Page 40 of Almost Ravaged

I clench my fists and breathe deeply, willing my nerves to settle, determined to figure this out.

“I did not,” I reply, my voice quiet though steadier than I expected. “But I can go print them now. I assume the file is in the class portal?”

His dark eyes bore into me, the disdain there sending a shudder down my spine. But I refuse to back down. Especially in front of an audience.

“Your assumption is correct. If only you had been proactive and handled that before class began rather than wasting precious time.”

He turns on his heel and strides toward the table at the front of the room. There, he flips open the flap of his satchel and pulls out a thick stack of papers. “Thankfully,” he says, turning to me, “I’m never not prepared.”

This fucker.

He absolutely did that to get a rise out of me, and it absolutely worked.

I inhale sharply through my nose to quell the anger simmering inside me. He’s goading me. Maybe because I’m not studying his beloved marketing? If my major is the issue here, then why did he choose me for the assistantship? He’s a snob and a jerk, but I won’t let him see just how deep he’s gotten under my skin.

He steps my way, and I mirror the move. When we meet in the middle, I grasp the stack of papers. Rather than release them, he keeps a grip on the pile, forcing me to pause.

With a pointed look, he whispers, “Pass these out quickly, then take your seat, Ms. Davvies. I’ll see you in my office immediately after class.”

My stomach sinks. Shit.

I have a meeting with my academic advisor at eleven thirty in the library. If I have to stop by Professor Eden’s office first, there’s no way I’ll make it across campus on time. Especially because I don’t even know where his office is located. I’ll have to follow him after class just so I don’t embarrass myself.Again.

Maybe he’s right. Maybe Iamwoefully unprepared and out of my depth here.

With a nod, I take the syllabi and stride toward the students, determined to get something right.

As I reach Tytus’s desk, he stands. “Give me half of those.”

The tension in my shoulders eases as I split the stack.

As I’m handing Ty his half, Professor Eden speaks again.

“Excuse me. Mr.…?”

Tytus lifts his chin. “Tremblay.”

Eager to get my half of the stack distributed, I don’t bother turning toward the professor.

Tytus clears his throat and stands to full height. “Tytus Tremblay, sir.” He pins his half of the papers between his bicep and his body, assuming a casual stance, his eyes flitting to mine, urging me on.

Unease curls in my stomach. I don’t want to just leave him here. Not when he’s caught Professor Eden’s attention because of me.

I remain where I am, paralyzed by anticipation and a hint of fear.

“Mr. Tremblay. Very well. I’m going to insist you hand back those papers and take your seat. Though Ms. Davvies doesn’t appear prepared or capable of assisting me in this class, the department has only budgeted for one graduate assistant at this time.”

This.Man.

The warmth of embarrassment already heating my skin blazes hotter.

Snickers resound around the room. It’s not surprising, really. Why should the students respect me, when the professor clearly doesn’t?

“With all due respect,sir…”

I tense, Tytus’s tone causing alarm bells to ring in my ears, and give him a pleading look, desperate to call him off.

But Ty’s not looking at me. He’s glaring at Professor Eden, a.k.a. my new boss. “Had you not been on sabbatical and completely unavailable to Ms. Davvies until five minutes ago—”