"Did you finish all the exercises?"
After I arrived home yesterday, I entered the bathroom to clean every spot of my body. I can't believe we did it twice in school.
Then he called me again and made sure that I was studying and doing the exercises. If I had a question or was troubled, he made me stay in the video call to explain it to me. Only after three hours I complete most of the exercises and I felt more confident.
"I…" I had a bit of toast in my mouth. "Yes… at least 90% of them are finished."
He smiled when he cleaned my mouth with his bare finger. "Then, I guess you can tackle the advanced ones now."
I bit my lip. Those exercises were difficult, applied to specific cases, and require more understanding on how to use the formula adequately in each case.
In finance, we use the applied form, but I had never answered all questions without the help of the book or my cheetsheet.
"It's okay," he said and passed me a glass of juice. "We have time."
I nodded and continued eating.
"Sir, are you okay? Do you require anything else?"
We were at a high end restaurant. Once, my family had a dinner party for my sister's birthday here. Her friends came, even Emily and some acquaintances came to celebrate. No one cared to talk to me and after a while, my mother asked me to leave. She said that I looked bad or sick, but I was not. She seemed to tell me that she didn't want me there because I was ruining Megan's moment. Her friends seemed to think Emily was her older sister.
So I left.
I never visited the restaurant again. Not even Emily liked to invite me when her family had reunion and my family was welcomed to come.
"Bring her a fruit tea," Natahn said while patting my back. "Eat slowly."
The waiter left the room.
"Your first class, what time is it?"
"In one hour," I said.
By this time in the semester, most of the classes had already finished with the curriculum. We only had to be there to present our projects if we were the unlucky ones. Then the final exams two weeks will start.
I was not nervous. As I said before I had above average grades. And I had never failed a test or a class. But I was not the best of the best.
"Okay, good luck," he said and patted my hand. "When your class is over, come to my office. I won't be there, but you can rest and continue working."
I nodded again. Well, it was a free spot to use as a library. Now that exams were coming, it would be difficult to find a good seat in the library.
When I finished breakfast, he drove me to school and I walked over to the classroom. Other teams were already preparing themselves to present their projects. On my side, I was not even worried. My team members all left the class one by one by the end of the semester. They didn't feel like passing the final exam, so I was left with all the work at the end.
The teacher said that I did a good job at doing research and it was a good final paper. I did everything, every number, every assumption. I know all the resources I used, and why I used them, and I know how every plot was made in detail, every line code, font size, color palette. Well, of course, I was not worried at all, not like those other teams that divided their work. Well, that would be wonderful for me, because I had to spend longer hours on my own.
Then Emily's team arrived.
They were the brightest of the brightest in the class.
Why we were not in the same team? Well, I asked her, but before she could notice me, her team was already formed.
"Jena, you arrived first," she said with a sweet smile. "Did you eat breakfast? Did you have time?"
She knows that I come to school by public transportation and I usually don't have time to eat a complete breakfast, only bread.
I smiled but I noticed that her friends were hiding their laughter.
"Yes, I went to a restaurant before coming here," I said and sat on my desk. I didn't feel comfortable.
She then put a small juice box on my desk and a small wrapped sandwich. Then she gave me her always amicable smile and whispered on my ear "Good luck."
That would make my day every day. Those small attention details will get me floating in happiness. But… she always forgot. I can't eat anything before a presentation. I am too nervous to eat something, I get stomachache and then I can't focus.
"Won't you eat it?" said one of Emily's friends. I don't remember her name, but she is not a good person.
I decided to ignore her and kept the juice and sandwich on my bag.
"What? Are you that ungrateful?"
I took out my phone and stayed watching the screen for the ebook I downloaded yesterday night. Nathan made me read this thing on maths applied to finance and business administration. It was awesome.
"Jena," I heard Emily. "Aren't you hungry?"
"I am not, but thank you," I said with a smile, "I will eat after class."
Usually I would love to eat whatever she gave me before class started, but I was full enough.
They all looked at each other with weird expressions and decided to take their seats at the back of the class.
When the teacher arrived, he already had the groups that will present that day. A few days ago he gave us a number and that number will be randomly selected the day of the project. He already send us a message that he had made the lottery before coming to class. Then he said the first number and a group of four people started. There will be three presentation of fifteen minutes and five minutes to answer questions.
However, before they started, the door opened and two persons entered.
"I am sorry teacher Marks for being late," it was the director of the finance faculty, Dr. Stevens.
Professor Rivera stood up from his place and greeted the two men.
The other one… "Mister Nathan Reed," he said with a big smile, "I was flattered when you asked to join our project presentation. I know many students are already familiar with you, but I will introduce you to them If you allow me."
Nathan nodded and Professor Rivera started speaking. Then Nathan sat down at the front row, just a seat before me.
What is he doing here?
The presentation started and the teachers asked one question each to a random student on the team. Some of them answered correctly, the others… not so much.
Then, the next group was called. "Team number five," Professor Rivera said, and I was… I was stunned.
I stood up and connected my laptop.
"Why is there only one student? Where are the others?" Dr. Stevens asked first.
"I… my team members decided to drop the class a couple of weeks before. So… there was no time to join another team and it wouldn't be fair to my classmates, so I asked permission from Professor Rivera to do the complete project on my own."
My response surprised the teacher and some of my classmates. I could see their stunned faces. I was not very close to them also so I wouldn't want to annoy them when I decided this too.
"I gave her permission and review her project before," Professor Rivera said.
"Well, you can start," said Nathan with a grin. "I hope to see a great job."
The two teachers looked at Nathan with a strange expression and I started.
Through the presentation I forgot to look at the audience. I had trouble doing public speaking and I get very nervous, but I get this technique of blurring my eyes. When I finished, I swallowed saliva.
However, there were no questions.
"Do you have any comments or questions for me?" I said after watching the surprised faces.
"This is an impressive job," Dr. Stevens said, "why did you decide to go with this idea on the valuation? Where did you get that reference?"
I breathed deeply. "Last years financial magazine from the Finance International Competition published a compilation of valuation techniques on non standards business models, so I thought that one of them would apply to this project if we think of it as a sum of parts and then valuate each individual part with a different technique."
"Excellent! This is a great job," Professor Rivera applauded, "I want to know how did you manage to process that kind of info?"
"I wrote a script to run in the school financial lab, this one…" I showed them the little robot I created that helped me valuate each day the price data. I spend a couple of minutes explaining the flow to them and they were impressed.
Then… "How much time did you spend in this? If you have to sell it to a customer, how much will you charge on this project?"
Nathan's question was difficult. I didn't know how much should I charge for something like this. It was school work. I've never researched for any other person.
"That… I am not sure."
"Well, I will give you a number, at least 100k dollars I will pay for this," Dr. Stevens said, "I want to really pay for this as a part of the school fund board."
"No…" Nathan said, "it is worth more than that, at least two times more."
I was flabbergasted. That was too much. I didn't do this to get that reaction. At least, what I wanted was a full mark.
"Thank… thank you very much for listening."
"Gentlemen, we can discuss this later, we have another team coming up," Professor Rivera saved me and I sat on my place.
However, as Emily team was preparing, Dr. Stevens turned around on his seat and showed me a smile. "Little girl, what is your name again? Shall we go grab a meal a the school cafeteria after this? Are you currently interning somewhere?"
"Stop bothering her," said Nathan, "and you have to pay more attention to your student's names, she is Jena Lars."
Dr. Stevens pouted but grinned at the same time. "Well Jena, do you have class after this?"
"Yes, she has to review something."
Dr. Stevens seemed quite interested on Nathan's words now. "Wait, do you know each other?"
Nathan said, "we were classmates in middle school. I am helping her study calculus and other advanced topics, just the same as other friends from the same class."
"Ohhh.. So you are one of Emily's friends too," he said and I nodded, but then… "So, why were you not in her team?"
That… I didn't have the answer. "I was late to join the team, so…"
"The last team is ready," Professor Rivera saved me again.
The presentation was surprising, but I was not interested. They used the safest valuation methods, and did an excellent work at explaining the company's background. That was all they need to get full marks.
When the questions arrived, they got the same as the first team. It seemed that the three teachers wanted to end this quickly.
"Well," Professor Rivera stood up, "this will be all for today, you can leave. See you in the final exam."
When I was about to run for it, Dr. Stevens call me out. "Mrs. Lars, let's talk some more."
"She has something to do," Nathan said, "but we can schedule a meeting this weekend at the Royal Restaurant."
"That will be amazing," Dr. Steven said with a big smile on his face, "be prepared Mrs. Lars, I have a great proposal to offer you."
"Tha… thank you, Dr. Stevens," I said shaking his hand nervously.
"I need to go now," I said and left quickly.
Before going to Nathan's office, I stopped by the school store, I needed another notebook. This time I wasted a lot of paper making exercises.
"That was amazing, I didn't know she was that clever. If I knew I would have asked her to join our team and ride on her coattails. Do you think if we befriend her, she will let us join in the project Dr. Stevens is going to propose to her?"
"Maybe we can do that, she is also a bit pretty looking at her closely."
They were classmates that I never met before.
"What? Do you like her?"
"Maybe, she is kind of cute… and smart. It wouldn't hurt to give her some love in exchange of her brain."
"Hahaha… I only wanted to join her team, not to exploit her. What? Are you thinking on taking her into you harem? You already have three others."
"Well, I need someone to do my thesis. I won't have enough time to finish it with all that work stuff… and all…"
"Goodness, you won't ever change."
"Well, if it were Emily… for her I would change…"
"Nah… you are a lost cause."
I didn't hear more, I didn't want to. But now I know what others are thinking. Not only those two will appear, but others. School is not safe anymore.
When I reached Nathan's office, I heard a noise inside. I thought it was him but…
"Jena, why are you here?" It was Emily.
She had a couple of lunch boxes with her. Maybe, she wanted to have a meal with Nathan. He didn't tell me.
"I… I came to study," I said, "the library is full and Nathan let me study here for a while before he arrived."
"Oh… sorry, it's just that I was waiting for him, would you mind if I have a conversation alone with him?" she said with a shy tone.
"It's okay, I will find a spot in the library…" I said and was about to turn around, but she stopped me.
"I heard from Daniel that you told him you liked him," I forgot about that, but that was several days ago. Why is she bringing up that embarrassing moment now?
"It wasn't anything serious, just that… that I liked him as a friend. Maybe he misunderstood," why I am trying to explain myself? I did like him… so much, but now.
"He… he confessed to me… but I rejected him, Jena, this…"
I smiled, "it doesn't matter, don't worry about this. Let's focus on the final exams, okay?"
"Yes," Emily said with a big smile, "by the way, you did an amazing job at the project, I didn't know you…"
"I did a lot of research…" I blushed. "Your team also did it fine. I think you will get full marks."
"That… yes, I hope."
"Well then…" I said, "thank you for the juice and sandwich this morning. I would be in trouble if I hadn't had breakfast. I will leave before he comes back."
I reached the door, but again…
"Why are you so close to Nathan?" she asked. "I don't remember you two being so close before."
"We aren't…" I said but I knew that my expression will tell that I was hiding something so I didn't turn around. "He is only helping me with calculus this time. Let's talk again later…"
"I like him…" she said. Well, it was kind of obvious.
I turn to look at her.
"I like Nathan, and… it makes me uncomfortable to watch you two so close. Please Jena, can you… keep your distance?"
I knew Emily was not someone to beat around the bush. But, her suggestion made me feel bad. Why should I restrict my interactions with anyone because of her? She always do that, not wanting to take me on her teams, not wanting me to join in gatherings or parties, not even talking to me when she is with her friends, and now… this is…
"I don't think I can do that, he is only helping me with Calculus. I believe it is better for you to talk to him first over your feelings," I said but I was shaking.
"That… are you mad because of what happened with Daniel? I didn't know you have feelings for him. If you had told me, I would have distanced myself from him… I…"
"I wouldn't ask you that," I said, "he is our mutual friend, and I am no one to restrict your right to make friends or have relationships."
"Jena, I…" before she finished, the door opened.
I found myself face to face with Nathan. He had a couple of coffees in his hand and a paper bag in the other hand.
"I thought you would be hungry again," he said with a smile.
"Nathan!"
I watched him frown and looked over from me to Emily. "Emily? Why are you here?"
"I… I thought we can have lunch together. I wanted to talk to you about something," she said with her sweet voice. "It is important."
I stepped back letting him come inside and leave the coffee and bag on the desk. "Well, I should go first."
"Wait…" he said, "stay here and eat. You have exercises to make and you can't take the food to the library."
"I… that…"
"Nathan, I would love for us to have a private conversation. This is…"
"Just say it Emily. Are you here for the team I am building. Matt told me yesterday," Nathan opened the bag and grabbed a small plate. Then he put a sandwich on it and passed it to me. He signaled to the seat by his side to make me sit. The he opened the lid on the coffee glass and put it in front of me. "Be careful, it is hot."
"That…" Emily made an awkward face. "Yes, it is that, but…"
"The team will be defined in a serious evaluation on certain final scores and an interview. No back doors. Even if you are my acquaintance, you will be evaluated the same as the others."
"I know that," she said and looked at me eating the sandwich. I didn't lock her eyes. "I will try my best, but.. Acquaintance? We… we were friends before. You even… you…"
"Me? Well, we were friends like anyone in the past, but that was long ago."
"Our families…"
"My family and your had been close business partners. That is true, but what about that…" His arm was around my seat.
"When did you become so close?" she asked.
"Are you concerned about Jena?" he said and turned to look at me, I knew he was smiling but I didn't know why.
What is he playing at? He is making her jealous, that might be. She was buying it.
"Yes, she is shy and doesn't have a lot of… friends…"
That was correct, but I didn't like it when she said it aloud.
"I think she needs me with her and…"
"But you didn't get her in your team, and she did an amazing job alone," he said it, and I thought it. I don't feel confident with people, not the ones that are close to her at least. They all give me those horrible stares.
"That… I…" she trembled and looked at me for help. This time I didn't. I wanted to hear her explanation. She was beside me when she accepted the others. She never considered me from the beginning.
"It's okay," I said, "It turned out well."
"Yes, it was fascinating," Nathan said and grinned. "You didn't need help, little fool."
"I am not…"
"Finish eating and start the practice problems. You have four pages to finish."
I saw the prints and sighed. "Those…"
"Advanced ones. You have to explain how you solve them to me by the end of the day."
I will die.
Emily left, and Nathan asked to take the food she brought as he won't be able to eat it. However, she asked him if he will be willing to teach them. He said that he asked the school to make an announcement, he will teach a masterclass for all the students on the calculus class, and will be doing two hours of advanced exercises. They will post the exercises and after the class, the solutions.
He said it was not fair to only teach only a few.
"But…" she looked at me.
Well, I was doing other things for this man in exchange… no…no… I was not. He was forcing me, this was not an exchange.
"Ha… she is special, my little fool…"
"Yours? Are you in a relationship?" she asked with little tears in her eyes.
"We are not," I said and an uncomfortable silence surrounded us. "He is helping me only…"
"And she is also helping me," he said, but it was ambiguous. He didn't say how I was helping him. He didn't say that he was laying a trap for Emily and was using me to do that.
"I can help you too," Emily said, "if you…"
"No, there is no need, and this little one need to study, and I have some business to take of," he said and grabbed my cup of coffee and the bag. "Well, anything else?"
Emily gave me a painful stare, as if she was so disappointed at me and left.
After twenty minutes doing exercises, I couldn't help it anymore. He was sitting on the sofa watching me attentively. I asked him what was he doing but he didn't say a word. Then he took a photo of me.
"Are we not in a relationship?" he asked finally. I knew he will hold me on that.
I sighed, "this is not a…"
"We already fucked twice," he said and leaned on the sofa, "and we will fuck today too. Come here and take off your clothes."
I pursed my lips. "I am studying…"
"Yes, and I can't focus on my job because of you," he said, "this time you are going to sit on my lap, birdie."
I had no choice.
When I stood up and started undressing, he watched me eagerly. That stare was telling me that he needed to take me.
"You are a pervert," I dropped the rest of my clothes and he had already prepared to receive me.
"You know what to do next, Jena."
I walked over and sat on him. Next… for one hour we made out till I had no energy in my lungs anymore.
—
"Hey Jena," I heard someone calling my name from behind.
After resting for a while in Nathan's sofa, he told me that I have class later. This time I didn't have to present my project.
When class was over, I intended to go to the library to escape Nathan and hid for a while, but I was stopped.
The moment I turned around, three guys and two girls were waiting for me.
I didn't know them and I didn't greet them. Maybe they were expecting me to smile or say hi, but I didn't.
"You don't know who we are?"
I shook my head not saying a word.
"My name is Jonathan, we were at the same applied finance class," he said and waited. Again, I didn't care.
After a few seconds, he introduced the rest of this friends that were mocking him.
"We wanted to know if you are available to study together. We heard that you are good at…"
"I don't have time, sorry. And I am not good also, my grades are a bit above average. So, I won't be of any help."
Some of them laughed and some of them said "I told you."
Jonathan on the other hand smiled. "We are not looking for you to teach us."
I frowned.
"I was trying to connect with you for a while, but it seemed that it was difficult…"
"That…" I felt a bit guilty. My scared subconscious was always on self defense mode. "I am sorry, I…"
"It's okay, maybe we can start with your number, we have a group chat and I noticed that you are not there… so… if you don't mind…"
I asked Emily before if we had a group chat. She said that I won't like it and she never added me.
"Okay," I said and gave Jonathan my number. Hopefully I wasn't doing something stupid.
He smiled back at me before leaving. Then I saw a message saying "hi, let's be friends, okay?"
I said "okay".
Was I desperate for a friend? An ordinary friend?
"Class is starting," I heard a voice above me on the library. It was Nathan. "You scary cat come with me, you are going to be my assistant."
He found me, maybe he always knew where I was.
Again, I was left with ho other option but to do as he said. When we arrived, the classroom was full. Emily's group was also there, and there was no empty seats.
"Sit there," he showed me the teacher's seat and I did it. Then he started.
The exercises… were… surprisingly easy.
This was amazing.
——
After an hour, we had a break and I went to the fill my bottle of water.
"Jena, is that your name, right?"
A group of girls showed before me. I didn't answer, but they seemed to not expect my response.
"Well, we were wondering if you have something going on with Professor Nathan," she said while giggling, "and if you could introduce us to him."
"No," I answered quickly, "and no."
Their little giggling stopped. Why should I introduce someone I barely know to someone I don't even know? I don't even know their names.
"That… we were just asking a for a favor, you don't have to show that attitude."
Which attitude?
"I don't know you," I answered back. "Not even your name. You didn't say it."
"That… my name is…"
"Class is starting," I said while noticing everyone was entering again. "I should go."
After another hour and a half, we were prepared to tackle harder exercises. I felt so refreshed, so excited, so clever. For the first time in a lot of my days in school, I wasn't exhausted.
"Ready to go?"
Nathan stopped me before leaving the classroom.
"Go? Where?"
"I'm taking you to grab some lunch."
I didn't know what to say but I couldn't say no to food. Today I didn't bring anything from home. Well, I have the sandwich and juice from Emily.
I followed him to the parking lot, but before we reached the stairs, the girls from before showed up.
"Mister Reed," the leader girl said with a beautiful white smile. That girl for sure was confident in her figure and attractiveness. Tall and gorgeous, nice hair and pretty make up. The kind that will be the first crush to any other guy.
Well, however, she was not at the same level as Emily.
"Yes? What do you need?"
"We are friends of Jena," she boldly said. How shameless! I had no friends… well… sadly and pathetically that was true. "We were wondering if we can join you both on your meal."
Nathan looked at me and I lift my shoulders and shook my head as if telling him that it was his choice, and that I don't know them. He smiled.
"Unfortunately, I want to spend time with only the two of us," he said and grabbed my hand, "you must understand."
I opened my eyes so big that I thought I somehow expanded my vision for two seconds. Then I tried to free my hand but then, he let go and grabbed my waist. Then I couldn't say a word because of his stare. That meaningful stare saying that he had some photos with him.
"That… you are… together?" the girl said. She never introduced herself again. Maybe she was confident that we all knew her name.
Nathan smiled and didn't answer, he pulled me to his side and guided me to the parking lot reserved to professors.
——
He took me to a restaurant a bit far from school, but the food there was delicious. Then he asked for a couple of deserts and a big cappuccino and let me eat while he answered a call. I didn't know what he was talking about, as he was speaking another language, but it seemed very important.
I stayed there studying, finishing some exercises and eating cake and coffee.
"That one is wrong," he corrected me once in a while, he grabbed my paper and wrote the explanation while he was still on the video call. That went for a couple of hours and finally, I told him that I needed to return home.
I was tired.
"Stay with me tonight," he said as I closed my backpack.
I blushed at his deep gaze, but then… then… I received a call from home. It was my father?
"Get back home now!" he shouted.
The loud shout was my answer. He also heard it and sighed. "Let's go."
When we reached my house, he also stepped out of the car.
"What are you doing?"
"Greeting your parents," he said nonchalantly while adjusting his coat. He looked gorgeous in his suit. Not like a teacher, but more like some impressive businessman.