The emergency faculty meeting lasted two agonizing hours.

Sophia waited in Alexander’s penthouse, pacing the living room while the city lights blurred beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. Every minute felt like torture. She had spent the day sick with worry, rumors had escalated into a formal complaint. Someone had seen too much. If they lost everything now…

The door finally opened.

Alexander stepped inside, his expression stormy but determined. His tie was loosened, hair slightly disheveled from running his hands through it. The moment their eyes met, the tension exploded into raw need.

"They’re investigating," he said, voice low as he locked the door. "But I don’t care anymore. Not about...