One Night
One Night 66

Chapter 66

Audrey & Edwin

Audrey’s POV

I felt a wave of relief wash over me as the technician removed the lie detector sensors from my body. The camera’s red light. blinked off, and I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I had been holding this whole time.

Mr. Lewis cleared his throat. “Well, Miss Thatcher, it seems you’ve passed the lie detector test. If you wouldn’t mind stepping outside for a moment so we could discuss what happens next….

I nodded, rising from my chair on shaky legs. Edwin, still staring at me with widened eyes, opened the door for me. The silence in the hallway was deafening when he closed it behind me.

For what felt like an eternity, I paced back and forth in that hallway. The voices in the room were mu**d and quiet, making it impossible for me to eavesdrop-and I did try, for what it was worth. My future was at stake in that room. My education was at stake. My internship was at stake.

Not just mine, but Edwin’s, too.

I wondered, as I paced there, if I had made a mistake by lying about my relationship to Edwin. I had carefully left out his role in our attraction; our one night stand, our kisses… everything. I felt guilty for that

But what was I supposed to do? His job was at stake, too. I had to do something, so I had settled on a half-truth.

“Miss Thatcher?”

The sound of Ms. Morrie’s voice snapped me out of my deep thought, and I whirled on my heel to see her poking her head out of the office. She beckoned to me, and I jogged after her. Once I stepped into the room, I saw that the lie detector technician was packing up his machine and that the camera had been put away.

“We have made a decision,” Mr. Lewis said as I took my seat, my eyes briefly scanning the room. Edwin was standing by the window, looking out with his jaw set hard. Seeing him like that made my heart race a bit.

“And?” I asked, my voice hardly more than a whisper.

Mr. Lewis and Ms. Morrie exchanged glances before Mr. Lewis spoke. “You may keep your internship.”

All at once, it felt as if all of the bones and muscles in my body gave way. The sigh of relief that escaped my lips was practically palpable in the air, and I slumped down in my chair.

“Thank you,” I breathed. “Thank you so much-”

“However,” Ms. Morrie interjected abruptly, “given your… admitted attraction to Professor Brooks, we feel it’s best if you no longer work as his TA. After spring break, you will be reassigned to a different professor.”

My eyes widened slightly but I nodded, trying to hide my disappointment. “I understand May I ask who I’ll be working with?” Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Edwin’s shoulders stiffen slightly

“We’ll determine that over the break,” Mr. Lewis replied. “You’ll be notified before classes resume.”

My gaze fell to my lap. I couldn’t help but be disappointed, but perhaps it was for the best. A lot of my issues so far this semester had stemmed from being too close to the man I had slept with on New Year’s Eve.

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Chapter 66

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Although, at the same time, a lot of my wins this semester had stemmed from being too close to the man I had slept with on

New Year’s Eve

Suddenly, Edwin spoke up for the first time since the test began, turning and smoothing down his vest. “I agree with this decision,” he said, his icy eyes meeting mine with a hint of what looked like regret in them. “It’s for the best.”

As we left the office, I felt both suffocated and as if a weight had been lifted off of me. It was over, and I had kept my internship. But at the same time, the thought of working with another professor after spring break was both disappointing and daunting

Once we were out of earshot of the dean’s office, Edwin pulled me aside by the strap of my bag. “Audrey, why did you lie on the test?” he hissed, keeping his voice low so as not to be overheard.

I looked up at him, surprised by the almost wild look in his eyes. “I… I wasn’t fully lying,” I muttered, my face reddening beneath his gaze.

He frowned and placed a hand on his hip. “Oh? Is that so? Explain yourself.”

“I am attracted to you,” I admitted. “But I couldn’t tell the whole truth about New Year’s Eve. I didn’t want you to lose your job because of me.”

Edwin’s brow furrowed. “It’s just a job, Audrey, I’m still an Alpha and the owner of a large company. I would have been fine. You should have been thinking about yourself. If you had been caught lying, things could have been far worse.”

“But your reputation-I started, only for him to cut me off with a raised hand.

“My reputation can withstand a lot more than you think. Your future, on the other hand, was at stake.”

I shook my head. “Well, I didn’t see it that way. Besides. Technically, I just slept with a stranger at a bar that night-not my professor. We had no idea about each other’s identities”

Edwin seemed stunned by my words, his mouth opening and closing a few times as if struggling to replace the right words to say. After a few moments, he finally said softly, “Well.. Thank you for your integrity, Audrey. Not many would have done what you did.”

“I couldn’t let you take the fall for something that wasn’t really wrong.” I replied. “We didn’t know who each other was that night. It’s not like we planned it.”

“Still,” Edwin said, “it was a risk. One you shouldn’t have taken for my sake.”

I took a step back, fighting the urge to hug him. Instead, I nervously adjusted my bag on my shoulder and held out my hand. “I’ve enjoyed working with you this semester, Professor Brooks. I’m sorry I won’t be your TA anymore.”

He stared at my hand for a moment, a muscle ticking in his jaw. Finally, he took my hand, and his palm was large and warm against mine. “The pleasure was mine, Miss Thatcher. You’ve been an excellent assistant.”

*I’ll miss our discussions about fashion history,” I said as we shook hands, trying to keep my voice steady.

Edwin’s lips quirked into a small smile. “As will I. You have a unique perspective that’s been refreshing

As I walked away, I could feel my face turning beet red. The warmth of his hand lingered on mine, and it was all I could do to fight the urge to run back there and kiss him.

Edwin’s POV

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I watched Audrey walk away, her words echoing in my mind. She had openly admitted to replaceing me attractive-something I hadn’t expected. And now, because of that admission, she would no longer be my TA after spring break.

The thought left me feeling unexpectedly hollow. Audrey had been an excellent assistant, and I had grown accustomed to her presence in my office and classroom. More than that, I had grown to… enjoy it.

“Don’t even start.” I told my wolf internally as I made my way back to my office. I knew what he was going to say; that I was a lovestruck fool for falling for a girl like her.

But still, I couldn’t shake the memory of her hand in mine. It felt so small, so delicate. Yet she had shown such strength today, lying to protect me even at the risk of her own future.

When I returned to my office, the stack of papers Audrey had helped me grade just yesterday stared up at me from my desk. It felt wrong to think that soon, she wouldn’t be here to discuss them with me.

“This is ridiculous. I muttered to myself. “She’s just a student. Just an assistant.”

My wolf growled in response. “You know that’s not true.”

I couldn’t help but sigh as I sank down into my chair. “I know. You’re right.”

An idea strack me then as I sat there: perhaps I could share one last meal with her, to thank her for all her hard work. It was the least I could do after everything she had been through. Besides, she had worked so hard on the fashion show, and soon she would be interning at my company.

Consider it a… business dinner.

Typing out a quick email inviting her to dinner, I hesitated, gnawing my lower lip between my teeth before I hit send. I hated the way my heart pounded when I finally did.

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