Free Falling

ppened to surface, leaving me a bundle of nerves. She was in her early fifties and the reverence I had for her was unmerited. Maybe it was be

eway. I inhaled after I got out of my car, smiling in approval at her impeccably kept lawn and flower beds

nked in front of me. The man who I recalled as Gregory, her steward in charge o

inding staircase. I nodded and turned to the stairs but hesitated, realising it had been

he last door on the first floor," he said and I thanked him before clam

d an earthy decor you didn't encounter often in the city. I learnt that she lived alone an

ily pictures hung on the wall. Most of the portraits were of her family, some I assumed could be

nned the room quietly and spotted a figure that wasn't her. A man stood in front of the huge drawn windows with his hands

de." I heard his deep voice say. He thought I was Genevieve, but al

ponse, he must have sensed somethi

hroat, my eyes taking in

was unarguably good-looking. Dark blond hair styled impeccably and features I knew I'd spend nights thinking back on,

not Ge

udden I lo

-but he held himself with an air of elegance a

ounded and swallowed, willing myself comp

d uncomfortably under his burning stare. Fortunately Genevieve

er," her gaze shifted to me and her blue eyes br

ner of the room that held two couches in slow, confiden

rdon me." His dark gaze slid from Genevieve and fell on me, only that this time

where he stayed. "Amanda isn't just any stu

sn't everyday that an acclaimed professor like Genevieve Ma

to Genevieve. "Octavia is hosting a dinner next Saturday to celeb

chest. "I haven't been to one of those since George came

ferred to him as her son. That assu

ieve's face lit up. "I mean, I

oom as I stood awkwardly, feeling like I was eavesdropp

fathom being there alone. You know I'd

. "You can bring anyone. A friend, a fellow professor from

pied couch when Genevieve's head snapped to my direc

ike a dear caught

ee. "Ah, yes. You don't min

a dinner party that would be undoubtedly filled with busine

tinued his visual torment with a questioning brow ar

to ring and he stood up, lifting his in

I need to return to the office. Apparently I can't leave that place for even thirty minutes." And I saw

peppered with a few streaks of white. "Alright. Thank you f

close to him, completely dwarfed by his height. She smoothed the collar of his d

knowledgement. "Amanda," he said and I revelled in the way

Genevieve turned to me.

ha

won't you? It's nothing to be scared

out of my mind. "It would be my pleasure." I glanced at the d

uite popular in the business scene and media." I racked my brain but failed to recollect anything, shaking my head. She looke

e why. He was

tent lining her bookshelf, pull

t recal

like some coffee sent up to my study immediately, thank you." Then she turned to me. "

miling at me as I did the same. She picked up

ut you'd be surprised to know that it was written w

rite r

n and a woman who fall in love under undesirable circumstances. It's a beautiful relatio

sat on my bed while I sifted messily through my closet. "

h of a nutcase and was actually a nice person. Nice enough for me to stick with anyway. But she never

osest to a fancy dinner I have ever gone to was one my mom dragged me to in tenth grade that her b

ng that poor closet alone becaus

on, my hands on my chest as I gasped. "Are

great stuff in there. But won't you like to get something way more elegant? Yo

ht. I didn't have a dress suited for the p

r labs tomorrow I'm dragging yo

s,

hes sitting idle and la

's Professor Mallard's nephew, the person hos

in a frown, her lips in a pout.

my jean pocket and unlocked it, pulling out Google. I typed his na

htly open. I reached for the phone but she held it out of my reach a

I exclaime

rious man candy. And man

itch and give m

the university at thirteen, that's mad as fuck. At thirteen I was still asking my parents for pocket money to buy pop tarts." Her e

ing to the bright screen. He did look goo

other look. "S

e was the epitome of success and beauty,

ain. I steadied myself so I could see properly. A slender woman who looked like she belonged on

mused, finally returning the phone back to m

behind my head. I couldn't believe that was t