Professor Lowe was a fossil of a man who believed that tardiness was a moral failing.
"The Krebs cycle waits for no one," he droned, scribbling on the whiteboard.
Alivia sat in the middle row, trying to focus. But the back of her neck was prickling.
The door banged open.
Preston Lowe sauntered in. He was the Professor's son, a frat boy with too much hair gel and a reputation for not taking 'no' for an answer.
"Mr. Lowe," the Professor sighed. "Nice of you to join us."
"Traffic was a bitch," Preston muttered, sliding into the seat directly behind Alivia.
He leaned forward. Alivia could smell stale beer and expensive cologne.
"Nice hoodie," he whispered. "Hiding the bruises?"
Alivia gripped her pen. Ignore him.
"I heard your husband is a freak," Preston continued, his voice low and wet against her ear. "Does he even know how to use it? Or do you need a real man to show you?"
Alivia's pen snapped. Ink bled onto her fingers.
She shifted away, but Preston kicked the back of her chair.
"Don't be shy, sugar baby. We all know what you are. You're just a high-priced whore."
Alivia spun around, ready to scream, but Professor Lowe turned from the board.
"Miss Clemons? Is there a problem?"
"No, sir," Alivia gritted out.
Preston smirked. "She's just excited about biology, Dad."
Alivia turned back, her face burning. She felt dirty.
High above the city, Gideon's hand froze over a document.
He was listening. He had bugged her backpack. Not because he didn't trust her, but because he didn't trust the world with her.
He heard every word.
Whore.
The pencil in Gideon's hand snapped in two.
He hit the intercom. "Finn."
Finn appeared in the doorway three seconds later. "Yeah?"
"Preston Lowe. NYU. Senior."
"I know him. Dad's a professor. Kid's a waste of space."
"Cut it," Gideon said. His voice was devoid of emotion, which made it terrifying.
"Cut what?"
"Everything. His credit cards. His trust fund. And find out who funds Professor Lowe's research lab."
Finn typed on his tablet. "Uh, looks like a grant from the Blackburn Foundation."
"Cancel it."
Finn looked up. "Boss, that's a two-million-dollar grant. The university will flip."
"I don't care. Cancel it. And tell the Dean I want to donate a new library wing. On one condition."
"Which is?"
"Preston Lowe is expelled."
Finn whistled. "You're going nuclear over a frat boy?"
Gideon looked at the broken pencil on his desk.
"He made her feel unsafe. Nuclear is the only option."
Back in the classroom, Alivia was packing her bag. The bell had rung.
Preston stood up, blocking her path to the aisle.
"So, about that tutorial," he leered, reaching for her arm.
"Don't touch me," Alivia said.
"Come on, Liv. I can pay. Not as much as the monster, but-"
Suddenly, Preston's phone buzzed. Then it buzzed again. And again.
He pulled it out. "What the hell?"
He stared at the screen. "Card declined? Account frozen?"
He looked up, confused.
Alivia took the opportunity to shove past him.
"Move, Preston."
She walked out of the room, leaving him staring at his phone, his life crumbling around him, though he didn't know why yet.
