Somehow, still unknown to Valentina, she was dating Billy Duke. He wasn’t a terrible person, and Leibe loved him, but Valentina still felt uneasy about how she ended up with him. Billy was indeed cute, and a charmer, but after a few weeks with him, she wasn’t sure there was much more to him. He didn’t seem to care much for Valentina’s interests, but he was extremely interested in Valentina’s body. She couldn’t remember the last time they were together when he didn’t find some excuse to touch her. If they were in New York City, her father would have killed Billy weeks ago.
It was dark by the time Valentina arrived home from the library. It was the only way she could concentrate on her work, and evade Billy. She fumbled her keys as she unlocked the door to her apartment, a converted stable and carriage house. It was on the property of a beautifully restored old home with a walled courtyard. The estate home had been converted into several apartments, as had many of the estates buildings. Valentina shared her apartment with Leibe, which she now regretted.
Valentina sighed as she set her bag down in her room. She walked into her private bath and started running the tub. She shed her clothes, jewelry and glasses before slipping into her robe. Simply watching the tub fill relaxed her. Valentina was surprised to find she missed her crammed-full summer semester. It was much easier to study for a test than it was to pioneer her work. Now she understood why Denvellia required a degree to attend. She’d managed to survive the cut, but felt more stressed now than before. When there were twenty students, she was just one face in the crowd, one paper on Elijah Coates’s desk. Now there were only five of them. Everyone got more of his attention. Valentina was very worried about her standing with him. She often peeked at him from behind her glasses, and he never seemed very happy. There was something about her mute teacher that caught Valentina’s curiosity.
As the tub filled, Valentina tossed her robe to the floor and slipped into the warm water, relaxing her muscles instantly. She spent the first few minutes scrubbing off her makeup and washing her hair, before just lying back to enjoy the warmth of the bath. With time to let her mind wander, it went to a million places. How sick she was of faking blind. How worried she was for her father, back home. How she missed her mother. How annoyed she was with Leibe, who was probably out drinking with Billy. Strangely, she thought of Elijah Coates. She wondered how difficult it was to be mute, and only speaking through sign language. Valentina was curious to his gift. He had never mentioned just how he was gifted, or what he was researching. She considered him to be a very private man, but then again she didn’t know what he was signing. She wondered what he looked like. Of course, Valentina had gotten some peeks at him, but usually he had his head down, or her view was obscured by his books, computer, or some other inconvenience. Valentina wanted to see what Elijah really looked like, when he was having a good time, when he wasn’t annoyed by students or work. How Elijah smiled when he was at peace with himself.
Finally, she was out of thoughts and could just enjoy her bath in the quiet of the empty apartment. Valentina was on the verge of falling asleep when she heard the front door open and voices coming from the main room. Leibe was home and it sounded like she brought Billy with her. That was Valentina’s cue to end her bath. When she was dried, she dressed in her camisole and sleep-shorts, and returned to her bedroom. Valentina expected someone to knock on her door, but no one bothered her. She slipped into bed and grabbed her phone to set her alarm. At just that moment, she received a message from Elijah Coates. Valentina was so surprised that she nearly forgot to open the message.
“I just read your last submission. Thank you for trying. Good to know I’m not the only functioning brain in the room. Enjoy your evening, Ms. Lytton.” He wrote.
She thought of replying. She’d never replied to any of his previous messages, but he’d never sent a message this long before. Finally Valentina decided on, “Thank you, Mr. Coates. Perhaps I could seem some of your work some time. Have a good night.”
Valentina felt a giddy thrill as she settled into bed. She decided she could confide in Elijah about her eyes. Even when a drunken Billy barged in and collapsed on her bed, she couldn’t wipe the smile from her lips. Though she didn’t fully understand just what was making these feelings bloom inside of her, Valentina went to sleep happy.
YOU ARE READING
Looking For A Legend (Book 1)
Mystery / ThrillerA young telepath is unexpectedly left with leading his class when his teacher takes leave. One of Elijah's new students Valentina leads him down a path where mysteries only get more mysterious and nothing is as simple as it looks.
