it all I’d be crying in my room, living my first heartbreak. I quickly pulled my hand away and looked out the window. He laughed.
"You can try to pretend you don’t feel the same, but your eyes and your body don’t lie—we have incredible chemistry and a very strong attraction. Don’t try to deny it."
"In your dreams, Governor," I said, turning to look at him.
That’s when everything happened and our lips...