Chapter three
That night, sleep was far from me. I tossed and turned, nerves keeping me wide awake. Who would've thought? Just yesterday, I'd been sulking in front of the elevator, and now I was preparing to meet the CEO, the CEO who found me amusing, of all things.
The alarm buzzed loudly, jolting me from my thoughts.
One breath, then I jumped out of bed and dashed to the bathroom. A quick shower later, I pulled on a clean, professional outfit, tied my hair into a sleek ponytail, and swiped on a touch of lipstick.
"Perfect," I whispered to my reflection, grateful that Mom's car was still in my possession.
I arrived at exactly 7:00 a.m., but the CEO hadn't shown up yet. The receptionist offered me a seat, and I waited, trying not to fidget. Every tick of the clock only made me more anxious. Finally, a little after eight, the elevator doors opened and he stepped out. He nodded at me and led me into his office.
"You can sit," he said politely, pointing to the chair across from him.
"I went through your records, Miss Jamila," he began. "You're impressive."
"Thank you, sir," I replied, trying not to seem too eager.
He sighed. "You didn't get the original position, but I have another offer for you. Once this job is done, I promise you a better one."
I raised a brow. "I'm open to anything, sir."
He smiled. "Good. You're great with statistics. I need someone with your skill."
I nodded, unsure of where this was going.
Then he said it. "I need you to tutor my son."
The word tutor hit hard. Teaching had never been something I wanted to do.
"I'll pay you whatever you want," he added, his tone serious.
That made me pause.
"Ten thousand USD?" I said, testing the waters.
He extended his hand. "It's a deal."
The days passed by quickly, and before I knew it, a whole week had gone by since I was offered the teaching job. Today was officially my first day at work and the thing I hated most about having a job was having to get up early. After snoozing my alarm for the fifth time, I finally dragged myself out of bed.
At my closet, I stared blankly at the rows of clothes, unsure how to present myself. "Too sexy," I muttered, tossing the first outfit onto the bed. "Too plain. Too simple." Rejection after rejection piled up until I settled on a long white skirt and a fitted black top. Modest but stylish. Perfect. A teacher should set an example, after all.
Hair tied in a neat bun, lips glossed, and a small purse in hand, I headed out. My mom had already come for her car, so I ordered an Uber to the address I'd been given.
When the car pulled up, I had to double-check the location. The mansion looming in front of me didn't look real. I'd seen buildings like this in magazines, sure, but this? This was something else elegant, magnificent , huge.
Just to be safe, I called the CEO. To my surprise, he came out himself to greet me..
"I'm glad you came," he said warmly. I smiled politely. Of course I would come when he was paying me such amount.
He led me into what I assumed was his study. A spacious, elegant room lined with bookshelves and leather chairs and asked one of his servants to call Nicholas.
Moments later, a voice echoed from the doorway.
"You called for me?" Nicholas said, headset still on, casually leaning against the frame.
I turned then froze.
My jaw dropped as I stared at the face before me.
No. It can't be…
His eyes locked with mine, and in that instant, I knew he was just as stunned as I was.
"This is my son, Jamila—the one you'll be tutoring," the CEO said with a proud smile, completely unaware of the electric tension crackling between us.
"Him!" I exclaimed in shock, staring at the CEO as if silently begging him to tell me this was some kind of twisted joke.
But the amused glint in his eyes said otherwise.
"Is she the one… my tutor ?" he asked, his voice stunned as mine.
The CEO's brow lifted slightly. "Wait…do you two know each other?" Mr. CEO asked, looking between us.
"No!" we chorused at the same time.
"Excuse me, I need to take this call. And please call me Karl," he said before stepping out, leaving me alone in the study… with him, the stranger I now knew as Nicholas.
"So … you're Nicholas!" I said, trying to break the awkwardness between us but he didn't even blink.
"I will be in my room , find me after you and my dad are done" he said, his tone cold and dismissive before turning and walking out like I magically knew where his room was.It was impossible to read his expression , was it out of regret? Or was he embarrassed the stranger he hooked up with turned out to be his tutor? Either way the coldness stung. A little part of me ached, because not once had I regretted what happened between us. Having sex with him. And now, standing there, all of it came rushing back—the night, the feeling… the truth I never expected to face again.
~
I found Nicholas' room after asking and slowly crept to the door, moving like a teenager sneaking into her boyfriend's room and afraid of being caught . My heart pounded as I knocked . His hoarse voice came in, that same voice that moaned sweetly in my ears not long ago .
"Come in!".
I turned the door knob and stepped inside , shutting the door behind me. With his back facing me, I felt more nervous. What was I supposed to say ?
How do I even begin teaching him?
"Come closer!" he said, snapping me out of my thoughts. He was neither acting formal with me nor acting as if he knew me. He wasn't treating me like a stranger, but he wasn't acting like we had history.
I swallowed the hard lump in my throat and moved towards him, after all I was supposed to be the not- so-innocent girl.
Sit,"he said, gesturing to the chair beside him. I obeyed, and he pulled his laptop closer so I could see the screen too.
"So…where are your teaching materials?" He asked.
"Huh?" The word slipped out before I could catch it. My mind had wandered far from the room. Sitting so close to him had completely thrown me off. I was lost in my own world.
"I asked where your teaching materials are?"
"Ohh…yeah …honestly I didn't prepare any !" I admitted, shifting uncomfortably.
He gave me an incredulous look like I'd said the sky was purple.
"I thought I'd be teaching a high schooler who already had textbooks,"I added, trying not to sound completely absurd.
"Well," he said, clearly unimpressed, "guess you've realized I'm no high schooler. So this class isn't happening today. Prepare your notes and come back tomorrow—same time. Don't be late. My schedule's tight."
He shut his laptop like it was a final verdict. I blinked at him, wondering how he was the one giving orders when I was supposed to be the teacher. He must've noticed my expression because he raised a brow.
"Any problem?"
"Erm… no …cool!"I replied, my voice unsteady under the weight of his gaze.
"Okay, you can leave my room now" He said as if u wasn't planning on leaving. But I wasn't planning on leaving so soon though not just like that .
Won't be even bring up the other night ? Of how he took my virginity? I wondered , looking at him, frozen in .
"Is there something else?" He asked, his eyes locking onto mine.
"Don't you remember me ?" I asked, clearly confused and hurt but the sudden opening of the door interrupted us . Another surprise awaited me.
"Hanson!" I gasped in confusion, staring at the familiar face in the doorway.