Professor F

Chapter 29

August hugged Flynn back. His phone rings and it's Francis telling them he's waiting in the car at the

entrance. They went down and stepped inside Francis’ silver Benz before heading to the restaurant.

"Took you a while." Francis greeted them.

"The elevators are quite packed." Flynn explained. They were both seated at the back. The trip to the

restaurant was quiet and Francis stopped in front of New York’s famous Italian restaurant owned by a

famous artist, Matteo de Luca. Francis is a huge fan and client of the guy. Flynn remembered meeting

the guy once in an art exhibit back in London with another female artist.

August was quiet during their meal, just listening to Francis and Flynn talking. For some reason,

Francis doesn't talk so much about Stella and their family knowing about her again.

They were just talking about the project. Could Flynn have said something to Francis?

"How's the food, Augustine?" Francis asked. Despite telling him to call her August, he kept calling her

Augustine which is fine but she's just not use to it.

"It's delicious." She smiled as she answered. The only words that escaped her lips throughout their

lunch.

They left that Italian restaurant and head to the site. Flynn introduced her to five more people as

Augustine Peters, nothing more. The men didn't ask anymore questions as well which she finds odd.

What do they think of her coming with Flynn at the site?

All she did was listen to them talking about the blueprint and the design. The men also discussed to

meet the city mayor next month. Flynn was basically the main guy talking to the foreman, architect and

other people that will be working on the construction.

She'd volunteered to take photos so she was mostly just on the background following them with Flynn

being at the front. But Flynn would sometimes let the men walk ahead while he waits for her to walk

beside him which she finds rather awkward, as if she's more important than the people he's meeting Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

with. But I guess it didn't matter to the guys, they seem fine having her around. They don't seem to

think that she's a nuisance or what not.

Could it be? Did Flynn bring women in his visits on some projects? Did he bring other students to

observe in the past? Making her presence like a normal thing.

They called it a day after the two hour tour, planning and site evaluation. They've invested on real time

reporting and communication with Flynn since they knew he's working as a professor as well.

••••••

They had dinner with the men and Francis drove them back to the hotel before going to the airport for

his flight back to London. He mentioned he'd be staying in New York once the construction starts. And

Flynn may also come back to New York frequently.

They stopped in front of their hotel rooms. She gives the camera to Flynn to review the photos she took

at the site. "Here. I had fun. Thanks for bringing me with you. It was a really good experience."

He smiled and nodded. "Rest well, August." He kissed her forehead and waited for her to get inside her

room. He waved goodbye but she caught him swallowing hard, looking at her as she waved back and

closing the door. She could sense that he's using all the self-control he's got until she closed the door.

She sighed and decided to take a shower. She was drying her hair wearing her silk robe in the dark

with only the city lights giving that subtle brightness in her room. She then changed into her pajamas

and went to bed.

But her thoughts still wondered what Flynn meant when he said it's not the right time. With that

question unanswered, she fell asleep.

••••••

The loud thunder from the sky followed by the raindrops falling on the glass windows of August's hotel

room woke her up.

She looks at her phone and realized it's past midnight. She felt cold and grabbed the blanket over her

shoulders. She hides under her blanket when she saw the lightning in the sky and covered her ears

anticipating the loud thunder coming after it.

She couldn't sleep.

Flynn.

She decided to leave her bedroom, grabbing her phone as her light, she stood in front of Flynn's hotel

room door. She was about to knock but decided to just turn the doorknob. Making a deal to herself, that

if the doorknob doesn't open, she would have to sleep alone in her bed and forget the idea of sleeping

next to Flynn.

But to her surprise, it opened and she pops her head inside his hotel room as quietly as possible. She

steps inside the carpeted floor and closed the door behind her. When another lightning struck the dark

sky and she unintentionally screamed in shock, a click from a switch joined the pouring rain and the

light from the lamp brightened the room.

"August?"

"I'm sorry." She said as she hugs her phone on her chest. "I woke up. And I couldn't go back to sleep."

Flynn takes a step forward from the room next to the bath. She didn't notice it earlier but it seemed like

a small study in his hotel room.

"It's okay." He pulled her hand and embraced her in his arms.

"Did I wake you?"

"N—No. I couldn't sleep as well. I was at the study." He said and she could smell his fresh breath mixed

with the smell of brandy.

He must have tried to put himself to sleep with alcohol.

She clutched on his clothes as she hugged him back. "Can I sleep here?”