The Hot Untouchable Lecturer II

THE office was quiet. Too quiet. Ms. Lesley leaned back slightly in her chair, her laptop open in front of her but long forgotten as her phone rested in her hand. Her thumb moved absently across the screen, scrolling without intention, without focus. Just… passing time. Avoiding thought. Until she saw him. Her ex-husband. The smile came first— wide, proud, familiar in a way that still unsettled her. Then the picture widened, revealing more. A woman stood beside him. She looked radiant, comfortable and certain. And in front of them, children. Two of them. Happy and laughing and complete. Ms. Lesley’s fingers froze on the screen. For a moment, she simply stared. “Well… good for you,” she muttered under her breath, though there was no real warmth in it. Her jaw tightened slightly as she looked closer, as if searching for something, anything that would make it easier to dismiss. But there was nothing. Just a life that had moved on. A life she had once been part of. A life she couldn’t give him. She exhaled sharply and locked her phone, tossing it onto the desk with more force than necessary. “Of course,” she murmured, shaking her head faintly. “Of course he got everything.” Kids. A family. A fresh start. While her own life felt like it had been stuck in the same loop for years— work, discipline, control… and silence. Always silence. A knock sounded on the door. She straightened instantly, composure snapping back into place like armor. “Come in.” The door opened, and a familiar face stepped in— Dr. Gilbert, one of her colleagues. Calm, observant, and annoyingly perceptive. “Hope I’m not interrupting,” he said, stepping inside. “Not at all,” Ms. Lesley replied smoothly, already reaching for her professional tone. “What can I do for you?” Gilbert closed the door behind him. “Actually, I came with something that might interest you.” She raised a brow slightly. “Go on.” “There is a student transferring into our department,” he explained. “Athlete. Talented, from what I hear… but academically?” He gave a small shrug. “Not great.” Ms. Lesley leaned back slightly, listening. “He needs help,” Gilbert continued. “Serious help. His GPA is barely holding on, and if he doesn’t improve soon, he is done for.” “And you came to me,” she said, a faint, knowing edge in her voice. Gilbert smiled lightly. “You have a reputation.” “For being strict,” she corrected. “For getting results,” he countered. A brief silence passed between them. “What’s his name?” she asked. “Zayne. Zayne Woodward.” The name barely registered at first. Then— Something flickered. Zayne. Her mind shifted instantly to the corridor. To the dressing room. To that brief, stolen moment she had no business remembering. She masked it quickly, her expression remaining neutral. “I will consider it,” she said. Gilbert nodded. “He will be coming by. I told him you are the best option he has.” “Let’s hope he is ready to put in the work, then.” Gilbert gave her one last look, like he could read more than she was saying, before turning toward the door. “Let me know what you decide.” “I will.” The door closed behind him and silence returned. Ms. Lesley exhaled slowly, her fingers tapping lightly against the desk. “Tutoring,” she murmured to herself. “Maybe that is exactly what I need.” Something to focus on. Something to distract her. Something to pull her mind away from— Him. And yet, as if summoned by the thought, her mind drifted again. To the boy in the dressing room. To the careless way he had moved. To the effect it had no right to have on her. She sat up straighter immediately, almost annoyed with herself. “Oh, no,” she muttered. “We are not doing this.” She shook her head slightly. “He is your student. Get a grip.” A firm knock sounded on the door and her body stilled. For a second, she didn’t move. Then instinct took over. “Come in.” The door opened. And the world tilted just slightly. It was him. He was the Zayne. For a moment, neither of them spoke. He stood there casually, but there was nothing casual about the way he filled the space. Taller than she had registered before. Broad shoulders stretching against a simple shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to reveal toned forearms. His presence carried an easy confidence, the kind that didn’t need to announce itself. His face was striking. Sharp jawline, dark eyes that held just a hint of mischief, and a composure that felt… dangerously self-assured. Too self-assured. Ms. Lesley’s breath hitched, barely, but enough for her to notice. This was the student. The one she had seen. The one she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about. “Ma’am?” His voice pulled her back. She blinked once, quickly, forcing her thoughts back into order. “Yes,” she said, her tone steady again. “Come in.” He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “I’m Zayne,” he said, though they both already knew that now. “I was told to see you about tutoring.” Of course you were. She gestured to the chair across from her desk. “Have a seat.” He sat, relaxed but attentive, leaning slightly forward. “I heard you are the best at fixing situations like mine,” he added, a faint hint of a smile playing at his lips. Ms. Lesley didn’t return it. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” she replied coolly. “Tell me why you are here.” His expression shifted, becoming less teasing now, more serious. “My grades are dropping,” he admitted. “Badly. And if I don’t fix it, I lose my place on the team.” She studied him quietly. “I’m not looking for shortcuts,” he continued. “I just need someone who can help me get back on track.” There was something in his tone, something genuine beneath the confidence. And that made it worse, because it made him harder to dismiss. She leaned back slightly, folding her arms. “This won’t be easy,” she said. “I don’t tolerate laziness. If I take you on, you follow my rules. Completely.” “I can do that,” he replied without hesitation. Their eyes met. And for a brief, dangerous second, something unspoken passed between them. She broke it first. “I will consider it,” she said, her voice controlled. “You will hear from me.” Zayne nodded, standing up. “Thank you, ma’am.” He turned toward the door, then paused briefly, just enough to glance back at her. “Hope you say yes.” And then he was gone. The door closed softly behind him. Ms. Lesley didn’t move. Not immediately. She sat there, staring at the door, her thoughts moving too fast and not at all at the same time. Of all the students, it had to be him. A slow breath left her lips as she leaned back in her chair. “This is a bad idea,” she whispered to herself. Very bad. Her mind ran through the options— refuse, redirect, step away before anything even began. That would be the smart choice. The safe choice. The right choice. And yet… she hesitated. Her phone rang suddenly, the sharp sound cutting through the silence and making her flinch slightly. She reached for it, her heart still not entirely steady. And as she stared at the screen, one thought lingered, refusing to leave. If she said yes, everything would change.