Top spot

With both hands held in front of him, Asher watched as the students trooped into his home. Standing almost at the top of his staircase, he deliberated quietly, taking note of how much he had reduced a number of them. Starting off with thirty students, they were now around half that number. Strangely, he was willing to cut them further.

When the big double front doors closed, it was Asher's cue to address the small crowd.

"Hi," he began.

"Good morning Mr Asher."

Lily chorused along with the rest of her mates. The events of the night before had been playing in her head non-stop until she arrived at the Blackwood mansion. In a bid to avoid any situation that would warrant awkward reactions from her or him, she hid herself in the middle of the crowd so her insanely handsome instructor wouldn't single her out with his eyes.

"Follow me to the painting room."