Page 8

“Morning, B!” Charlotte smiled. “There’s someone here for you,” she said, gesturing to a table in the corner of the diner where a dark-haired woman sat with her back to them.

“Thanks, Charlotte.”

Blaire grabbed her tray and notepad, then approached the slender Asian woman sipping on a latte. She reminded Blaire of an actress from those Korean dramas a friend of hers used to watch in high school.

“Good morning, and welcome to Ricky’s Diner. My name is Blaire. They told me you wanted to speak to me. What can I do for you?”

After an awkward silence, the woman gently set down her cup, the cup making no sound as it met the ceramic saucer. She turned her gaze to meet Blaire’s eyes, her large chocolate eyes studying Blaire intently.

Her sleek, black hair pulled tight into a low chignon with a small pearl broach as an accent gave her a polished and proper appearance. The broach matched the pearl buttons of her blouse she had tucked into high-waisted navy slacks. She looked sophisticated, aside from the four-inch white stilettos with platform toes, which offset her petite stature evident even in her seated position.

“Yes. I request a few minutes of your time.” She dabbed her thin, pink lips with a napkin. “I have already spoken to your boss and paid for the loss of your service for the time I require. He is… rather adamant about his finances.”

Blaire cleared her throat and nodded quietly, not sure what to make of any of that.

“Sit, please,” the woman stated firmly as she moved to take another sip of her latte. “I have much to discuss with you, if you will grant me the time, and an offer to make if you are receptive.”

Blaire slowly lowered herself into the seat across from the woman, placing her tray and notepad on the seat beside her.

After another long pause, the woman asked, looking into her cup, “Have you heard of Blackthorn Academy?”

“Of course, who hasn’t?”

The woman met Blaire’s gaze again. “Yes, well, I am Professor Soomin Velastra. I manage student admissions and affairs of… special natures,” she spoke softly and gestured to a large envelope on the table. “You, Miss Wilcox, are one of those with a special nature I would address if you were a student of the academy.”

Everyone assumed the student body to be the entitled offspring of the rich and famous, or politicians; why would they want her? Blaire frowned in confusion. “Wait, what? I don’t think I follow.”

“In time, Miss Wilcox. I will be happy to go further into detail about your exceptional circumstances once we have the admission forms taken care of.” The professor dabbed her lips again, sitting back, and rested her hands in her lap, crossing her ankles.

She reminded Blaire of the girls and women from Magnolia Heights who’d gone through etiquette classes on how to speak, sit, and even eat in a proper manner. She sat up straighter as she realized her posture looked atrocious, the breath gone from her body. Did she miss part of this conversation?

Professor Velastra sighed, noting the blank stare, and motioned again to the envelope. “Blackthorn Academy is willing to grant you a full scholarship to attend through your university years. You show a… unique trait we value above all, and as it stands, we understand your financial situation”—she gestured to the diner and Blaire’s uniform—“so we would also cover all fees and living expenses as part of your admission agreement.”

“Living expenses?” She didn’t have rent or anything like that, so she wouldn’t require help with housing, and she had a job.

The professor waved her hand dismissively. “You would have to live on campus like all other students of the academy, so we would furnish housing and food as well as provide you with uniforms and an allowance for clothing and other necessities while you attend Blackthorn, as you simply will not have the time to work while enrolled. The curriculum is rigorous.”

Blaire’s gaze snapped up to the professor’s eyes, her face drained of warmth. “Oh no, that wouldn’t be possible. My… family”—she grimaced—“is quite strict about—”

The professor gave her a pointed look, cutting her off. “Miss Wilcox, I’m well aware of the situation regarding your family. I’ve done my research before coming here. It won’t be an issue.”

Before Blaire could respond, the door nearby opened and loud laughter pulled her attention as a group of three guys and two girls entered. They were all beautiful and caught the eye of everyone around.

They stopped laughing when their eyes fell on Blaire’s table, all eyes on the professor, before she shot them a look Blaire didn’t quite understand. Blaire’s eyes fell on the young man she ran into the day before.

There was no mistaking his striking green stare, sharp jawline, or beautiful long hair that Blaire had the strange urge to rake her fingers through.

“Miss Wilcox?” the professor said, breaking her focus.

Blaire cleared her throat at the same time the guy moved away to settle into a booth a few tables away, watching her. Everyone else had squeezed into the booth and they all looked uncomfortable trying to fit five people into a four-person booth.

“Oh, I’m sorry… I just… I recognized someone.”

Blaire looked up at the professor, but the guy’s continued gaze on her caused her entire body to become alight with hyperawareness.

The professor smirked and nodded. “Is that so? Yes, well, as much as I would like to let you speak to your acquaintance, I do need to finalize this with you so we can proceed.”

“Huh? Now? Can I think about it?”