Her Professor, His Obsession

DAMON

Everyone stilled.

My tone changed, more formal, more sharp.

"By friday, I'll be selecting a student to serve as my class assistant. This role will include helping with grading, compiling student presentations, and organizing notes for the upcoming exams."

Murmurs rippled across the room.

"A notice will be posted by that Friday, stating who it will be," i added, scanning the room.

My eyes flicked past everyone... then rested on her.

Barely a second.

"I expect punctuality, responsibility... and silence during lectures."

I didn't say her name, but the emphasis was clear.

When the bell rang, everyone started packing up.

I packed my things and went straight to my office.

Aria.

She looked different today.

She wasn't in her usual Jeans and top, but she was wearing a long dress that clinched to her body.

She's been coming late to class. It's becoming a habit.

Is it because my class was her first class in the morning?

What was she staying up late for, is she partying out with boys?

I felt like punishing her, like removing her from my class.

But if my wife were here, she'd tell me to forgive the younglings.

"We're supposed to teach them, not yell at them" she'd say.

Rose.

My dear Rose.

"There was an accident on the main bridge"

"You wife... was in the accident, her car went through the bridge and into the water"

I was in my office that day, an important board meeting, and as the CEO and owner of Carter & co legal group, i had to be there.

She had told me to drive her, but i couldn't. I was too busy at the office.

"It seemed like it was planned" Will had said.

I had enemies everywhere, but at the time i had just one person who had threatened me.

My old partner.

It was my fault she died. It was all my fault.

I miss my wife.

I can't keep fantasizing about a kid.

It had been 5 years and i still wasn't wasn't over my wife.

I can't even bring myself to go to her grave.

I was deep in thoughts when a knock came through my door.

I leaned back in my chair and breathed before saying "come in".

The door swung open and Will came inside.

Williams Caviar.

My right hand man. My best friend. Rose's Brother.

"Hey professor" he said with a sly smug on his face.

"Will, what brings you here?" i asked.

"Can't a friend come visit" he said seating down on the chair opposite mine.

"What are you really doing here William" I asked, my voice stiff. I rarely use his full name.

"The company is drowning" he said with a serious look.

"And?" i asked uninterested.

"What do you mean "And"?. Do you know what it took to build up your company worth billions?" he said.

I had nothing to say, i just fiddled with the pen in my hand.

"Look Damon, i get it, you're still grieving your wife, she's my sister too"

I gave a half laugh, half scoff.

"She wouldn't want you to waste your life, seeking after revenge like this" he continued.

"Well, she's not here to tell me that" i said dryly.

"You have to come back to work. You spent 4 years oversees, drowning in self pity, looking for an invisible man" he said with... pity.

"Then you came back, i thought you were done mourning. Just for you to come to this school" he said gesturing his hands around my office.

"Did you come here to sweet talk me into going back to the company, Will? Because if so, i wont."

"Oh, how the mighty has fallen" he said, his voice sharp.

"Look..." i tried to say.

"The investors are withdrawing, we lost 15 million last month and another 10 million last week. The boards are worried" he countered.

I sighed, readjusted the tie on my neck which suddenly felt too tight.

Pressure.

So much pressure.

"If you have nothing else to say, you can leave Will" i said turning my face away from his.

"I will leave, but i'll be back"

He stood up and turned toward the door to leave. But as his hands touched the door knob, he paused and looked over his shoulder, then he spoke again. Words that seemed like venom.

"Have you even visited her grave?"

As he got no reply from me, he shook his head in disappointment.

"I thought so. Coward"

Then he opened the door and left.

Coward.

I wasn't used to being called such things. Maybe i had indeed been a coward.

'oh, how the mighty has fallen' his razor sharp words rang in my head.

I dragged my chair backwards and stood up. Took my suit jacket and wore it.

I took my office bag. And then i left the office.

I walked through the hallway of the school, heading towards the car lot.

When i made a turn, i saw Aria.

She looked at me but i dragged my gaze away from her and walked past her like she didn't exist.

I didn't have the time to fawn over her. I had other important things, other important people.

I got to my car and drove straight to my mansion.

The moment i got into the house... the house i hadn't been in... in days because it reminded me of her.

The interior design, the couch style, the painting.

Everything was her idea.

I gave her everything she wanted, and yet, i took everything away from her, her life.

I dragged my feet up the stairs as i traced my hands through the stair's wooden railing.

The one she had picked.

I stopped at the top of the stair and looked at her... her picture, it was as if i was staring right at her.

Finally i got to the bedroom. The bed, the curtains, her vanity set was still there, her wardrobe. I hadn't touched it or removed it. I didn't let the maids touch it too.

I didn't have the heart to remove her things from the room... our room.

I couldn't.