Chapter 27

**Vivian's POV**

He catches me off guard by letting out a deep sigh, setting the paper down and leaning back.

With his tattooed, slim forearms crossed over his chest, he starts, "Listen, Vivian... I get that things in your life have taken a turn, but you can't afford to neglect your studies.

This is about your future, and your exams are right around the corner. If you lose focus now, your career will suffer."

"I'm sorry, sir. I won't make that mistake again."

"You better not, V.

Oakwood doesn't allow for mistakes." His tone is hard, completely devoid of the tenderness it had that night a week ago when he came into my apartment. I meet his eyes briefly, trying to search in them for a glimpse of the Nikolay who let himself speak those words to me with an untamable passion.

"Like someone who wants tobe fucked dirty"

Had I dreamed of that scenario?

Or is he too ashamed by those words to ever be reminded of them again? In fact, all his anger recently seems to be directed towards me ins