CHAPTER 38: WHO’S THE BOYFRIEND?!

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 me.

What on earth was he doing here? Was he trying to be petty? Or did he come here to feed me with the apologise-to-Lucy bullshit?

He looked straight at me 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 me, while moving across the front of the class. He finally took them off me, 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 me 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 me. I wasn’t surprised when heads turned to me. My irritation was boiling too hot for me to feel any sort of embarrassment.

"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 formed almost instantly.

"Good morning to you too, Catherine," his tone came 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 smelt his cologne, that faint masculine spice that made it very hard to think straight.

"Seriously, Julian. If this is some 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 immediately, still wearing that maddening smirk. "I’m only here to teach the class. This is my Senior year project," he said, louder this time, his voice carrying easily through the room. "I’ll be tutoring this group for the next few weeks about tech and media ethics."

My stomach dropped. He’s teaching? My class? Nothing made sense at this point.

Julian looked back down at me, 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 me whole.

With a small head shake, I straightened my spine, trying to salvage some 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 something 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 me.

I sat down and tried really to avoid looking at him, even when I could feel him watching me. 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 something about data ethics or tech integration, I couldn’t really tell as I was having a difficult time paying attention, the same 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 me. "Catherine," he called my name with a steadily teasing voice. "You look distracted. Do you mind explaining to the class what ethical data sourcing means 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 stammered 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 me 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 means, 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 me he wasn’t done. "No worries," he said. "It’s not your fault. Not everyone keeps up with the news. Some 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 time he called on someone, my body tensed, praying he wouldn’t say my name again. Every time he looked in my direction, I felt that same stupid flutter in my stomach that I swore I’d buried.

By the time 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 me when he said algorithm."

I shoved my books into my bag, muttering curses under my breath.

"Leaving so soon?" His voice came from right behind me.

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 meet 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 smell 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 me."

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 something unreadable flashing in his eyes, maybe surprise or irritation. It didn’t matter. Right now, I just told a lie that seemed to give me an upper hand.

I mean... the way his jaw tensed told me 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 me the opportunity, he dragged me back and placed me hard on the wall, leaving me stuck between him and it. "Who’s the boyfriend?"