The Professor

by Kelli Callahan

  We stare at each other for a minute.

  And damn it, even through my anger, I’m happy to see him. Why? I shouldn’t want to see him.

  He has aged. His hair has a dash of salt, but he looks like he is in shape. I guess prison will do that to you since all you have is time on your hands. He smiles when he sees me and another part of my heart crumbles. I get out of the car and slam the door shut. My dad runs down the steps, but I hold out my hand to stop him.

  “Abby, please. I just want to hug you. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. You’ve grown up. You look…you look so much like your mom.”

  Another tear drops down my cheek. “I didn’t know you got out. I had to find out when I went to go visit you this morning. You didn’t get out on good behavior, did you?” I cock my head at him, and he looks away, ashamed.

  “The mayor said since you were dating his son that he wanted to do you a favor—”

  “He blackmailed me!” I cry. “He told me to break up with his son and said he could get you out and I said no. You deserved to be in prison for what you put me and Lucy through. What we are still going through. I don’t have a life because of you!” I scream. “You ruined it. I’m finally in love and you ruined it!”

  “Oh, baby,” he says as I breakdown and cry. He runs to me, pulling me against him and holds me. I want to hate him so much, but it feels good to have my dad back, no matter what he did. “I’m so sorry. I’ll do anything I can to fix it. Anything I can to make it up to you.”

  I’m about to open my mouth when I hear a car behind me. I turn around and the silver Lexus comes to a sudden stop. Bryce gets out of the car and slams the door. He looks like he hasn’t slept all night. His hair is a wreck and when his eyes land on me, then my dad, and just like that, I can tell we are over.

  “My dad was fucking right about you,” he says, pointing his finger at me. “You used me! You used me to get your father out of jail. He told me, but I couldn’t believe it. I spent all night thinking that lying bastard was spewing shit, and then I come here to talk to you and see this…” He shakes his head and rubs a hand over his mouth. “I can’t believe you’d do that to me. I fucking loved you!” he shouts, his voice breaking at the top of his lungs.

  “Don’t talk to her like that,” my dad grumbles.

  “Bryce.” I step away from dad. “It isn’t what you think. If you’d just give me a chance to explain.”

  “I’ve wasted enough time on the Knight’s. I’m good, thanks,” Bryce says, nothing but hatred in his eyes. He opens the door and gives me one last look. “I can’t believe I ever loved someone like you,” he sneers with so much disdain it feels like a thick, iron nail hammers into my heart. He climbs in the car and slams the door, then peels out of the dirt driveway, flinging rocks and a cloud of sand around us.

  Just like that he is gone.

  Just like that, my heart stops beating.

  Just like that I wish we were back in Mexico.

  “But I love you,” I whisper to the ghost of him.

  And just like that I’m not the woman he loves, but the Knight from the wrong side of the tracks.

  Just like I knew I’d be.

  Chapter Twenty

  Bryce

  A week later

  I haven’t been to work in a week. I haven’t been able to muster up the courage because I know if I see her face, I’ll want reasons. I haven’t been able to get her off my mind. When my dad told me Abby asked him for money and to get her dad out of jail and she’d stop seeing me, I nearly fell to my knees. I couldn’t do that in front of my dad. He’d consider me weak. Maybe I am. I don’t know.

  It’s the day before my birthday, a day I hate anyway because of my mom. She killed herself on my 18th birthday. I thought this year would be different. Abigale and I made plans, but I guess she never really planned to follow through with it.

  I bring the bottle of jack to my lips and take a long swallow. A knock at the door sounds. I’m in my old room at my parent’s house because I haven’t been able to go back to my place. Not when the bed still smells of her and the memory of making love to her is embedded in the sheets.

  I stand, sway, and manage to walk from the balcony to the door to see Diana there. She has an envelope in her hand and when she sees me, pity crosses her face. “Come on in. There is plenty left. Want some?” I ask her, holding out the bottle.

  “Bryce, my god. How long are you going to allow this to go on for?”

  “Until it stops hurting.”

  She pushes me as she walks by. She’s wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt, and her hair is up in a messy bun. I don’t know what she sees in my dad, but the heart wants what it wants, I guess.

  “We need to talk, Bryce.” She lays the envelope in her lap, then folds her hands over it.

  “Sounds like I need a drink for this,” I say, sitting down on the edge of the bed. I take another swig and Diana yanks it away from me.

  “Enough with the drinking. I’m so disappointed in you, Bryce. You had a good thing and you let you father ruin it.”

  “Abby ruined it by going to him.”

  “Did you stop to think who told you that? You cannot be that obtuse, Bryce. You’re so much smarter than that. Do you really think Abby would have gone to your father when he is so insistent on marrying you off to the police chief’s daughter? It was him that offered her the money. It was him that offered to get her dad out of jail and when she said no, it only made him want to ruin you two more. “

  I lean forward, placing my elbows on my knees. “How do you know?”

  “He was in his office talking to someone on the phone and he was talking about it.”

  “It wasn’t, Abby?” Of course, it wasn’t. I was just so mad when I saw her dad at the house and my anger controlled me. It was the only thing that made sense at the time.

  “No, it wasn’t Abby.”

  “Damn it,” I groan, thinking about all the shit I said to her last week. She must hate me. “I was such an ass to her.”

  “I believe it,” Diana mumbles, clutching the envelope in her hand. “Listen, I was snooping around your father’s office. Between you and me, I’m going to file for divorce. You father…he is a very abusive man and I’m tired of him holding Holly hostage.”

  “What? Has he hurt you?” The buzz I felt is gone, and now I want to kill the man that dared to hurt a woman that’s been a second mother to me.

  “Anyway,” she changes the subject, ignoring my question.

  So that’s a yes.

  I’m going to kill him.

  “This letter is from your mom. Your dad kept it from you. There is a key to a safety deposit box in there too. I don’t know what there is in it or anything like that, but I thought you deserved to have this. You father isn’t a good man. He is a lying bastard that deserves everything that’s about to come his way.”

  My head pounds with all the information she’s giving me. She hands me the envelope and starts to walk out. “Abby is a good girl. She shouldn’t be put on trial for her father’s doings. Can you imagine your life if that were to happen to you? And do me a favor, anything we talked about, please keep it between us,” she says.

  “Of course,” I say. I don’t like to tell my dad anything anyway.

  Diana shuts the door as she leaves, and I’m left staring at my name written in black ink from a woman I lost when I was too young.

  I miss her like crazy.

  I trace the outline of my name, my eyes filling with tears. This is the last thing she left me, and my father kept it from me. Carefully, I open the letter, gently unfolding the paper so I don’t tear it. It’s delicate since it’s so old and a bit aged with a yellow hue.

  Bryce,

  Your 18th birthday is tomorrow and if you’re reading this, I’m no longer here. I’m sorry I wasn’t stronger for you. You have questions and my answers are simple. Your father is a horrible man. Your father is abusive, mentally, physically, and emotionally. I couldn’t take it anymore. He w
ouldn’t allow me to leave. He’d threaten to hurt you, but I know he won’t, at least, not physically.

  I love you. So much. You are taken care of though. I made sure of that. Take this deposit key and go to Wyoming National. There is a safety deposit box there.

  I hope you have a good life, and know that I miss you.

  Don’t ever believe a word from your father. He is Satan in a Sunday hat.

  I’m with you always,

  Mom

  Holy hell. My mother killed herself because of my dad. There had always been a part of me that blamed myself. Seeing these words from my mom, it solidifies everything Diana said. I stand, knowing I have to go to the safety deposit box and see what my mother left me. Then, I’m going to go grovel for Abby’s forgiveness.

  I don’t deserve it, but I want it because I only want to be with her.

  Forever.

  I stand and sway, realizing I’m way too drunk to fucking drive. I’ll have to use Gerard, our butler, and he can take me to the bank. I grab my coat and wallet, tuck the letter and key in my hand, and rush out of my room.

  I squeeze my eyes together a few times to help focus my vision, so I don’t fall down the steps. “Gerard!” I bellow, not that I needed to. He was right at the base of the steps watering the plants.

  “Mr. Marshall?” he asks, surprised at my urgency.

  “I need you to take me to the bank,” I whisper. “This is between me and you, okay?”

  I know he smells the liquor on my breath. It’s impossible not to. He nods and without question, grabs his coat from the hook and opens the door.

  “Thank you,” I say, hurrying out before my father shouts for me like he always does. I swear, if I have to hear about Charlie one more time, I’m going to shoot myself in the foot.

  I throw him my keys and climb in the back of the Lexus and buckle up. The bank isn’t far, so the drive lasts about fifteen minutes before I’m opening the door before the car is fully stopped. “Stay right here. I don’t know how long I’ll be, but I’ll pay for your time, Gerard. This is urgent.”

  “You’re my favorite Marshall. Take all the time you need,” he says.

  “Thanks, Gerard.” I slam the door and shake my head as the world spins.

  Righting myself, I look both ways before crossing the street. Opening the doors, I go to the front desk and the woman there has a smile on her face.

  “How can I help you?” she says.

  “I need to open my safety deposit box?”

  “Sure, right this way. Just follow me,” she says.

  The bank is for the wealthy. The floors are marble, and the ceiling is gold leaf. I don’t know why my mom has a safety deposit box here, but I hope I find answers.

  “What is the number?”

  “1218,” the month and day I was born.

  “Here we are,” she says, unlocking the silver door and sliding out the box. She walks to a nearby room for privacy and sets it on the table. “I’ll give you a moment.”

  “Thank you,” I say.

  When she shuts the door, I stare at the box that holds something I never thought existed. My hand shakes as I lift the key and I insert it, turn, and unlock it. I blow out a breath when it works. For some reason, I didn’t expect for it to.

  I open it and find a few stacks of cash, a few photos, and her Will. It’s on the bottom of the box and when I lift it, I read what it says. “Oh my god,” I say with shock.

  Everything was left to me. It isn’t my father that is wealthy, it was my mom. My mom comes from old money. My great-grandpa had an oil company that made billions. Not only was the house left in my name, but the money too.

  Six billion dollars.

  That’s what was left for me.

  And my father took it.

  I’m going to fucking ruin him.

  I stuff everything in my pockets and slam the deposit box shut. The first thing I’m doing is hiring a lawyer and pressing charges against my father. I’ll call the Chief of Police too to handle the matter.

  My life is forever changed. I’m going to take care of Diana, Holly, Abby, and her sister. The first thing I’m going to do it buy a ring and tomorrow, I’m going to ask her to marry me. I finally get to be in control of my life.

  And I’m going to try like hell to make sure Abigale Knight is a part of it.

  Epilogue

  Abby

  I drag my feet through a foot of snow as I head toward English class. I dropped Bryce’s Economic class. I couldn’t stand the thought of seeing him every day knowing how much he hates me and dealing with how much I love him. I’m not strong enough.

  I’m still thinking about transferring, but Lucy wants to stay with Dad for some reason. She forgave him so easily, but I haven’t. I don’t know how to.

  “Oh, wow, check it out.”

  “I wonder who the lucky lady is to land Professor Marshall,” A few girls say as they walk by me.

  I lift my head and gasp when I see red rose petals dropped along the surface of the snow. There is a small fire going in a firepit and small lights dangling from the trees. He is in a suit wearing a damn tie even though he hates them so much.

  Dragging myself forward, it begins to snow again, and the flakes stick to my lashes. When I get close enough, I can feel the warmth of the fire, and Bryce and I stare at one another.

  “I’m sorry,” we say at the same time.

  “I love you,” we say again, this time we laugh.

  “Abigale Knight,” he says, pulling out a blue box from his suit pocket. He kneels, sinking in the snow. He must be freezing.

  “Bryce, what—”

  “I love you,” he says, and people start to gather around to watch the scene unfold. “We met in Mexico, and I know it is fate that brought you to me. I don’t think having you as a student was a chance but destiny. I don’t care if I get fired or lose my job. I want to be with you.” He opens the box and a huge diamond ring shines back at me. It has a rose gold band and setting, but the diamond itself is alone, a big solitaire that looks like it will take up my entire finger. “Will you marry me in Mexico?”

  My mouth drops open. I look around to see dozens of students watching and girls with big smiles on their face. Charlie is to the right and she gives me a thumbs up, but I know she’s going to want all the details.

  “But my dad—”

  “I don’t care,” he says. “My dad tore us apart and I’m sorry. He isn’t a part of my life anymore. He has been arrested. I’ll tell you everything later but be my wife. Travel with me, love me, start a family with me. I want you, Abby. Forever.”

  “You’re serious?” I know I should have said yes by now but a part of me is thinking I’m dreaming. This is perfect. “Really?” I start to get emotional and take a step forward.

  “Really. I don’t want to be a secret. I want to tell the world. I want to show the world that I love you. I’m proud to call you mine, Abby from the West side of Oak Valley,” he smirks at our inside joke. “I don’t want Jessica from Vegas. I want you,” he says. “So marry me. Make me the happiest man in the world by saying yes. I’m going to whisk you away to Cancun tonight and tomorrow, you’re going to be my wife.”

  “So quick?”

  “I don’t want to waste another minute being away from you. I want to spend every moment knowing you’re mine.”

  The crowd awe’s at his admission.

  “Yes!” I say, finally snapping out of my stupor. “Yes, I’ll marry you!” I shout and throw my arms around his neck, tackling him to the ground. Snow hits me in the face, but the love I have for him warms me from the inside out. I steal the ring from his hand and slip it on my finger. It must be four carats. It’s huge. “Wow,” I say.

  “Only the best for my future wife,” he says.

  The crowd cheers as we lean in for a kiss at the same time. It’s slow and meaningful. We pour every ounce of love we have for one another into it.

  “I’m so sorry for not believing you. It will never happen again—�
�

  “—Shh, it’s okay. I know how it looked. I’m glad you came to your senses though.”

  He lifts me up and carries me to the fire where we can warm up since our clothes are wet from the snow. “I hope you and your sister move into the mansion and don’t mind that my mom and Holly stay. I want to take care of them. They deserve it.”

  “Really? You want me to move in?”

  “Well, yeah. I want my wife by my side. It would be weird if you weren’t,” he chuckles.

  “I’ll go anywhere you want me to, Bryce. I want to start a life with you.”

  “Bryce Marshall!” The Dean of the school marches onto the lawn.

  “Oh no,” I mumble.

  “Yeah, I resigned this morning after I found out I’m a billionaire. I didn't need the job before, but I really don’t need it now. Only you.”

  “What?” I screech.

  “We will talk about it more on the plane,” he says. He lifts my hand and yells, “We’re getting married!”

  Everyone cheers again, and I laugh from everyone being excited for me. I never thought this time would come, but I’m so damn glad it did.

  “You ready to be Mrs. Abigale Marshall from Oak Valley?” he asks, kissing the tip of my nose.

  I’m ready. I’ve been ready.

  Mexico, here I come!

  Cruel Temptations

  Sample

  Jaxon

  Here comes the bride, all dressed in white…

  I hummed the catchy, cliché tune as I attempted to make the perfect Windsor knot in my black tie. Black because weddings were just fancy funerals; a ceremony of marrying the wrong person and letting that person constrain the rest of your godforsaken fucking life by only doing what they want, slowly smothering you until you pray to finally be alone in that casket.

  “Fuck this damn tie,” I sneered at my reflection in the mirror and, with a jerky motion, loosened the knot until I yanked the tie off from around the collar of the white button-up shirt.