One Night With My Alpha Professor novel Chapter 4

#Chapter 4: Unlucky Colors

Audrey

As Tina and I stepped out of the cafe and into the chilly morning air, I felt a bit bolstered by our conversation and ready for my first teaching assistant class of the day. So I hadn’t lost my virginity to my professor, after all. What a relief!

“By the way,” Tina said, stopping on the sidewalk to look at me, “now that you know it wasn’t him… You should consider signing up for the fashion show.”

I shot my friend a curious look. “Fashion show?” I asked.

“You haven’t heard?” she asked, to which I shook my head. “There’s going to be a campus fashion competition. The top three winners will receive handsome rewards—with first place receiving an internship at Brooks.”

My eyes widened of their own accord. “Seriously? You think I should…?”

“Absolutely!” Tina exclaimed. “Signups are today. You should get your name on the list first.”

With my heart already thundering in my chest, I began taking steps backwards, clutching the strap of my satchel with one hand. To intern at Brooks Designs, potentially securing my dream job… Well, it would have fulfilled my lifelong dream.

I could still picture it now: my first fashion magazine subscription had featured a center spread on Brooks Designs.

Ten-year-old me had fallen in love with their unique and over-the-top pieces immediately, absolutely enamored with their signature look. I always loved the dichotomy of soft femininity with something harsher, delicate lace with dark plaid and silver hardware. Brooks had perfectly balanced this look, and I had taken a lot of inspiration from their designs over the years.

And now I had a chance to work for them.

…

By the time I stepped up to the signup sheet in the lobby of the central hall, there were already a few names on the list. Oh well, I thought to myself as I quickly scrawled my name across the paper. It didn’t really matter where or when I signed up—so long as my skills helped me win.

And I was determined to win; I had been hoping for this since I was ten, after all.

Turning away from the bulletin board, my mind was already bustling with ideas for a new dress. I would need to stop at the storeroom to pick up some fabric so I could get started.

“Bit presumptuous for a human to sign up for the fashion show, no?”

As soon as I heard that lilting voice, I felt my entire body go rigid. Turning slowly, I saw a familiar head of rich brown hair and matching brown eyes that appeared almost black in the dim light.

“Linda,” I said, sticking my chin out. “Do you need something?”

Linda shrugged and sauntered over to the list, signing her name right below mine. “No. I just think it’s funny, that’s all.”

“What’s so funny?”

She smirked and placed a hand on her hip. “You don’t think that you’re just making a fool out of yourself?” she asked. “I mean, thinking that you, a human, could ever win against an entire school full of werewolves…”

“Get lost, Linda,” I said with a wave of my hand. Turning, I began storming down the hall toward the storeroom so I could get started.

Linda’s voice followed me: “I’m just trying to help you, Audrey!” she called out. “I would hate to see you embarrass yourself even more than you already have!”

Only once I was in the quietude of the materials storeroom did I finally let out a breath. I shut the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment, inhaling deeply; the scent of fabric filled my nostrils, instantly giving me relief.

Linda was just trying to get under my skin, and I knew that for a fact. Her designs were subpar at best, relying too heavily on basics and often stealing work from smaller designers. And her sewing skills were downright shoddy.

Everyone knew that Linda was just here because of her daddy, I mused to myself as I began wandering the rows of fabric. Her father was Alpha Wallace from Silverbite Pack, and his status had gotten her into Grayspring Academy. Everyone was intimidated by her because of this.

But not me. She may have picked on me relentlessly, but I didn’t care.