One Night

Chapter 21

Audrey

I stood nervously in front of the full–length mirror in my bedroom, tugging at the hem of my deep burgundy dress. It hugged my curves in all the right places, the sleeveless cut accentuating my arms and shoulders. I had made it myself just last semester, and hadn’t had a chance to wear it out yet.

But as flattering as it was, I couldn’t help but feel self–conscious.

This was,

after all, a date with Edwin.

Well, not technically a ‘date‘ date. Just dinner between a student and her professor. A friendly outing to thank him for all his help and support over the past few months. Or at least, that was what I had told myself when I finally mustered up the courage to send that email asking him out to dinner.

And yet, as I smoothed my hands over the soft fabric bunching at my waist, I couldn’t quite deny the nervous energy bubbling up beneath my skin,

“Get a grip. Audrey,” I muttered to my reflection, raking my fingers through my curls. We were just two colleagues having a nice meal together.

That was i

Still, those thoughts did little to quell the butterflies in my stomach.

An hour later, Edwin and 1 had arrived at the Italian restaurant downtown that I had originally suggested. From the outside, with its warm lighting and trendy patio seating, it had seemed like the perfect place for us to share our meal; nice, but not too expensive. Intimate, but not too romantic.

That notion was shattered the moment we pulled up to find a ‘Closed for Renovations sign on the door.

“Oh no,” I groaned, my forehead falling against the window. “I’m so sorry, Edwin. I should have double checked before suggesting this place.”

He merely shrugged, already putting the car in rever

reverse. “No need to apologize.”

“We can have dinner another time,” I suggested. “I’m free next-

Edwin simply snorted, effectively cutting me off. “Nonsense. I have another place in mind.”

I swallowed hard and nodded, my hands fidgeting in my lap despite myself. “Oh. Okay”

His suggestion, of course, turned out to be one of the most upscale restaurants in the city–a massive, glittering high–rise nestled along the riverfront As the valet took Edwin’s car and a hostess in a pristine black dress led us inside, I couldn’t help but gape at the lavish decor surrounding us: polished marble floors, high ceilings, massive crystal chandeliers dangling from above.

This

was so far out of my realm of experience that I felt lightheaded just looking around. Before we followed the hostess to our table, I quickly pulled up my banking app to check my bank account with a wince.

Goddess, I thought to myself as I carefully angled my phone so Edwin couldn’t see the fact that my bank account barely had triple digits. How the hell am I going to afford this?

Our server, a polished young man who introduced himself as Gavin, was all charm as he pulled out my chair for me at our secluded table beside the window overlooking the river below. For a while, I just stared out at the twinkling lights reflecting in the rippling water, trying to ignore the nagging voice in my head telling me how our of place I felt here.

Everything from the crystal wine flutes to the heavy silver dinnerware seemed intimidating. I was so focused on not making a fool out of myself that I barely heard Edwin order us a bottle of some fancy red wine for the table.

“This is, uh… This is really nice,” I finally managed once Gavin had left us with a basket of bread and our

r menus. I gnawed my lip, my fingers fiddling with the cloth napkin in my lap. “Although 1 have to admit, I’m a little out of my element here.”

Edwin arched an eyebrow at me over the top of his menu. “You shouldn’t be nervous,” he said matter–of–factly. “You deserve to experience the finer things every now and then, after all your hard work this semester.

I felt heat flood my checks and quickly busied myself by studying the menu like it was a final exam. Of course, there was nothing on the menu for less than thirty dollars–but maybe I could get away with just ordering a couple of sides, I figured, which were cheaper. I’d have to put it on my credit card, too.

A moment Liter.

1. r. Gavin returned with our wine, I watched, a lump in my throat, as he popped the cork and poured our glasses for us.

“And what are we celebrating this fine evening?” he asked, his dark eyes flickering between Edwin and me. “An–anniversary, perhaps, or..!?”

Edwin leveleil Gavin with a cool stare over the rim of his wine glass. “Actually

“We’re not ingriber like that,” I quickly cut him off, feeling my cheeks flush a deeper shade of red than my dress. “Professor Hooks has just been an

D

Chapter 21

incredible help to me this semester, so I wanted to take him out to dinner as a thank–you for his guidance.”

Gavin quirked an eyebrow at us. “Oh. Forgive me,” he said. “I thought you were on a date.”

I felt my flush deepen until my entire face was burning. “It’s not a date!” I insisted, stammering over the words. “Just a friendly meal between… between colleagues

Even as I said it, something twisted in the pit of my stomach at the words–particularly when I noticed Edwin’s expression darken imperceptibly for the span of a heartbeat. He said nothing as Gavin took our orders and left us alone again.

There was a long silence that seemed to last for an eternity. I carefully avoided Edwin’s eyes, instead busying myself with my napkin and my glass of wine. But I could feel them on me, dark and quiet.

When I lifted my gaze, though, his own eyes immediately flicked away toward the river below.

“So,” he said, sipping his wine. “you should be proud of yourself.”

My eyes widened infinitesimally. “Should 17”

He nodded. “Your team pulled through despite. Well, despite everything. It’s commendable.”

I felt myself relax a bit. For a little while, we made polite small talk about my team’s work and our plans for the next round of the competition, assuming we were accepted.

But as the meal wore on, I couldn’t help but notice how defily Edwin avoided discussing anything too personal about himself, directing the conversation back to me and my own life with a seemingly endless repertoire of questions. Any time I attempted to turn the tables and open up, he always shifted gears,

him to BEL

Eventually, as our entrees were being cleared away, Edwin’s phone buzzed in his jacket pocket. With an apologetic glance at me, he stood and murmured, “Excuse me, I need to take this.”

And with that, he was striding away, leaving me alone at our table.

I sighed, taking a sip of my wine as I gazed out over the river below. Perhaps coming here tonight had been a mistake after all. It was becoming increasingly clear that no matter how much I wanted to get to know Edwin, he simply wouldn’t let me in..

To him, I was just a student. Nothing more, nothing less.

That was for the best, though.

My thoughts were cut short, however, by the sound of clicking heels rapidly approaching our table from behind. Frowning. I turned in my chair- only to see a woman with platinum blonde hair and a beautiful face twisted in fury storming toward me

nan in the black dress raised her arm, a wine glass clutched in one hand.

My eyes went wide as the beautiful woman in

“You whore,” she hissed, lurching the wine glass toward me.

A gasp escaped my lips, my chair clattering to the floor as I jumped to my feet. The dark red liquid sailed through the air, and time seemed to stop.