Catherine’s POV
The last thing I expected when I walked into class that morning was having to find Julian there.
When I looked up from my desk and saw him walk into my classroom, tall and confident, my first thought was simple.
You’ve got to be kidding .
What on earth was he doing here? Was he trying to be petty? Or did he co here to feed with the apologise-to-Lucy bullshit?
He looked straight at with that smug smirk, and every nerve in my body went tight.
"What the hell," I whispered under my breath, my pen slipping from my hand and falling on my desk, causing an unusual noise.
Julian’s eyes stayed on , while moving across the front of the class. He finally took them off , setting his notes on the podium. I could practically feel my blood pressure rising with every step he took.
"Whoa. Julian Vaughn is in our class. What is he doing here?" one of the girls behind whispered. "Oh my God, he’s so—"
"Hot," another finished, giggling. "I wish I could get a chance with him."
Others squealed, while talking more nonsense.
I gritted my teeth. Of course, very typical of Julian, causing a scene without saying a word and these girls? Do they even love themselves?
Before I could be more pissed with the whole drama, I stood up from my seat, my chair screeching against the floor enough to get eyes on . I wasn’t surprised when heads turned to . My irritation was boiling too hot for to feel any sort of embarrassnt.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded the very minute I got to him, my voice was as cold as ice.
Julian looked up from his notes, and that stupid smirk of his ford almost instantly.
"Good morning to you too, Catherine," his tone ca out, sounding so smooth and casual. "I can feel the hotness radiating from your body. Calm down or you might burn the school down."
"Shut up," my teeth clenched. "And answer the fucking question."
He tilted his head slightly, pretending to think. "Hmm, should I? Or should you take your seat before you embarrass yourself further?"
The class started to gossip and I knew what it was about. My cheeks began to burn, but I didn’t back down. I moved closer to him, ignoring the way my pulse jumped when I slt his cologne, that faint masculine spice that made it very hard to think straight.
"Seriously, Julian. If this is so kind of joke, it’s not funny. My coursemates are starting to talk. Get out before—"
He leaned closer, his mouth just inches from my ear, and his voice low enough for only I to hear. "Relax, Cat. Not everything I do revolves around you."
My heart skipped a beat and hear crawled up my neck before I could stop it.
He scoffed and straightened imdiately, still wearing that maddening smirk. "I’m only here to teach the class. This is my Senior year project," he said, louder this ti, his voice carrying easily through the room. "I’ll be tutoring this group for the next few weeks about tech and dia ethics."
My stomach dropped. He’s teaching? My class? Nothing made sense at this point.
Julian looked back down at , enjoying every second of my stunned silence. "Yes. Don’t feel so special anymore?" He murmured under his breath.
I lowered my face, sucking my lower lip. Goodness, I just made a mockery of myself. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow whole.
With a small head shake, I straightened my spine, trying to salvage so dignity. "Oh," I muttered, my throat dry. "Right. I didn’t... I didn’t know that."
He arched his brow. "Clearly."
I swallowed hard, muttered sothing that sounded vaguely like sorry, and turned away, walking back to my seat as quietly as I could. The entire class was still staring. I could feel the heat of a hundred eyes burning into .
I sat down and tried really to avoid looking at him, even when I could feel him watching . My skin prickled under his gaze, Damn him! His effect on him was way too strong.
"Alright," he finally began, his tone shifting into that controlled tone he always used when he wanted people to listen. "Let’s start."
The girls in the front leaned forward instantly, practically swooning as he started writing on the board.
I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck.
The topic for the day was sothing about data ethics or tech integration, I couldn’t really tell as I was having a difficult ti paying attention, the sa as half the class.
Everyone was too busy watching him, how he talked, how he moved his hands and the slight curve of his smile.
And I hated how aware I was of it all or rather, how I was practically the only one noticing these little details.
He suddenly turned and his gaze landed right on . "Catherine," he called my na with a steadily teasing voice. "You look distracted. Do you mind explaining to the class what ethical data sourcing ans in modern systems?"
My head jerked up. "What?"
A few snickers broke out around the room while his smile deepened. "I’m sorry, was I speaking too fast?"
My lips parted in disbelief. He was intentionally doing this and clearly enjoying every bit of it. This moron!
"I- - I was listening," I stamred defensively, gripping my pen tighter. "You just phrased it wrong."
He nodded slowly, looking entertained. "Of course I did. My bad." Then, after a pause, "But since you’re so attentive, I’m sure you won’t mind answering another."
My blood boiled. "Uhm... sure."
"Give one example of a platform that breached user privacy laws last year."
I blinked. "Last year?"
He leaned against the table, crossing his arms. "That’s usually what lastyear ans, yes."
The class fell into laughter, and I could feel my face burning from the humiliation.
"I—" I started, then stopped. I didn’t know the answer. Damn it, I didn’t know.
Julian’s expression softened just slightly, but the glint in his eyes told he wasn’t done. "No worries," he said. "It’s not your fault. Not everyone keeps up with the news. So people are just more focused on personal drama."
The class laughed again, and I wanted to throw my notebook at his face.
My foot tapped under the desk. "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?" I muttered under my breath.
He caught it... of course he did. He always did. His lips twitched, almost imperceptibly, before he looked away and continued teaching.
The next hour was torture. Every ti he called on soone, my body tensed, praying he wouldn’t say my na again. Every ti he looked in my direction, I felt that sa stupid flutter in my stomach that I swore I’d buried.
By the ti the bell rang, I was ready to scream.
The class started to empty, chatter filling the air mostly about him.
"God, he’s so confident."
"I hope he teaches us again soon."
"He looked right at when he said algorithm."
I shoved my books into my bag, muttering curses under my breath.
"Leaving so soon?" His voice ca from right behind .
I froze, spine straightening automatically. I turned around, and he was standing way too close. Close enough that I had to tilt my head up slightly to et his gaze. The sunlight from the window hit his jawline, and I hated how annoyingly good he looked this early in the morning.
"I didn’t realize the lesson was extended," I said coolly.
His lips curved. "It’s not. Just thought I’d say good participation today."
I narrowed my eyes. "You’re insufferable."
"Only when provoked." His gaze dipped briefly, just a flicker to my lips before he caught himself but I saw it. And judging by the heat creeping into my cheeks, I knew he knew I saw it too.
I stepped back, needing space or air, anything that didn’t sll like him. "You really think highly of yourself, don’t you?"
He chuckled softly. "Of course. I am Julian Vaugh after all."
"Goshhh, you make my blood boil."
"Careful," he said, dropping his voice slightly. "That almost sounded like you are obsessed with ."
I glared at him, biting back every impulsive word that wanted to escape. "You’re delusional," I said instead, brushing past him. "I have a boyfriend now. You are old news."
His eyes shut open and his smirk faltered for half a second, with sothing unreadable flashing in his eyes, maybe surprise or irritation. It didn’t matter. Right now, I just told a lie that seed to give an upper hand.
I an... the way his jaw tensed told he hated it. "What boyfriend?"
"None of your business, STEPBROTHER," I dragged the last word, biting my lips slowly, while trying to move past him.
But he didn’t give the opportunity, he dragged back and placed hard on the wall, leaving stuck between him and it. "Who’s the boyfriend?"
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