Page 7 of Tutor Daddy (Yes, Daddy #54)

ADDISON

T here's barely a second for me to drop the mischievous grin from my face after leaving Aidan's class when I run right into Professor Tamson. She's a tall woman who looks like she rides a broom to campus every day. Not just any broom, but one of sleek elegance, but a broom nevertheless.

Wispy gray hairs fight to stay in her face, but her thick black glasses hold them at bay.

There's a way she looks down her narrow nose that makes me squirm, but I've been fingered and tongue fucked by the hottest professor on this campus.

There's absolutely nothing she can say or do to bring my mood down.

"I need to speak to you about the group project, Miss Shaw," Professor Tamson says.

I should have known better. That's more than enough to sour my day.

"Group project?" I ask.

"Is that a question, Miss Shaw?"

I shake my head gently from side to side. "My apologies. I wasn't aware of a group project due for your class. I probably need the updated syllabus."

"No, no." She pauses and steps to the side so people can squeeze by as they pass us in the hallway. "This project is for the students who need an extra boost to help them pass the course."

"I'm already getting tutored by Professor Sheridan," I tell her, with the hope that's enough to stop this train wreck of a semester from getting any worse.

"That's wonderful. That means he'll be able to help you and your partner with the project I've dropped into your student dashboard of assignments.

You'll be working with Marcus Henry. Every file, the instructions and rubric are there for your perusing.

You'll have these last few weeks to work on it together. "

"Group projects are the worst," I mumble to myself. "I always end up doing all of the work."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Miss Shaw.

The truth of the matter is that, as an accountant, especially one pursuing forensic auditing, you will have to work with others.

Your communication and ability to perform the duties necessary for a successful audit impact your job and your company's bottom line. "

"I understand, Professor, but?—"

She cuts me off with a soft hand raised to silence me.

"However, I'm more than aware of the collegiate standards when it comes to academic teamwork.

You two don't have to work together, but you're receiving the same assignment.

I'm allowing you to partner, but if it doesn't work, feel free to tackle the work on your own. "

A deep sigh of relief escapes me as I release the breath I'd been holding. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet, Miss Shaw. The scope of the work, on top of your current courseload, isn't going to be easy.

That's why it's best to at least try to work on the project with Mr. Henry.

You're all adults and can do as you please.

I can only lead you to water; I cannot make you drink," she says aptly and walks away.

I hate that it's coming to this. Group projects are diabolical at this level.

There are no real-world consequences if my partner decides not to pull his weight on this.

But, I won't give up without trying. Perhaps he's the kind of student who's so super controlling, he won't allow me to do anything.

Maybe he'll just let me bat my eyelashes and occasionally affirm his answers.

Instead of hoping and wishing for another outcome, I pull out my phone to log into my classroom dashboard. Sure enough, there are several bold red notifications in my pending assignments with a link to message my partner through the message board.

Me: Hey, Marcus. This is Addison. I just spoke to Professor Tamson about this project. When would you like to meet up to discuss?

Marcus: I'll be in the library Wednesday afternoon from 4 - 6; finance section.

Me: That works. I'll see you there.

He doesn't reply, just taps the thumbs up response emoji.

I don't know why that annoys me, but it doesn't give me hope for our meet-up. When I'm back in my room, I have the time to actually take a look at the project, and Professor Tamson wasn't lying.

It's daunting at best, impossible at worst. There are twelve months of financial documents for a corporation where we have to perform a forensic audit.

This entails tackling the original accountant's documents, the original auditor's findings, and delving deeper into the financial history of the company to ensure accuracy.

My face burns, and my eyes water at the amount of work staring at me. In the real world, this level of auditing takes months to sift through and verify. I'm fucked. Even if I despise group work, there's no way I can do this assignment without Marcus' help.

After a long shower, I eat dinner and listen to some music to calm my nerves.

My mind needs a reset before I look back at the assignment.

When I'm ready, I pull it back up along with my assignments due for the rest of this week and make a game plan.

I spend the next few hours breaking the project up into sizable tasks while squeezing in the current coursework due.

By the time Wednesday rolls around, I'm confident that I can split the work equally with Marcus, and hopefully, he's up to the challenge.

When I enter the library, there's an elevator that takes me straight up to the fourth floor, where every financial textbook and reference guide can be found. There's a study group taking place in one of the conference rooms. This school has a thing for glass walls and doors.

I can look inside and see a few familiar faces, and I think it's Aidan leading the group.

My heart flutters with hope that it's him.

I'm all for fingering and cock sucks, but I'm hoping he can take a look at my attack plan for this group project.

It's the reason I went to see him in the first place.

"Addison," a voice calls from a nearby table.

Marcus Henry isn't a name I remember, but he definitely has a face I'll never forget.

He's handsome enough, but rarely shows up to class.

It seems pointless to hope he'll take over to let me skate by on his work.

The only reason I remember his face is because the girls sitting beside me swoon every time he does show up to class.

There are at least three thick finance books spread out on the table. His MacBook is open, phone playing some animated movie, and notes on index cards that look like they were given to him by some girl in love with an orange highlighter.

"Is all of this for the auditing assignment?" I ask him.

Marcus shifts his gaze up at me. He nudges the chair across from him with his foot for me to sit down. "No, these notes are for my Econ courses. I was hoping you could take the lead on the Tamson stuff."

I nod and immediately know he's not going to be able to help.

"I've gone over everything we have to do and broken it down into tasks.

I already have a general review of areas for concern.

I also noted specific items that need verification and marked areas where documents and journal entries are missing. "

"Wow, that's amazing. My brain shut off as soon as I saw the folder had over 165 pages." He chuckles and goes back to reading the books in front of him.

"Okay, so how do you want to split this workload up? We can go by financials in each department, identify the line items that need examining, and take it from there."

"Yes, let's start there." He nods without acknowledging me. "Once you identify that, I should be done with this bit of research I'm doing for my dissertation, and I can help."

"No offense, but you barely come to class. Why should I trust that you're going to jump in after I essentially do the first half of this work? I have other assignments as well."

"Oh, so this is a negotiation, then?" he asks, a grin etching across his face.

I turn around to see if he's actually speaking to me. Confusion riddles every word. "What are you talking about?"

He chuckles and tips his chair back with an air of arrogance that's undeniable.

"You tell me how much work it's going to be and how much I have to contribute.

When I tell you I don't have the time, you throw out a number, and I toss one back, and then the amount we agree on magically appears in whatever account you wish. "

"I know you're not suggesting what I think you are."

"Venmo? Paypal? Zelle? CashApp? Apple Pay? Fuck, do you want it on your meal card? How do you want to get paid so we can both go back to what we need to do?"

"You think I'm going to let you pay me to put your name on my work?"

He laces his fingers behind his head, gently rocking back and forth in the seat before sitting up straight to glare at me from across the table.

His voice drops down to a maniacal whisper as he says, "Well, another option is that we could date.

You'd be seen as the arm candy for myself, Marcus Henry the Fourth.

My family's name will connect you to several VPs within the industry after graduation.

Just show up at the events I tell you to.

Look ravishing and flirt with a few dirty old men. "

I practically snort this time. "So not only will I have to flirt with dirty old men as your arm candy, but I'm still going to have to complete this assignment by myself. I knew this was going to be some bullshit."

"I'll sweeten the pot," he replies when he sees I'm ready to flip this table in anger. "I'll toss in a semester's tuition payment on top of the dates. All you have to do is show up."

"Fuck off." I shake my head and push away from the table.

He shrugs his shoulders. "It's fine. I wouldn't expect a virgin to know a good thing when it's staring her right in the face."

Heat flames my cheeks as my eyes widen. "What did you just say?"

"Listen, Addison. I commend you for your virtue,” —he chuckles— "but I've got Grade A cock and Grade A stock.

With my family name? I'm offering you the deal of a lifetime.

All you have to do is a little bit of work and slap my name next to yours, and you can have it all.

Do you know how many women would love to be in this position? "

"To be in this position?" I pinch the bridge of my nose to tamp down my anger.

"To be in a position where you fuck me or get to fuck me …

because again, there's no guarantee you hold up anything you're saying.

I'm sure you fucked the shit out of whoever made those index cards, and where is she now? "

Marcus remains silent.

"Exactly. Probably offered her the deal of a lifetime to catch you up on your Econ, just for you to fuck her and fuck off. So fuck you, Marcus. You're on your own."

He reaches out to grab me by the wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

"Let go of me," I warn him, trying to snatch my arm out of his grasp.

"I didn't want it to come to this, but my great-grandfather has donated a significant amount of money to this university, and you shouldn't piss me off. The same way I can get your semester paid for is the same way I can get you kicked out."

"I dare you to try, you sniveling little creep. Now. Let. Go. Of. Me."

When he doesn't budge, I try to gauge what he's about to do, when luckily someone walks up behind me.

Marcus's eyes widen with fear as his face reddens, and he releases his grasp.

It's both shocking and not when I turn around to see Aidan standing there, face red with rage and all of that rage pointing at Marcus Henry.