Chapter 94: Initial Plot 2 (Have We Met?)

Riley rubbed her shaking hands together as she logged into her university portal to receive her grade. She was hoping for a good one, she put a lot of time and energy into that assignment. When the page finally loaded, she felt her heart stop. There was no way in hell this was happening.

Without a moment's thought, Riley grabbed hold of her bag and ran out of her apartment. She didn't know what she felt or if she was feeling anything at all, all she knew was that there was an internal force that was driving her. Usually, Riley was never this sure of herself or her abilities, but she had to voice her concerns.

Her knuckles kissed the wooden door firmly. There were no second guesses.

"Come in."

Riley channelled her anger into opening the door, her trembling body coming face to face with Draven Thorn. She pushed up at her glasses, not one ounce of nerves crept through her body. She knew he didn't remember her.

"Can I help you?" Draven used every single part of him not to smile or declare victory to the heavens.

"I am terribly sorry for barging in, Mr. Thorn. I do not have an appointment but I have an urgent matter to discuss with you." Her lips began to tremble as the full weight of her decision finally sank in. She became acutely aware of how small his office was, there were no windows and no view to the outside. She suddenly felt trapped and part of her didn't mind it.

"Have a seat. I am all yours." Draven flashed her his most charming smile. He had almost believed that she wouldn't make contact, but this vixen was staring him dead in the eyes. She took a seat and spilt the belief that she didn't deserve to receive a failing grade on her paper. He let her ramble on, taking the time to assess her. It was true that her paper didn't deserve a failing grade but it was the only way to ensure that she would come right to him.

"Have we met before?" Draven cut across her, he had had enough of the charade. No matter how much he looked at her, no memories resurfaced. He pulled his water towards him.

"Let's skip the small talk, please." She begged but it was enough for Draven to almost choke on the water swimming around in his mouth.

"What did you say?" their eyes meshed as Draven finally remembered her.

The controlled breaths of both parties could be identified audibly by anyone, granted if anyone else was present in the room. Riley felt the sudden change in the four-walled prison and she regretfully could not rearrange the turn this meeting had taken. This had been one of the worst ideas she had to date, an email wouldn't have gotten her in this much discomfort.

"Are we going to discuss my grade?" her voice trembled in harmony with her body, and his fingers momentarily ceased their tapping. Her attempt to salvage the situation was not off to a good start.

"I will change it." He said.

"Great." Riley automatically stood up.

"I'm not done." Draven watched as her features darken and she eased back down.

"I admit that your paper was good, it certainly deserves at least a B." he admitted, waiting and measuring her reaction. Her features gave nothing away, but her eyes were more than expressive.

"Why did I fail then?"

"I needed to know why you were so familiar to me." He smiled sinisterly. Riley swallowed past the lump in her throat. This was her worst nightmare; she would be a laughing stock among advocates if he dared tell the story. They would accuse her of feigning innocence, she was nothing like the girl who'd easily opened up her legs to a complete stranger, she had never been that courageous and she would never be again. But, it takes one mistake to tarnish a person's reputation and her damnation had come swifter than she had imagined.

"Do you often lead a double life? If you hadn't said those words I probably would never have guessed." Draven eased back into his seat, the more he stared at her the more he recognized the face of the woman he bedded months ago, she looked younger than she did that night and way more reserved. This was fascinating, she had two entirely separate personas.

Do you often demand your students give you an account of their personal lives? This was the response she wanted to give but her courage-if she even had any- failed her.

"It--I uh-" No words could come out.

"Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed myself." He smiled as he remembered the encouraging gasps and groans that she voiced. Her entire body had responded to him so innocently as if she was reaching such pleasure for the first time.

"Is that why you left while I was getting dressed in the bathroom?" she snapped and instantly regretted it. She tried her hardest not to feel cheap and used that night, it was her decision to have sex with him, he couldn't be blamed for her ignorance regarding the customs surrounding one-night stands. If anything he saved her the embarrassment of having to face him afterwards.

This didn't seem to offend Draven, instead, he chuckled in disbelief. "Had you ever done that before? Have casual sex with a stranger?" he searched her big eyes, the answer in them transparent.

She hesitated. "I don't see how that is your concern."

"You hadn't," he answered the question he had asked, "then why did you choose to that night?"

"knock it off my bucket list, perhaps?" She offered, clearly unwilling to tell him anything. he knew she was feeling discomfort; he didn't care to cease the questioning but his phone had been vibrating in his pocket for the past ten minutes.

"How about we continue this conversation at another time?" he offered, standing as an indication that this meeting had ended.

Riley scoffed as she rose to her full height, she was in no way close to his stature but she stood as tall as she could. "It's highly inappropriate for a student to have such conversations with a lecturer, I will forget that anything happened between us. Good day, Mr. Thorn." Her fingers had already encircled the doorknob when Draven's fingers pressed over hers.

"On the contrary, Ms. Magner, I am afraid my memory is in no way fickle or diminishing." He countered, enjoying the way her eyes scorched in frustration, but she said nothing and ran from his office as if her life depended on it.