Chapter Three: The Strange Girl

Jesse's POV

The morning light filtered through the curtains as I woke up, the day stretching ahead with its usual routine. Today was just another day, or so I thought. I arrived at the university early, ready to start my lectures. As the first class began, I scanned the room, my eyes catching sight of a girl trying to make her way inside. Our gazes locked for a moment.

She was stunning—her presence seemed to light up the room. Her hair framed her face perfectly, and her eyes held a quiet intelligence that drew me in. I felt a strange sensation, something I hadn’t felt in a long time. I was captivated, almost mesmerized. For a moment, I found myself staring, lost in her beauty. Immediately, I snapped back to reality, anger bubbling up inside me. How could I let her affect me like this? It was unprofessional and inappropriate. In a harsh attempt to regain control, I ordered her to leave.

"You're late. If you can't come early, you can't be in my class. Get out," I said, my voice sharper than I intended. She looked taken aback, her eyes widening with shock and embarrassment, but she turned back and left without a word.

All day, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. Her face kept appearing in my thoughts, distracting me during lectures and meetings. Even at home, I found myself tossing and turning, my mind fixated on her. It was infuriating. I was angry at myself for being so affected by her, but there was something about her that I couldn’t shake off.

The next morning, I woke up feeling a mix of anticipation and irritation. I was eager to see her again but also determined to maintain my composure. Walking into the classroom, my eyes immediately found her in the front row. She was even more captivating now that she was close, her presence radiating a quiet confidence.

As I began the lecture, I couldn’t help but steal glances at her. My mind started to wander. The pain and betrayal from that past relationship surfaced, clouding my thoughts. I felt a rush of conflicting emotions—desire, anger, vulnerability. It was too much.

In a surge of frustration, I decided to confront the situation head-on. "You," I said, pointing at her. "Explain what I covered yesterday."

Her face paled slightly, but she met my gaze. "Sir, you sent me out of your class yesterday," she replied, her voice steady yet tinged with apprehension.

My irritation spiked. "And you think that's an excuse? If you weren't present, you should have read extensively to catch up. I don't condone unserious students. Get out of my class."

I watched as tears welled up in her eyes. She gathered her things once again and left, her shoulders slumped with the weight of humiliation. As the door closed behind her, a pang of regret struck me. Why was I being so harsh on her? Was it because she reminded me of what I had lost, or because she stirred emotions I wasn't ready to face?

I tried to focus on the lecture, but my mind kept drifting back to her. I had sent her out again, and this time, it felt worse. I longed to see her, to understand why she had such an effect on me, but I knew I had to keep my distance. I couldn’t afford to let my emotions get the better of me.

Later that evening, my phone buzzed, breaking my focus. My personal assistant’s voice came through, sounding unusually hesitant. “Jesse, your father wants you to come for dinner tonight.”

I sighed, the familiar weight of expectation settling on my shoulders. The usual reminder of the responsibility of who I was by my father was already a whole lot, and also the thought of spending an evening with my stepmother Olivia made my stomach churn. We never agreed. Aunt Serena would be there too; her presence always managed to ease the atmosphere.

I grabbed my keys and headed out, the drive to the family estate giving me too much time to dwell on my mixed feelings. As I pulled into the long, winding driveway, the massive Carter mansion loomed ahead. The grand pillars and meticulously manicured lawns were a testament to my father’s success and wealth. Benjamin Carter wasn’t just a man; he was an empire, a successful man in the world of business and also well-known in the city of London.

Despite the grandeur, the mansion felt more like a gilded cage to me. My father’s expectations hung over me, a constant reminder of the life I was supposed to lead. He is just 47 and he wants me to take over the company so soon, to follow in his footsteps and maintain the legacy he had built. This I disliked so much. I had always wanted to teach; there was a hidden joy I found in doing so. In order to satisfy my dream and my father's dream, I had to manage between the two.

Managing both had been a delicate balancing act. The pressure was immense, and I often felt like I was living two lives. During the day, I was the dedicated professor, passionate about education. At night, I transformed into the reluctant heir, attending meetings and trying to absorb the complexities of the business world.

I parked my car and took a deep breath, steeling myself for the evening ahead. The front door was opened by one of the security. "Welcome, Mr. Carter," he greeted.

I walked towards the dining room where they were all seated.

"Jesse, darling!” Aunt Serena exclaimed, getting up to hug me. “It’s been too long.”

“Hey, Aunt Serena. Good to see you,” I replied, genuinely glad for her presence.

Dinner was a formal affair, as usual. The conversation revolved around the business, and my father’s subtle reminders of my responsibilities.

“Jesse, the board meeting next week is crucial,” my father started. “I expect you to be there."

I rolled my eyes. “I’ve got a lecture to prepare, Dad. I can’t just drop everything for these meetings.”

Olivia’s eyes narrowed. “You have responsibilities to this family, Jesse. Your father has built this empire for you. Instead, you have chosen to be a pathetic lecturer.”

“And I’ve told you, Olivia, I’m not interested in playing corporate puppet. I have my own career,” I shot back, my tone dripping with disdain.

“Enough, both of you,” Aunt Serena interjected, her voice strained. “We’re here to have a nice family dinner, not to argue.”

But Olivia wasn’t done. “You’re being incredibly selfish, Jesse. This is about more than just you.”

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. “Selfish? Maybe I don’t want to waste my life being miserable, unlike some people who went chasing after their best friend's husband just a few weeks after she died.”

“That’s enough! Jesse, you don't speak to your mother like that,” my father’s voice boomed.

“I lost her years back and no miserable person is filling that position,” I refuted, my voice filled with annoyance.

There was a heavy silence, then my father cleared his throat. “I’ve arranged something for you, Jesse. A blind date with the ministers daughter. And this time you had better pick her.”

“What?” I nearly laughed. “A blind date again? Seriously, Dad?”

“Yes, seriously,” he replied, his tone firm. “For the stockholders to believe you are going to be capable enough to handle the company, you have to be in a relationship or better still married.”

I felt a surge of defiance. “I don’t need you arranging my personal life. Besides, I already have a girlfriend,” I blurted out before I realized the weight of what I had done.

The room fell silent. My father looked stunned, Aunt Serena’s eyes widened in surprise, and Olivia’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

“Oh, really?” Olivia sneered. “And who is this mystery woman? Or did you just invent her to get out of the date?”

I glared at her. “She’s real, Olivia. I’m not a child who needs to be set up.”

My father regained his composure, his expression turning stern. “If you have a girlfriend, then bring her to dinner tomorrow. I want to meet her.”

Panic fluttered in my chest. That's pretty quick; how do I get a girl to come with me to dinner by the weekend? I immediately masked it up. “Fine. We’ll be here.”

“Good,” my father said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “We’ll see you both by tomorrow.”

I stood up, my appetite completely gone. “I need to get going. Thanks for dinner.”

“Jesse, wait,” Aunt Serena called, but I was already heading out the door, my mind racing. Driving back, my mind kept wondering about how to find a girl to bring to dinner, but every time, my mind drifted back to the girl from earlier. I immediately cleared it off my head. That can't be possible.