Chapter 183
**Sara**
I smoothed my emerald party dress over my knees, watching the city lights blur past the passenger window. The silk fabric caught the streetlights like liquid gems. "So, explain why we're attending your friend's party now? Didn't Isabella invite you, like, a month ago?"
"More like six weeks ago, actually."
"And we're going tonight because...?"
"Because everyone's schedules finally aligned." He shot me a quick sideways glance. "You look incredible in that dress, by the way."
"You've said that four times already. Are you nervous about something?"
"Me? Nervous?" Tom's knuckles whitened slightly on the steering wheel. "What could I possibly be nervous about?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe introducing your student to your fancy rich friends?"
"They're not all rich-" He paused. "Okay, most of them are. But they're good people. Usually."
"Usually?" I arched an eyebrow at him. "That's reassuring."
Tom's laugh filled the car. "Look, I will introduce you as my friend, not my student. Makes things less complicated."
"Oh, now I'm getting demoted from star pupil to just 'friend'?" I pressed a hand to my chest in mock offense. "I worked hard for that A in MBA."
"Sara..." He reached over and squeezed my knee. "You know what I mean."
"Alright, friend," I emphasized the word with air quotes. "I promise to be on my best behavior. I won't raise my hand to answer questions at dinner or call you Professor Blackwood."
"God, please don't."
"Though that could be fun. Professor Blackwood, could you please pass the salt? Professor Blackwood, what's your professional opinion on this wine pairing?"
"You're evil." But he was grinning.
"Wait-" A thought struck me. "What if someone asks how we met? I can't exactly say we met at a bar and had a one-night stand, only for me to walk into the class and discover you were my new professor - and that we kept sleeping together anyway."
"Just tell them you're friends with Sophia. You met me at Daniel's birthday party. Simple, clean, technically true."
"Technically true?" I snorted. "I mean, yes, I know them both, but that's not how we-"
"Look, do you want to explain our actual first meeting to Isabella? Because I guarantee she'll ask."
"God, no." I shuddered at the thought of telling his snobby friend about our drunken hookup. "Fine. Daniel's party it is. But which details are we sticking to? I need to know my lines if we're putting on this show."
"Just keep it vague. Say we got talking about finance."
"Because that's what everyone does at birthday parties." I rolled my eyes. "Hey stranger, what are your thoughts on hedge funds?"
"You'd be surprised what rich people talk about at parties." He shot me a grin.
"Oh yeah?" I shifted in my seat, turning to face him. "What do you and your billionaire buddies discuss over your thousand-dollar scotch?"
"Mostly what we're up to. Business ventures, investments, new projects." Tom's fingers drummed against the steering wheel. "Normal stuff."
"Normal stuff? Please. I've seen how you guys are when the drinks start flowing." I poked his arm. "Come on, spill. What do you really talk about?"
"Well..." He cleared his throat. "Sometimes the conversation takes certain turns."
"I knew it! You guys are just like any other guys at a bar." I laughed. "Let me guess - who hooked up with who, rating women out of ten?"
Tom's cheeks flushed. "It's not exactly-"
"Oh my god, you totally do! The mighty Professor Thomas Blackwood, sitting around with his rich friends, discussing conquests like frat boys."
"We're more sophisticated than that."
"How does one sophisticatedly discuss bedroom adventures?"
"Fine." He sighed. "Last time, Daniel wouldn't shut up about this yoga instructor he met. Kept going on about how flexible she was, all the positions they tried..."
"And?" I leaned closer, enjoying his discomfort.
"And Natalie shared some very detailed stories about her latest European vacation. Something about a Spanish tennis instructor and his impressive serve."
"Professor Tom!" I gasped in mock horror. "Are you telling me your fancy friends swap sex stories over champagne?"
"Among other things." His hand found my knee, fingers tracing small circles. "Though I've been keeping my recent adventures to myself."
My breath caught as his hand slid higher. "And why's that?"
"Because some things are better kept private." His voice dropped lower. "Though I have to admit, it's been hard keeping quiet about this gorgeous MBA student who's been driving me crazy."
"Tom!" I grabbed his wandering hand. "Eyes on the road, mister. We're almost there."
"Spoilsport." But he behaved, returning both hands to the wheel. "Ready to meet the wolves?"
"As long as they don't ask how flexible I am." I winked at him.
"Don't give them any ideas." Tom turned onto a winding private road lined with perfectly manicured hedges.
My jaw dropped as we rounded the final curve. "Holy shit. That's not a house - that's a space station."
The mansion sprawled across the hilltop like a giant glass and steel sculpture. Curved walls met sharp angles, lit from below by artfully placed spotlights. A three-story waterfall cascaded down one side, the water seeming to glow blue from within.
"Andrew likes to make an impression. He founded a tech company four years ago. Now it's worth two billion dollars."
"And here I was, proud of my checking account hitting four digits." I smoothed my dress one final time as Tom parked the car. "Should I curtsy when I meet everyone?"
"Just be yourself, but perhaps tone down the professor jokes."
"You're no fun." I stuck my tongue out at him as we walked up the winding path to Andrew's front door.
"I'm plenty fun. Just wait till you see me after a few drinks." Tom winked, pressing the doorbell.
The door swung open to reveal a tall woman with perfect hair. Isabella. Her eyes flickered between us, lingering a moment too long on Tom before settling on me with a practiced smile.
"Tom! You made it." She air-kissed his cheeks. "And you brought a girlfriend?"
I forced my smile to stay in place as Isabella's perfectly manicured hand lingered on Tom's arm.
"Just a friend," Tom said, stepping inside. "Sara, meet Isabella. Isabella, Sara."
"Charmed." Isabella's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Everyone's in the lounge. Come, Tom, let me get you a drink."
I followed them through what felt like a modern art museum crossed with a spaceship. The walls gleamed with abstract paintings in stark whites and bold splashes of color. My heels clicked against pristine marble floors, echoing through the cavernous space.
Everything about this place radiated wealth, from the recessed lighting that made the artwork glow to the sleek furniture that looked like it belonged in an architectural magazine. I felt distinctly out of place like a sparrow accidentally wandering into a peacock's garden.
The lounge was a vast, open space that took my breath away. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city lights below. A group of impossibly attractive people lounged on designer furniture, holding crystal glasses of amber liquid.
I hung back slightly as Tom led the way into the lounge, Isabella's hand still firmly attached to his arm like a designer accessory. The room buzzed with conversation and laughter, crystal glasses clinking as people gestured with their drinks.
"Everyone," Tom's voice carried across the space. "This is Sara."
A chorus of polite hellos echoed back. No one seemed interested in the new arrival, quickly returning to their previous conversations. Fine by me - I'd rather observe than be interrogated.
"Drink?" Tom asked, finally extracting himself from Isabella's grip.
"Yes, please. Something strong."
He disappeared toward a nicer bar than most restaurants I'd been to.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
