Lessons learned

3

Mitsuhide drove up to the address she had listed on her application and was horrified that this was where she lived. The area was so run down and from his experience working with the police force was majorly crime ridden. A young woman living alone here was dangerous let alone a basically asking for trouble.
She walked out of the apartment building and got in his car. He looked her over. "What?" She asked.
"Are you crazy or stupid?" He asked rather bluntly.
"Excuse me?" She retorted as they started driving.
"This neighborhood is no place for someone like you." He said.
"Excuse me again?" She asked.
"Noelle it isn't safe. You have to see that." He said softly.
"Well it is the best I could afford at the moment." She replied. "Not like a lot of people are running out to make a nice apartment cheap."
"I understand that." He said "but this neighborhood I know is riddled with drugs, prostitution, and other gangs. It's not safe for someone like you. You are alone and pregnant a perfect target here."
"Professor please." She said as she looked around.
"Alright I will drop it for now." He said as they neared the restaurant he had picked. "I hope you like this place."
"I'm sure I will. Its been awhile since I've been out." She said with a smile.
"I should have asked what you prefer but this place has a wide selection." He said, "it is also out of the way so no prying eyes."
"Prying eyes?" She asked.
"Things that could make you feel uncomfortable if lets say a few of the other Professors came in." He replied, "I would prefer not to have them around myself. "
"You're right I wouldn't like it if the other professors thought something more was going on between us." She said with a chuckle.
"Of course you wouldn't." He said dryly and he figured he had all his answers.
"That didn't come out the way I wanted it too." She said. "I don't want to be seen as a gold digger."
"What?" He asked chuckling now.
"I am a pregnant young woman who is completely alone, Professor Akechi. I am afraid that that is how I would be seen if I was seen with a prominent professor with a reputation like yours." Noelle said, "I know how people who see it."
"Noelle." He sighed. "Couldn't it just be the opposite though. A Professor like me sees an attractive young woman and wants to try to build something he isn't sure he could have in a different situation."
"I'm not sure I follow." She said.
"Let's go eat." He said as he pulled in as he wanted nothing more than to drop the conversation. He had given to much away already.
As they sat down in the dimly lit room near the back she looked around and understood this had to be his go to place. In a way it was like him. Dark and mysterious and full of secrets. Noelle's attraction to the man hadn't diminished an once since she began to work for him. She was well and good deep into a crush for the man and this was like a dream come true. She looked at him as he looked over the menu and she had to smile to herself. The reasons that led her here were also the reasons she could never have what she wanted the most. He wouldn't ever want her she was damaged goods now. However she could still have that private fantasy in the back of her head.
As they ordered he was not impressed with her choice. She was supposed to be eating and she seemed more inclined to pick at a small entree instead.
"Is the food to your liking?" He asked.
"Yes." She smiled at him.
"Next time you can get something else which is bigger." He said.
"Next time?" She asked.
"Noelle I didn't expect this to be a one time thing." He said. "Someone has to look out for you." He hand over his card to the server and looked at her.
"Professor that is a nice thought but I can take care of myself." She replied as she put her napkin down and couldn't look him in the eyes.
He reached over the table and hooked his finger under her chin and nudged her head up to look at him, "Noelle look at me."
"Professor." She whispered.
"Noelle when it is just the two of us would you please call me by my name?" Mitsuhide asked.
"That doesn't seem right." She replied.
"Why ever not?" He asked. "You do realize I am more than just a professor correct? I am a person too."
"I guess so. Its just that I work for you and I can't afford to lose this job." Noelle said.
"Who said anything about you losing your job?" He replied.
"But if I am to familiar with you I could lose it." She said softly.
"Silly girl. You won't lose your job." Mitsuhide chuckled. "In fact you may end up with more than you bargained for."
"What does that mean?" She asked.
"Oh nothing Noelle. Now will you please call me by my name when it is just the two of us?" He asked.
"Fine." She said.
"Fine what?" He prompted.
"Fine Mitsuhide." She said.
"Good girl." He smirked as he sat back in his chair as the server brought the receipt back along with his card. The first steps had been taken. He knew it and so did she though it was not clear to her at the moment. He had to smile to himself as he helped her from the table and escorted her to the car. "Is there anywhere else you wish to go?"
"No." She said softly. "I have to study and I have some work to do from my slave driver of a boss."
"Study what?" He asked ignoring her boss comment.
"I have a test on the formula and chemical compounds of enzymes reactions between substances." She replied.
"Like oxidant And reactives?" He asked.
"Thats it exactly." She said surprised.
"You're in luck than." He said. "I happen to be somewhat of an expert on that."
"Really?" She asked.
"Despite what you think my dear, I did take a variety of course while I was in college." He said to her laughter."
"I can't see you in a lab coat though." She said.
"Maybe one day I will let you see it." He chuckled. "Come on I help you with your studies."
"Pro- Mitsuhide are you sure I mean it is your time off." She said.
"Noelle I can't think of anything better to do or anything I would rather do either." Mitsuhide said as he started driving to his house.
"I need my books." She said.
"Perks of being a professor, my dear. I have access to all the books." He chuckled.

When he pulled into his house she looked around at the driveway and then the house. Noelle didn't want to seem surprised that he had a place like this. It was nice and well kept. The two story house was in a quiet neighborhood somehow she never would have thought it was something he would have. She had to shake her thoughts. "You coming or are you going to stand here and stare at the house?" Mitsuhide asked as he chuckled, "I know most people have that reaction when they see it as if I was supposed to live in a cave or something."
"I'm sorry was it obvious?" She said as she walked over to him as he opened the front door.
"The house is new. I figured since I am going to stay here for some time it was time to be an adult. I am not sure it was a good fit." Mitsuhide said.
"Why is that?" Noelle asked as she walked in to a nearly empty house.
"Like I said the house is new and it is too much for just me." He said as he threw his keys on the counter.
"Professor it is." She started to say.
"Mitsuhide." He said.
"What?" She asked.
"My name is Mitsuhide." He said as he looked at her again.
"Fine Mitsuhide I was going to say that the house just needs some things. Plenty of people live alone in places like this." Noelle replied. "I know plenty of people that have more than this but they often are miserable."
"Well that is good to know." He said with a deep chuckle, "personal experience?"
"My parents." She replied as she looked around.
"Well now that doesn't sound all that good." Mitsuhide said as he guided her to the couch in the corner of the large room. "I will pull up the text books. Did you want something to drink?"
"Water is fine." Noelle said as Mitsuhide looked at her and shook his head, "sorry for a moment I forgot. It isn't like I have many people over." 
"The funny thing is I did forget for a minute." She laughed. "Normally it is like a plague hanging over me. You made me forget for a minute."
"I know I have no right to ask but is it horrible like that often?" Mitsuhide asked.
"I guess what makes it horrible is the being alone. I mean I didn't expect that my parents would even refuse to talk to me or that my siblings would follow suit. Its a child not a deadly disease or something. Thats what hurts the most that if I chose some other route they would welcome Me back into the family fold if inly I bow to their wishes. A unmarried woman having a child is unacceptable. Not knowing the child's father is also unacceptable. However the worst sin of all is choosing to have it and keep it." She said.
"So your family is what ultra religious?" He asked as he sat with his computer open as he listened to her.
"No more like ultra controlling. They aren't religious at all. My sisters and brothers follow their lead and do as they are told. From the career choices they could have to their spouses my parents make all their choices. It took them cutting me off for me to see it for what it was. Thats why I haven't run back. I could never live a life like that under someone's thumb. I might not be able to provide much but I can try at least. I have to try. It is my decision after all." Noelle said as she looked up at him. "What?"
"I find you extremely interesting Noelle. You had everything at your finger tips and you chose to make your own way." He said as he brushed a piece of hair away from her face. He looked into her eyes and he saw the slight flash of awareness in them. He had to internally smile at that. This was going to be interesting but he knew it would be worth it for both of them in the end, he just needed not to spook her long enough to have her see the truth in front of them.