The pace of my steps slowed as I nervously nibbled on my lip. Despite the lack of support from others, Mr. Cross stood up for me without hesitation. To be honest, I find myself irresistibly attracted and aroused by him.

I berated myself, “Thalia! You are such a fool. A man of his calibre is beyond your reach.”

I met a man I wanted but could never have. It was against school policy for us to have any kind of romantic involvement. However, what worried me even more was the thought that Mr. Cross might already have a lover.

"Someone, kill me now!" I yelled in desperation. The people passing by gave me strange looks, but I was too consumed by my turmoil to pay them any mind. I was currently in the midst of a serious crisis.

Tonight, I will use my false ID to get alcohol to drown my sorrows.

“Miss Evans!”

My level of desperation had reached an unmanageable height. The constant pressure and stress have caused me to start hallucinating. But I refuse to give in to this state of mind. Pausing for a moment, I snapped myself back to reality by gently slapping my face and shaking my head vigorously. I will not let Mr. Cross continue to haunt my thoughts. With a renewed sense of determination, I continued my walk.

"Miss Evans, are you deliberately ignoring my attempts to get your attention?"

With these words, I came to a sudden stop and glanced behind me. The shock on my face was evident as I tried to comprehend what was happening. I could feel a grin forming on my lips, but I stubbornly tried to suppress it. However, my efforts were futile.

"Mr Cross!" I gasped at the sight of him. My heart fluttered as he approached me, a charming smile gracing his lips.

“It is good to see you again, Miss Evans," he replied. His voice was smooth and seductive.

"I did not expect to run into you here," I said, trying to keep my cool.

"Well, I heard you work at Silverside, and I could not resist the opportunity to dine. However, I did not see you on the floor and decided to wait.” His eyes were twinkling with mischief.

I eyed him with suspicion. No one from school knew about my job at Silverside, and yet this substitute teacher seemed to have inside knowledge. I could not shake off the feeling of confusion and bewilderment at how he came to possess this information.

“Is something wrong?” Mr. Cross asked.

“Your appearance is different,” I said.

It was difficult to believe that the man standing before me was, in fact, the same Mr. Cross I had encountered earlier today. The eyeglasses that once rested comfortably on the bridge of his nose were now absent. Leaving a noticeable change in his appearance. Furthermore, his previously unkempt hair had been expertly slicked back. The transformation did not stop there. His mundane teacher's attire had been swapped for a sharp and tailored suit. It perfectly accentuated his broad and commanding shoulders. The overall effect was striking, creating a sense of refinement and poise. This new look was a far cry from his today’s casual appearance.

“Is my appearance not to your liking?” He remarked with a smug grin etched on his face.

“Would Mr. Cross even dare to entertain disappointment if I were to express my lack of satisfaction?” I playfully prodded.

"If that were truly the case, Miss Evans, I would be compelled to discover alternative methods to satisfy your desires.”

A warm flush crept up my cheeks. His words, while not necessarily explicit, held a seductive undertone that sent shivers down my spine. After adjusting my backpack, I mustered the courage to ask the question that had been weighing on me ever since his arrival. 

"Mr. Cross, are you following me?" I enquired with a hint of suspicion in my tone.

"If I were, you should see it as a great honour," he responded with a hint of conceit. "I have always been the one to lead and never had to follow a woman."

I could not help but let out a little scoff when I heard his response. It was no surprise that a man like him would have ladies lining up. It was practically written in the stars. But then, in the next breath, I felt a little twinge of sadness creep in at the thought.

"I find it curious that you stumbled upon me. I keep my employment at Silverside a secret. It's quite peculiar."

“Ms. Evans, as your teacher, it is my duty to closely monitor my students, is it not?” The tone of voice from Mr. Cross was so professional that I was almost convinced by his words.

I burst into a fit of laughter. "Sir, your words amuse me." 

"There is something of significance that I need to discuss with you," he said, seriously.

“Now?” I asked.

My mind raced through all the potential moments he had this morning to discuss what he wanted to talk about. And yet, Mr. Cross chooses this time of night. 

“I am sorry for the late time.” He took his hands out of his pockets and unbuttoned his suit jacket. "We need to have this conversation. It is also in your best interest.”

I furrowed my eyebrows hard. My curiosity was piqued, but I could not help but feel a little hesitant.

“It hasn't even been a full day since we met. What could be so urgent that we must discuss at this hour of night?” My body swayed right and left as I moved my weight from one foot to the other. “It has been a long day; if there isn't anything else that you need, please excuse me, Mr. Cross," I said and walked away.

My wonderful readers, if bad luck were a person—I would be that person. It was like the universe had a personal vendetta against me or something. After I hit Mr. Cross with those boss-like words, I was feeling pretty damn good. Empowered like a diva and confident like a deity. But of course, I had to keep it dramatic and make a grand escape, and I ended up flopping myself. Big time. My clumsy ass managed to step on my damn shoelace. Could you believe it? The next thing I knew, I was stumbling like a newborn giraffe in front of him. I swear I wanted to straight up sob. It was not even because I tripped and fell, although that would have been bad enough. Nope. It was because it happened right in front of the one man; I did not want to witness my clumsy and unladylike side. Honestly, I could not help but question if I even had a so-called ladylike side in the first place. But who cares about that right now? All I could think about was how badly I wanted to magically vanish and save myself from any more embarrassment.

To my dismay, I heard Mr. Cross say. “Miss Evans” in his sexy accent.

My face was stuck to the damn ground as I lay there, belly down. I could not move even if I wanted to. And believe me, I wanted to. My mortification levels were off the charts. I could not even bring myself to lift my head and face the person who witnessed my ultimate moment of shame.

I was caught off guard when Mr. Cross suddenly appeared in front of me. Before I could even process what was happening. His hand gently grasped my chin and lifted my head upward. But I was determined not to give in easily. I kept my eyes shut tight. I could sense his amusement at my stubbornness because he laughed heartily. The delightful tinkling of his laughter was like a mesmerising symphony in my ears. I was incredibly drawn to its enchanting melody. As if it could magically erase all worries from my mind with each gentle giggle.

“Are you that embarrassed?” His laughter had now turned into a gentle chuckle.

I pursed my lips in silence. Determined not to respond.

“In that case,” Mr. Cross said with a hint of amusement. “I suppose it cannot be helped.”

Out of nowhere, I was met with a soft and warm sensation on my lips. My initial shock was quickly replaced with confusion and disbelief when I opened my eyes and realised that Mr. Cross, my substitute teacher, was kissing me. Our mouths were merely pressed against each other. Yet, before I could comprehend the events unfolding, Mr. Cross seized the opportunity and invaded my mouth with his powerful tongue. This was not what I had anticipated. My thoughts raced. I could not help but notice the physical reactions my body was experiencing. My stomach was tense. My brain was in a state of chaos, and I knew that my nipples were visibly erect beneath my shirt. The aching sensations coursing through them were a clear indication of their yearning for contact. A primal urge escaped my lips in the form of a helpless moan. I had gone too many days without indulging in the pleasures of self-gratification, and the simple kiss from Mr. Cross only intensified my built-up longing.

Just as quickly as our kiss started, Mr. Cross pulled away, looking at me with a mix of desire and something else I could not quite place at the moment.

"Your eyes have finally opened,” he acknowledged.

It was obvious that his voice had changed. Was he affected by our kiss? His eyes were like an eagle. The hawk had locked in its prey.

“Miss Evans, let's go. We cannot stay in this position. We are getting unneeded attention.”

"Where shall we go, Mr. Cross?" I asked nervously.

"Shall we have the conversation I mentioned earlier?" He kindly assisted me in getting up. “Did you hurt yourself?” Mr. Cross took my backpack from my shoulders while he examined me. 

"I am fine," I reassured him, my nerves in chaos. My thoughts were jumbled and uncertain. I cleared my throat and said, “We should find a bar or somewhere we can talk.”

"Why don't you join me at my home?" His voice conveyed a sense of authority, leaving no space for debate.

"Mr. Cross..." I called out to him.

“Right this way, Miss Evans.” He held the car door open for me.

I narrowed my eyes as I took in the sight of Mr. Cross standing next to an expensive looking car. I mean, seriously? How could a mere substitute teacher afford something like that with their tiny salary? It just did not add up. Then again, maybe he had rich parents.

"Dear me!" I exclaimed in my mind. "What am I getting myself into?"

Upon entering the car, I found myself sitting next to Mr Cross. Despite my attempts to create distance between us and sit at the far end, he insisted on pulling me closer to him. His dominating presence filled the space between us. It was clear that he was not willing to let me keep my distance.

“I am heading back home, Charles," Mr. Cross announced.

Without hesitation, the car swerved off the edge of the road in the direction of his home. It was highly unlikely that anyone would not have a million questions running through their mind in a situation like this. However, I was keenly aware that blurting them out in the heat of the moment would not be the most tactful approach. Therefore, I made a deliberate and calculated decision to keep my thoughts to myself. At least for the time being. I took advantage of the peaceful moment to gather my thoughts. I wanted to be mentally prepared for whatever Mr. Cross had to say. I needed to enter the upcoming conversation with a clear mind. Wise move, right?

I could not stop myself from trying to figure out what he wanted to talk about. It was like a burning itch in the back of my mind. Yet I came up empty-handed. Could not he just spit it out and save me the torture? I was all for a good mystery, but not when it came to a damn conversation. On the flip side, the car driving was alright. I had never been in a situation like this before, so I did not have anything to compare it to.

“Miss Evans,” he spoke with a perfectly modulated voice that immediately drew my focus.

“Yes," I answered after a brief pause.

He grasped my hand firmly and interlocked our fingers, then said. "Never mind." A faint smile graced his handsome face. My pulse quickened. I could not pinpoint whether it was from anxiousness or my infatuation with him. 

My readers, could you all believe that little old me was going to Mr. Cross's house? I wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. But I had got to admit, I was also a little excited to see what awaited me inside.