Chapter Five: Fulfilling End Of The Deal.

The rest of the vening continued with me answering all the questions Dad and Aunt Serena threw at us. Ranging from different series questions like how fast we are pacing our relationship, that was none of my business there isn’t any relationship after all. I just wanted to pull through this night. I noticed Tamara sitting quietly, her eyes darting between the speakers, absorbing every word. I knew I had dragged her into my mess, but I was rewarding her for her time, so it really changed nothing.

During dinner, I messaged Trevor, my personal assistant, to make arrangements for an apartment near the university. As the evening wound down, dinner was over with Aunt Serena and Dad bidding us goodbye while Olivia just sat indifferently.

I led Tamara to the car, opening the door for her before getting in myself. The drive was quiet, the air filled with the unspoken tension of her unasked questions. I could see the curiosity and confusion in her eyes through the rearview mirror. I knew she wanted to ask questions like why the Carter heir is working as a lecturer at an ordinary university, but I didn't particularly care. This arrangement was purely transactional, she was to be my pretend girlfriend for a night and nothing more.

Trevor had texted me the address of the apartment, and I drove there with a sense of urgency. As we arrived, I parked and walked around to open her door, leading her inside the building. The apartment was spacious, well-furnished, and conveniently located near the university. I had insisted on finding the best option available, even on short notice.

"This will be your apartment," I said, holding the door open for her.

Shock was evident on her face as she stepped inside. "I can't take this," she said, her voice filled with disbelief. "It's too big for me. Can you find a smaller apartment?"

"This is what I could find on such short notice," I replied, shrugging off her concerns. I wasn't in the mood to explain myself—I had done my part of the deal.

"I just did as I promised, so you have to take it," I said, not minding her reaction.

She stammered a response, "Thank you, Prof. Jesse." The formality of my title on her lips caught me off guard for a moment.

"There's no need to thank me," I said, regaining my composure. "This isn't charity. I'm just fulfilling my end of the deal."

She looked around the apartment, still trying to process the situation. After a moment, she turned to me, a hesitant question in her eyes. "Could you please drive me home? I can't find a taxi this night," she said with a pleading look.

Why was she asking? I was going to drive her home after all; I had to make sure she got home safely since she went out with me.

As we got into the car, I decided it was time to set some boundaries. The night had been complicated enough without any further misunderstandings. I knew she already knew who I was and also my family status. I turned to her, making sure she understood the seriousness of what I was about to say.

"No one must find out about tonight," I began, my voice firm. "You must not tell anyone about this arrangement, my status, or my family. Outside of this agreement, we maintain our professor-student relationship. Nothing more."

She looked at me, her eyes wide with understanding and a hint of fear. "I assure you, Prof. Jesse, no one will find out. and I won't tell anyone"

Satisfied with her response, even though the title sounded awkward, I nodded. I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out a cheque of six times her salary that I had promised her. Handing it over, I could see a mix of emotions on her face: relief, gratitude, and perhaps a touch of apprehension.

"Here's the cheque," I said, keeping my tone businesslike. "As agreed."

She took it, her fingers trembling slightly. "Thank you," she whispered, looking down at the piece of paper.

I started the car, and the drive to her home was shrouded in a heavy silence, each of us lost in our thoughts. The city lights blurred past as we moved through the quiet streets, the atmosphere inside the car tense but controlled.

When we arrived at her place, I parked and turned to her one last time. "Remember, this arrangement is strictly confidential."

"I remember," she replied, her voice steady despite the underlying tension.

I watched as she got out of the car and walked to her door. Once she was safely inside, I drove away. As I drove home, the events of the day replayed in my mind, already shifting back to all that had happened in such a short time. The same girl I was mad at for springing up strange emotions in me had just helped me pull through a night. The look on her face when we drove into the Carter Mansion replayed in my head. I’m sure she was very confused. I chuckled a little bit and immediately came back to my senses. I ruffled my hair—what was I doing?

I finally pulled into my driveway and walked into the house. I wasn't surprised to find Trevor sitting, waiting for me. He had free access to my home; he was more than just my personal assistant—he was a friend that I had grown to trust. This was a privilege extended to him due to his indispensable role in my life.

"How did it go?" Trevor asked, looking up from his spot on the living room couch.

"It went fine," I replied, shrugging off my coat. "She was very composed, and Dad and Aunt Serena seemed to like her."

"And Olivia?" Trevor inquired, his eyebrows raised.

"You know very well she acted like an asshole, as usual," I said, not bothering to hide my disdain.

Trevor nodded knowingly. "How long are you planning to keep her as your pretend girlfriend?"

"What do you mean, 'keep her'?" I asked, looking at him.

"I mean, how long are you planning to keep up the act? Like, how long did you both agree?" he asked as if expecting more answers.

"It was just for the night. That was the agreement," I answered, sinking into an armchair. The exhaustion of the day was starting to catch up with me.

Trevor frowned. "You should have made a long-term deal, like at least for three months. You know now that your father already likes her, he will want to see her more often."

I hadn't considered that. My father, always keen on appearances and connections, would definitely want to see more of her if he believed we were in a relationship. "Why didn't I think of that?" I muttered to myself, a hint of frustration in my voice.

Trevor looked at me sympathetically. "What are you planning to tell him if he asks about her again?"

"I'll just tell him we broke up," I replied, the solution forming as I spoke. "He'll be disappointed, but it's better than complicating things further—not with a girl I'm trying to keep my distance from."

Trevor sighed. "You know he won't let it go that easily. He'll start asking questions, digging into why it ended."

"Then I'll deal with that when it happens, but for now, I just want to get her off my mind," I said firmly, not wanting to dwell on the potential fallout.

Trevor nodded, standing up to leave. "But you know that girl is quite a beauty. No wonder you can't get her off your mind," he said in a mocking tone.

"I'm not in for your unnecessary jokes. Just get out," I said tiredly, despite the truth in his words.

"Alright. Just be prepared. This might get more complicated than you think," he said as he walked out the door.

As he left, I leaned back in the chair, closing my eyes. The weight of the day pressed down on me, but I knew Trevor was right. This arrangement, meant to simplify things, had already started to blur the lines more than I'd anticipated.