Professor F novel Chapter 18

August pulled away from Flynn and looked at his face, trying to check if he's being serious about what he just said.

His face still serious. "Answer me, August."

She could feel her heart pounding so fast. She can’t believe what he just asked her. All those moments and kisses they shared seemed like the introduction to what’s coming next.

God knows how much she wanted to date him but she can't just say yes and let him quit his job just like that.

And so she's come up with a very silly idea in her head. "You can't just quit your job."

"I can. I will."

"I can't. I mean, I can't just let you do that." She feels so confused and worried, torn and undecided. She's always valued her work just like her parents and she's learned that since she was young.

And now, here's this crazy guy telling her he can quit his job just like that for her—to date her! How crazy is that?!

But I swear to God! It feels so good. For someone like him to sacrifice the things he love for someone like me!

"Work means so much to me. It's important for me, as it should be for everyone else. I mean, you having a job is important. You doing what you love. Y—You." She blushed as she said the last word.

He sighed and smiled. "I think I already got an answer."

She looked down shyly. "I need to know though if—"

"If?"

"If I mean anything to you—" She uttered, looking away.

He holds her face in his hands. “You think I’d ever ask if you don’t? You mean so much to me. I kissed you, almost made love to you. That wasn't just something I'd do for nothing, August." He looked into her eyes. “It’s always because of you. I asked Stella to come back here and apologize to you for what she did. I'm even willing to quit my job because being your professor made things harder for me to be honest with my feelings and intentions.” He paused. “And you’d stop seeing other guys.”

She couldn't stop herself from grinning. "W—What?"

He sighed as he kissed her forehead. “Let’s date. Be my girlfriend.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. And if it's me being your professor that's stopping you to date me then I can—"

"We can date." She interrupted. "B—But in secret." She bites her lower lip.

His jaw clenched. "You're willing to do that?" He asked as if he could not believe what he just heard.

"I—I can't let you quit your job. I'll stop hanging out with the guys at work and Henry but promise me you'll never quit your job."

He looked at her and kissed her hands. He moved his face closer to her to give her a kiss but a familiar voice called her name.

"August?"

They both looked up to see who owns that female voice. Her eyes widened as she immediately pulls her hand away from Flynn. "G—Gail."

Gail looked suspicious of them but she flashed her smile intended for Flynn. "Hi, Professor."

Flynn nodded after he gave her a concerned look. "Good evening, Gail." He greeted her with a slight smile.

"Were you heading somewhere? I mean, I just happened to have dinner with a friend nearby." Gail shared with a smile on her lips, not looking at her at all.

Flynn nodded as August discreetly gave him a pleading look, trying to tell him to make a plausible excuse. "Henry invited me and my sister over dinner with Miss Peters."

She sighed inside.

Well, that's true and somehow a good excuse.

"Where are they?" Gail asked, looking around.

She went pale as she looked at Flynn and stuttered as she thinks for an excuse. "T—They—uhm—"

"I don't want to go back there."

She noticed the pained expression on his face as he looked away. She remembered the woman who was introduced to them as the guest chef.

Phoebe McClair.

She wanted to ask him about her but she doesn't want to cross any line. She knows Flynn has a reason for not telling anything about it.

"What should we tell them then?"

"I'll handle that." He said as he pulls out his phone and started typing.

"What are you doing?" She steps closer to him as she tried to glance at his message to Stella.

I'm taking August with me. Make an excuse for us.

She went pale after Flynn tapped on the green send button.

That wasn't really a good message to handle the situation. With Stella.

It's as if Flynn read what's on her mind. "Don't worry. Stella can handle Henry."

"Yeah? I hope you're right." She said and noticed Flynn putting his phone to his ear and calling someone. And she was surprised to hear him speak French.

"C'est moi, Hugo. Pouvez-vous me prendre trois rues à l'ouest de L'ARTE DEI SAPORI. Oui. Je vous remercie. J'attendrai."

She studied a little French so she was able to understand part of what Flynn told the person on the phone named Hugo. It seemed that he called his driver.

"Where are we going now?"

"Just come with me, August. Do you trust me?" He asked as he looked into her eyes and holds her hand, clasping their hands like a real couple.