MORE (Completed)

Chapter 26

"Why even do this?" Liz frowns between bites of her sandwich.

"Why not just skip the whole project instead of trying to extort 10%? It doesn't make sense," she mumbles, chewing.

I'm pacing like mad around her kitchen, wondering how the hell she can even think about food at a time like this. The moment Coopers left my office, I came straight here in full panic mode—and the first thing Liz said was, "Let me eat something. I'm wiser when I'm full."

"Elizabeth, think! I need to know exactly what's on that video before I make a move," I snap.

"Mmm, this feta cheese is orgasmic," she sighs, eyes closed like she's on a beach in Mykonos.

"Liz. Focus."

She sighs dramatically, reluctantly tearing her gaze from her plate. "Okay. He came up to our table that night—right after you left—with that kicked puppy look. He was devastated about his mom. Begged me for your address. I made some stupid joke about him wanting to 'sex you up,' and he didn't even smile. Just kept saying he needed to make things right. I honestly don't remember every word."

"There was no talk of us being together after he became a student, right?" I press.

"Wait—were you?"

"No."

"Then no. Why would we say anything like that?"

"But someone could definitely conclude you two were intimate before he enrolled," she admits, frowning.

"Yeah," I sigh, sinking into a chair. "God, I'm screwed."

"We need to acknowledge the obvious," she says, licking her fingers. "He left to protect you. It was kind of... sweet?"

"Sweet? It was stupid," I snap, still swirling in emotion. "Why didn't he tell me? Why run off like that?"

"Because he thought it was the best way to protect you, Ashley." She leans forward now, serious. "Let's not pretend he came to university to get a degree. He came here for you. And when your career was on the line, he took himself out of the equation. Was it immature? Sure. But it came from love. That's not nothing."

I close my eyes and exhale deeply. "Elizabeth... what do I do?"

She raises a finger. "Last bite—and then I'm yours."

I let out a tired laugh despite myself. She's always the calm to my storm.

"You know what's odd though?" she says after chewing. "That Coopers chose now to reveal the video. And the whole 10% thing still makes no sense."

"Because it's not about the assignment," I mutter. "People like Noah, they get off on control. He doesn't want to not do the work—he just wants me to bend. He wants me to sweat. It's a power trip."

"And he hates Harry," she adds, catching on.

"He loathes the attention Harry got in class. And he fancies Rebecca, but she's not biting. She's close with Harry, and he can't stand it. This—this blackmail? It's the only card he had to play. And he's loving it."

Liz is quiet now. Calculating. Already in damage-control mode.

"But you can't give him the 10%, Ash. The system won't let you. You'd have to go to the dean."

"I'm not giving him anything," I say firmly.

She blinks. "Wait... what are you saying?"

"I'm saying I'm not giving in. I'm not playing his game."