Chapter 2 The Encounter

The music pulsed through the walls of the city over the top nightclub known for overpriced cocktails and nasty decisions. Leah downed the last of her second drink, she scrunched her face as the drink burned her throat. After a week-long thesis and a boring professor. Leah and Ava decided to spend the Friday night at a club and make the most of their final year.

"Okay," Ava said beside her, pulling Leah toward the dance floor. "No talking about school, deadlines, or emotionally repressed professors. This is a safe space."

Leah snorted. "Emotionally repressed? That man's whole existence is a locked filing cabinet."

"Exactly. Tonight is about bad decisions I guess" Ava smirked.

The beat dropped. The crowd surged. Leah let herself go, arms above her head, hair wild, lips curved in a tipsy grin. The alcohol hummed in her veins. She danced with strangers, smiled at compliments she barely heard, and laughed harder than she had in weeks.

Across the room,

Julian West hadn't planned to stay long.

He'd come to Velvet for a quiet drink with an old colleague visiting from Oxford, a quick stop before heading home. The place wasn't his usual scene. It was too loud, too reckless, too young. He hated places where the lighting hid intentions. He sat in the VIP lounge, away from all the recklessness. Taking a sip from his glass, he noticed a familiar figure.

At first, he didn't recognize her. Gone was the sarcastic student with biting wit and an oversized sweater and jeans. Tonight, she was something else entirely, radiant, chaotic, and alive. Her short black dress hugged her frame and made her curves visible. Undoubtedly, she had curves in all the right places. Her lipstick was the same shade as danger. And the way she moved was enticing.

Julian's colleague, drunk and talking about some campus gossip, faded into background noise.

"Excuse me," Julian said. "I need a moment."

Julian slipped a note to the bartender and ordered himself a different drink, something more light. He sat on a stool as he watched Leah display.

Leah stumbled slightly as she reached the bar again, flushed and breathless. She tried to steady herself but her head was spinning.

A hand caught her elbow gently.

She turned, ready to take the stranger to a dance. Immediately, she froze, retreating her hands that had already gone around his neck.

"Professor"Her voice cracked in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

Julian looked impossibly out of place, dressed in black slacks and a navy button-up, sleeves still rolled as if he'd walked right out of her lecture and into her night. His jaw was tense. The low lights made her notice his piercing eyes, his eyes were unreadable.

"I could ask you the same, Miss Morgan."

Leah blinked. Then laughed, too loudly. "Please don't call me that here. I'm off-duty."

He said nothing.

"You stalking me?" she teased, still riding the wave of her buzz.

"Coincidence," he said. "Or fate, depending on how drunk you are."

"I'm not so drunk you know", she said with a grin. "So you better not report me to the department."

"I'm not here as your professor," Julian said. "Not tonight."

That sentence hit differently. Leah stared at him, her flirtatious smile faltering as something more dangerous slipped between them.

Before she could respond, a man bumped into her from behind, laughing and trying to wrap an arm around her waist. Julian stepped forward instantly, his hand going to the stranger's shoulder with quiet force.

"She's not interested," he said sharply.

The guy backed off, muttering an apology.

Leah stared at Julian. "Wow. Protective much?"

He didn't look at her. "You're drunk and alone miss."

She smirked. "So you swoop in like a knight in shining armour? Isn't that breaking some code of ethics?"

He met her gaze. "You're not my student tonight, Leah."

The way he said her name slowly sent a shiver down her spine.

"Whatever," she laughed. "I need some air"

"You can go up to the rooftop, I saw the sign a moment ago" Jullian said, pointing in the direction of the steps.

"Well take me, I'm alone" Leah whined.

Julian took her hand in his and led her upstairs to the rooftop bar where the music was quieter and the view of the city stretched endlessly under a velvet sky. The moment the door closed behind them, the tension snapped taut again.

Leah leaned against the railing, the breeze cooling her flushed skin. "I'm not usually this messy."

"You're not messy," Julian said quietly. "You're untamed."

She turned. "And you like that?"

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't deny it either."

Silence took over for a while.

"You're not allowed to look that smug off campus," she said, slurring just a little.

He glanced at her, "And you're not allowed to get that drunk when you have deliverables due next week."

"Oh, so you're stalking my liver now?" she teased.

Julian shook his head. "Just concerned my star pupil will lose brain cells before she submits anything of value."

She laughed, slow and warm, and leaned closer than necessary. "You're kind of hot when you're pretending not to care."

He walked closer, his eyes dropping briefly to her mouth "You're drunk. Don't say anything you'll regret"

"But you're not drunk," she said. "So if something happens... that would be on you." her index finger ran along the buttons of his shirt

His jaw clenched. He stepped closer, too close.

"You think you're tempting," he said. "And you are. But this is a line we don't cross."

Leah held his gaze. "Then why are you here?"

He didn't answer. He didn't have to. The air between them changed. It became dense and electric. He took a slow step forward, invading her space. She could smell the bourbon on his breath, see the lines of restraint tightening across his face.

"You shouldn't be talking to me like this," he said. "Not here."

"Why not?" Her voice was lower now. "Because I'm your student, or because you want to kiss me?"

His hand shot out firmly, gripping her waist to steady her. Their bodies were close enough now that she could feel his heartbeat against her ribs. For one second he leaned in. Close enough for her to feel the whisper of his breath on her cheek.

Julian blinked sharply and pulled away, letting out a deep breath.

"No," he said, voice hoarse. "Not like this. Not when you're drunk."

Leah's stomach twisted, equal parts relief and regret.

"I wasn't going to let you," she whispered.

"I know." His eyes lingered on her a moment longer, then flicked away. "Go home, Leah."