Waking up in Allistair's arms felt like heaven. "Hello, handsome," I whispered, pressing a soft kiss against his cheek as we lay tangled between the sheets. In that tender moment, as I looked at him, so strong yet gentle, my heart swelled with warmth.

"How are you feeling, my love?" he asked, his husky voice the sweetest melody to my ears.

A sigh escaped me as I melted into his touch. "Peaceful. For the first time in ages."

A soft smile spread across his lips, and I couldn't help but return it. He was the reason for this tranquility, the calm amidst the storm. His fingers gently brushed away a stray strand of hair from my face.

"I'm glad," he murmured, his eyes filled with love and pride. "You deserve to feel nothing but happiness and safety."

And in that moment, surrounded by his love, I felt like the luckiest woman alive.

Our sheltered bubble was about to burst as classes started, launching our high-stakes revolt against our fathers. With less than 48 hours before the dreaded shareholder meeting, all our hopes rested on Lucian Drago's callous hands.

As we prepared to leave, Antoine burst in, disheveled from a wild night. His hair was a mess, clothes rumpled, shirt half-open. With him were two scantily-clad women, adding to the extravagant atmosphere.

"Well, well...if it isn't my favorite lovebirds!" Antoine greeted us with a lascivious wink and waggling of eyebrows. "I hope we didn't disturb your...activities, did we?" his silly grin suggesting his night of excessive indulgence went precisely as intended.

"The maids mentioned catching some...sounds coming from your room all night long." he added mischievously intonating the last three words.

I felt heat creeping up my face, a blazing fire burning up my ears as Allistair chuckled, smoothly diverting from Antoine's lascivious teasing about our nighttime deeds.

"Looks like you're making the most of your half-ban."

"Hell yes, Barbie boy!" Antoine crowed with unrepentant zeal, ushering his companions out ahead of him. "Got some catching up to do, you know what I mean?"

"Oh, we're well aware," I retorted dryly, mustering my most withering look of icy disdain. "And I could have gone my entire life without that revolting mental imagery seared into my brain!"

Antoine threw his head back with a guffaw. "What's the matter, my dear? Don't tell me you're jealous of my energetic evenings?" He leaned in conspiratorially, his expression a mask of feigned innocence.

"Not even in your wildest dreams!" I fired back, snatching up Allistair's hand and turning on my heel to make our exit as a furious red blush crawled up my face. "We'll leave you to your...'delights'. Goodbye!"

I shook my head in exasperation as Antoine's shameless laughter echoed behind us. And yet, a tiny part of me had to admit - if only to myself - that I did sometimes envy his ability to act so brazenly without societal constraints.

The lecture hall hushed as Professor Hahn strode in, his presence demanding attention. Despite his captivating appearance, his mismatched checkered shirt was a sore sight. Still, the girls seemed smitten, despite the fashion faux pas.

I glanced around, hoping to spot Allistair, but he was nowhere to be found. Turning to Tammy beside me, I whispered, "Have you seen Allistair?" She shook her head subtly. It was odd since he had promised to be here after getting ready at his place.

Throughout the lecture, I felt Professor Hahn's gaze fixate on me, sending odd sensations through my body. Tammy seemed to pick up on the vibe too, her eyes occasionally darting to the professor with a predatory intensity.

When class ended, Hahn asked me to stay behind, sparking whispers among my classmates. Tammy looked ready to protest. I reached over, giving her arm a small but meaningful squeeze. "It's okay, Tamms. I promise."

She looked ready to protest, but my determined expression stopped her. "I'll see you later. Bye."

Once everyone left, only Hahn and I remained. He studied me intently.

"Ms. Steelman, I must admit there's a different glow about you today. It seems you might be experiencing the calm before the next tempest." As he spoke, I felt a shiver run down my spine. His words were perceptive, cutting through the carefully constructed mask I wore.

"But remember, storms come and go. You've weathered them before, and you'll weather them again." He concluded.

I met his gaze unflinchingly. "And I must admit, Professor, that I don't have time for your games today. So get to the point." My icy stare intensified as impatience made my foot start tapping.

"You remain as heavily guarded as ever," he said with a slight smirk. I scoffed at the jab but refused to rise to his provocation, putting my hands on my hips instead.

Leaning forward, bringing his dark coffee scent wafting over me, Hahn reached for a folder on his desk. "The updated reports from the hospital. I trust they'll meet your satisfaction." He handed me the folder. "I also wanted to schedule a meeting to formally introduce my assistant and discuss next steps for the expansion."

"Sure, I'll arrange something. Perhaps dinner, my treat?" I replied evenly. "If there's nothing else..."

"I must confess, Ms. Steelman," he said, his manner turning almost pensive, "I'm not quite certain how to feel about having a student as my employer. Much less one who seems to dislike me so."

I arched a brow at his sudden candor. "Is that what you think?"

Hahn held my gaze steadily. "I strive to always back my observations with empirical evidence. And the frosty undercurrent between us suggests a certain...friction. One I'm afraid I don't fully understand."

I considered him for a long moment. Did I want to lay all my cards on the table? To confront him with my simmering suspicions about his intentions and motivations?

Before I could react, Hahn continued in an abruptly business-like tone. "But none of that matters. What's important is that we clear the air and move forward as professionals with a common purpose. Don't you agree?"

I blinked, taken aback by his sudden shift in demeanor. "I agree it's in both our interests to have a transparent working relationship, Professor."

"Excellent." He flashed me a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Then I'll trust you to coordinate that dinner meeting. I'm sure once you've met Rosemary, any...preconceptions will be laid to rest."

There was, again, that fleeting micro-expression when he mentioned his protégée. My instincts screamed that there were layers to unravel there.

Inclining my head, I replied lightly, "I look forward to it. Until then, Professor."

I turned and strode from the classroom, making a mental note to accelerate my investigation into Rosemary. Hahn was a master at keeping his cards close, but one way or another, I would uncover what he was so determined to conceal.

Call it instinct, but I had a nagging suspicion there was more there than met the eye. If she was indeed Hahn's prized protégée, there had to be some kind of paper trail, however faint.

My thoughts were interrupted by the buzz of my phone.

'Sorry, love, got held up at home dealing with a minor crisis. Father being his usual charming self. I'll fill you in later. See you tomorrow?'

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair as a fond smile tugged at my lips. I'm sure Drago has a hand in whatever has Bill Lockwood reeling.

'No worries, babe. I'll catch up later. Can't wait to wake up with you again 😘'

'Me too, Tally. I'll make it up to you next time, I promise. 😉❤️'

'I'll hold you to it. luv ya'

'I love you more.'

Feeling a familiar warmth in my cheeks, I stifled a grin. After all these years, Allistair's words still had a way of making me feel like a giddy schoolgirl.

With a fond shake of my head, I tucked away my phone and made my way to the next lecture. Memories of last night with Allistair already swirling in my mind —

"Tally!"

I turned at the familiar voice to see Tammy hurrying to catch up with me, her dark silky waves bouncing around her face. "You looked like you were miles away just now," she said with a lopsided grin as she fell into step beside me. "Everything ok?"

"I was just texting Allistair. All good."

She looped her arm through mine as we strolled across the manicured campus gardens. "So are you going to fill me in on what Prof. McCharming wanted? Or should I start working on some crazy theories of my own?"

I side-eyed her with a sardonic look. "You'd do that anyway, even if I did tell you."

"Touché." She flashed me an unrepentant grin. "But seriously, Tal...what's going on there? I saw the way he couldn't take his eyes off you. And don't even try denying that you didn't see it... I know you too well."

I blew out a frustrated breath, opting for a deflection. "What about you, hmm? The way you were eye-f*cking the good professor, I half expected you to pounce on him right there."

The look Tammy shot me was pure, filthy sin. "I find his mysterious aura very intense besides, no one with one good eye could deny that he is yummy."

Her tone dripped with salacious suggestion, but her expression turned more serious. "But we're not talking about me here. You've been acting rattled ever since that hospital deal went down. I'm worried about you, babe."

I stopped walking, turning to face her fully. She meant well, she always did. But the truth was, I could never fully explain the tangled web of secrets and potentially dangerous situations I'd embroiled myself in lately. Not without putting her at risk too.

"I know, Tamms. And you know how much I love and appreciate you always having my back," I said carefully. "But you're going to have to trust that I've got things handled on this one. At least for now."

Tammy studied me shrewdly for a long moment before giving a resigned sigh. "If you say so, Tally. Just don't shut me out completely, ok? Whatever you're dealing with, you don't have to go at it alone."

She pulled me into a fierce hug, and I clutched her tightly, a lump of gratitude forming in my throat. She was a loyal friend and I welcomed the unwavering support she offered.

Finally releasing me, Tammy pantomimed zipping her lips shut. "My curiosity is officially zipped. For now," she couldn't resist adding with a wink.

"I'll keep you posted if anything changes on that front," I assured her, knowing it was a promise I may not be able to keep.

"You'd better. Now let's get going, before we're late."

The remainder of the day crawled by, each minute dragging on with excruciating slowness. I slumped into the driver's seat of my blue Bentley, the weight of the impending meeting pressing down on me like a leaden cloak. The drive home was a blur of anxious thoughts, each one more suffocating than the last.

As I pulled up to the grand gates of the manor a sudden barrage of buzzes from my phone shattered the silence of the car. The sheer volume was overwhelming, for a moment I worried my phone would collapse from the onslaught.

My hands trembled with anticipation, my stomach was twisting into knots as I started reading the notifications. Little did I know, these messages would herald a storm far greater than anything I could have imagined...