James
Rule #1: Never get involved with a student…
It was the one rule I lived by when I decided to teach.
I’ve never lacked for a woman on my arm and there’s always an endless supply who are willing to do whatever I want.
So, why am I fixating on the one woman I know I can’t have? The one who could potentially destroy everything I worked so hard to get.
Never get involved with a student…
Sure, it goes without saying but that was the furthest thing from my mind when I kissed Paige St. Claire that fateful night in a bar two years ago.
I knew better when I did it, but I did it anyway.
Now I’m here at The Dark Odyssey contemplating what tomorrow will bring.
It’ll be the first time I’ll see her since I told her we couldn’t get involved.
I’ve been in this state of flux since last week when I found out she was not only going to be in my class again but one of my mentees. Years ago, it was hard enough finding out she transferred out of my class after I kissed her, but trying to forget her was harder.
I never did.
I don’t smoke often. When I do, I opt for a cigar. The kind Grandfather used to smoke.
People say I’m like him in many ways. Just like him I have a love for teaching.
I decided to follow my heart the same way he did and become a college professor. By doing so I brought WW3 on my head when it came to my family. They never expected me to do that. Like every man in the Marchesi clan I was expected to become an attorney and partake in the billion dollar empire Grandfather set up over forty years ago when he left Italy and moved to Chicago.
The differences between me and Grandfather deciding to teach were vast. He was the bad ass boss of the family who called the shots and nobody would dare question his actions. Definitely not when he passed the torch of leadership to my uncle and my father to run the empire so he could live out the rest of his life teaching at Raventhorne University.
I on the other hand was classed as the odd ball. I had to fight for what I wanted. My family thought I was crazy, but I still kept pushing back. From the minute I decided to go to Georgetown and deviate from the norm of going to Yale like everyone else, then do my PhD, they knew something was up. It should have been a clue that I wanted to teach and follow my own path. But no, not so much.
It became so bad at one point I thought my father was going to write me off. So unlike my brothers who squander their money on fast cars I used the five million my grandfather left me to invest in properties and built my own billionaire fortune.
That was more than ten years ago.
Standing up to my family was hard, but what was worse was fighting against Kevin Beaumont, the Head of Faculty, who hated my ass with a vengeance from day one. The man couldn’t stand that I was the youngest professor in the department and doing so well.
I fought hard to become the notable professor I am today, the notable professor who’s currently up for consideration of Head of Department.
So… why the fuck can’t I get Paige out of my head?
This visit to The Dark Odyssey tonight is me trying to do that.
I can be straight-laced all I want on any given day. I can walk and talk like the good professor, but the only reason why I got as good as I am is because I work hard and play harder.
I play harder here and give into my thrill-seeking dark side that seeks out a wild fantasy when trouble comes to get my ass.
Tonight, I’m here for fun so I can deal with tomorrow. I’ll see Paige tomorrow, and I’m sure our first meeting after so long will be awkward. I know it will be for me.
So, a wild night out with my friends is the downtime I need to get my mind off the situation.
Wade and I are early. We’re in the private lounge smoking and drinking while we wait for the others.
Wade’s just gone to get us some more beer.
I gaze out to the club floor and puff on my cigar as the club comes alive with the latest hit.