Chapter 23

Thanks to Daniel's advice – which consisted of her getting Amanda's notes – Natasha managed to ace her exam.

She breathed out a sigh of relief when she was handed back her paper, and received a knowing smirk from her lover.

"Starting today," he said in his business voice, "you won't be my students anymore. My work here is done. Not only with this course, but also with the freshmen's. If you meet me by any chance, you can call me Daniel. That is all. You are dismissed."

His last words were spoken in a final tone, and yet a redhead had the audacity to ask seductively, "Well, since you are no longer our teacher, Daniel, can I have your number?"

Natasha rolled her eyes but muttered an angry "Seriously!"

"Nice try, sweetheart," his voice was dripping with sarcasm, "but I already have a girlfriend."

While most of the class laughed, Natasha stared at the guy whom she could call hers and grinned like a foolish teenager.

Amanda must have caught the look the two lovers shared, for she soon exclaimed in a hushed tone, "No way!"

"What? What happened?" Natasha turned her head left and right frantically, looking for something out of the ordinary – a cat more specifically, since Amanda was scared to death by them.

"You happened," her friend whisper-yelled before tugging at Natasha's sleeve, getting her out of her desk and soon out of the conference room altogether.

"Please don't tell me it is how I think it is," she face-palmed, looking around, making sure no one was within earshot.

"Well, I would have to know what you think first," Natasha retorted calmly.

"You're boning Mr. D." Amanda stated without preamble.

"I am," Natasha conceded with a click of her tongue. This was not how she had intended for Amanda to find out. "But not for grades," she felt the need to add soon after.

"Have you lost your freaking mind?" Amanda cried out just as a few students started exiting the conference room.

"Maybe," the half-Russian half-American started hesitantly, "I don't know. All I do know is that I'm in love."

Amanda's eyes had bulged for a moment there but Natasha hadn't understood why until she heard his deeply seductive voice, "Something the matter girls?"

"Nothing, nothing," Amanda waved her hand dismissively. "I just needed some air."

Her college friend, on the other hand, had blushed to the roots of her hair, and had trouble breathing evenly, and could swear her heart had started pounding erratically.

That was not how she had intended for Daniel to find out about her feelings either.

How could a day that had started so beautifully become later on such a complete and total disaster?

There was an answer to that. Natasha had never had any luck, not in games, not in gambling, never mind in love.