Page 82 of Unapologetic Obsession

“But, Professor Maxwell, we weren’t supposed to see each other this weekend. I went away to see my boyfriend and just got back this morning.”

“Call her.”

“Her phone’s turned off.”

“Try it anyway.”

They are searching forme.

Professor Maxwell’s concern touched me. I should announce myself, but I was having a hard time finding my voice among this intensity.

Taking a deep breath, I did a counting exercise I had learned from my therapist and pushed the door open. Everyone turned when the door creaked.

Miles’s eyes widened, startled. “Rose! Where have you been? We’ve been calling you all weekend.”

That explained all the unregistered numbers calling my phone. I never exchanged numbers with any of the research assistants.

Professor Maxwell sprang from his seat the moment he heard my name. His chair kicked back angrily, and everyone stepped to the side so he could see me. His expression shifted from relief at seeing me to anger. “What the hell, Rose?”

I watched him from the door, my heart pounding loudly in my ears. I wanted to ask,What’s going on?orWhy did you ask people to track me down?but my voice was muffled by my panic. Despite the lenience I had received from him, I still lost my voice whenever he was this intense.

“Why didn’t you pick up my calls?” he shouted. The immense control he exercised not to shout around me was missing.

My palms started sweating with anxiety. I had no idea what I had done wrong and had a feeling I was about to find out. I only blocked his number because I didn’t recognize it, just like I did with everyone else who called me. We never communicated outside of class or during the weekend. How did he get my number anyway, the school registration records?

Shelby was doing her best to compose herself, but I could tell she was taking immense pleasure in my public reprimanding. She was upset when Professor Maxwell took an interest in my academics and had been wanting to knock me down a peg. I was finally in trouble, and she was in heaven. She was trying not to smile but failing miserably.

Professor Maxwell glanced at Miles, who in turn gave him a knowing nod. The silent exchange prompted Miles to speak out.“Okay, people, back to work.” People were momentarily stunned by the change of pace. When they didn’t move, he knocked on the desk to make noise. “Let’s go. Everyone, out of Professor Maxwell’s office. Now.”

What was going on?

Confused rumbles sounded in the room as people were unceremoniously ushered out.

I backed out as well, but Professor Maxwell pierced me with an unfathomable look. “Not you, Rose.”

I froze. It seemed Miles knew that Professor Maxwell wanted to speak to me alone and was doing his bidding by getting everyone out of the office. But what had I done wrong?

I was rarely in trouble with my teachers, and now I was in trouble with my favorite one. He had taken me under his wing, provided me with opportunities I could never have dreamed of, and he was the reason I had a future in this field. Everything in my life had been better since he came along, and I looked up to him tremendously for it. What could I have done to incite this ire? I triple-checked my work and left nothing to chance so I wouldn’t disappoint the man I tried to impress the most.

Did I mislabel something?

Did I shelf the vials wrong?

Did I place an incorrect order?

No one glanced at me—except for the self-satisfied smirk from Shelby—as they ran out the door.

Amelie sidled up next to me and let everyone else pass her. “Dude, where have you been?” she whispered in my ear.

“I stayed at Poppy’s over the weekend. What’s going on?”

“I truly have no idea. He lost it this morning when he walked into class and didn’t see you. Told everyone that class was canceled but asked me to stay behind. Apparently, he has been trying to get in touch with you all weekend and even had the research assistants call you.”

“What’s so urgent?”

“I don’t know. Did you murder someone?”

I pretended to think about it for a moment. “I don’t think so,” I said to lighten the mood and the apprehension rolling inside me.