Jayden woke slowly.
For a moment, he didn't remember where he was.
The mattress was softer than anything he'd slept on before. The sheets cool against his skin. The faint scent of cedar and expensive soap lingered in the air.
Then memory rushed back.
Roman's voice in the dark.
Jayden exhaled slowly and stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above him.
"Well," he muttered quietly to himself. "That escalated."
He turned his head.
The other side of the bed was empty.
The sheets were already cool.
Jayden pushed himself upright, running a hand through his messy hair. His body felt heavy with sleep and the consequences of poor decision-making.
Or maybe very good decision-making.
He wasn't sure yet.
A quiet clatter echoed somewhere down the hallway.
Jayden blinked.
Kitchen sounds.
He frowned slightly.
"You've got to be kidding me."
He swung his legs out of bed and stood. Roman had left a folded shirt and black sweatpants on the chair nearby.
Jayden picked them up.
"Prepared too," he murmured.
Five minutes later he stepped into the hallway.
The house was bright with early morning light. Floor-to-ceiling windows flooded the space with soft gold sunlight.
And in the kitchen
Roman Ashford stood at the counter.
Cooking.
Jayden stopped walking.
Roman wore dark trousers and a simple white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His hair was still slightly damp, like he had already showered. One hand held a spatula while eggs cooked in a pan.
Jayden leaned against the doorway.
"Professor Ashford," he said slowly, "are you making breakfast?"
Roman didn't turn around.
"Yes."
Jayden blinked.
"I honestly thought you survived on coffee and intimidation."
Roman slid eggs onto two plates.
"I also eat."
"Fascinating."
Roman finally glanced over his shoulder.
His gaze moved over Jayden briefly.
Slowly.
Assessing.
Jayden suddenly felt very aware of the shirt he was wearing.
Roman's shirt.
"Sit," Roman said.
Jayden walked to the island counter and dropped onto a stool.
The kitchen smelled incredible.
Eggs. Toast. Coffee.
Actual food.
Roman placed a plate in front of him.
Jayden stared at it.
"Wow so you know how to cook?."
"Yes."
"You defend problematic students in disciplinary hearings."
"Yes."
"And apparently you invite them home."
Roman took the seat across from him.
"That one is new."
Jayden smirked.
"Good. I like being special."
Roman ignored that.
They ate in silence for a minute.
Jayden took a bite and nearly groaned.
"Okay, I take back everything bad I've ever said about you."
Roman sipped his coffee calmly.
"You've said many bad things."
"True."
Jayden leaned back slightly.
Then the silence shifted.
The comfortable kind disappeared.
Reality crept back in.
Jayden spoke first.
"So what happens now?"
Roman set his cup down.
"That depends."
"On what?"
Roman studied him.
"On whether you regret last night."
Jayden didn't hesitate.
"No."
Roman's gaze sharpened slightly.
Jayden continued calmly.
"But I do have questions."
"Such as?"
Jayden gestured between them.
"This."
Roman didn't respond immediately.
Jayden leaned forward slightly.
"You're my professor."
"Yes."
"You're also technically my boss at the internship."
"Yes."
"And last night we did alot of things."
Roman met his eyes.
"Yes."
Jayden waited.
Roman finally said,
"And yet you came here."
Jayden shrugged.
"You asked."
Roman's voice lowered slightly.
"And you always do exactly what I ask?"
Jayden smiled faintly.
"Only when I want to."
Roman studied him for a long moment.
Then he said quietly,
"This situation is… complicated."
Jayden laughed softly.
"That's a polite word for it."
Roman didn't disagree.
Jayden pushed his empty plate away.
"So tell me the real problem."
Roman leaned back slightly in his chair.
"The company."
Jayden frowned.
"The company?"
Roman nodded once.
"There will be a board meeting today."
Jayden's eyebrows lifted.
"And that affects me how?"
Roman's voice was calm.
"Because someone on that board would be very interested in destroying me."
Jayden blinked.
"Well that sounds dramatic."
Roman's gaze didn't change.
"It's also true."
Jayden leaned forward again.
"Who?"
Roman answered without hesitation.
"Victor Hale."
The name meant nothing to Jayden.
He said so.
Roman explained.
"Co-founder of Ashford Strategic. He owns ten percent of the company and believes that makes him irreplaceable."
Jayden tilted his head.
"And you disagree."
Roman's voice was flat.
"I built the company into what it is now."
Jayden nodded slowly.
"So Victor hates you."
"Yes."
"And somehow I'm involved now."
Roman looked directly at him.
"Yes."
Jayden stared.
"…How?"
Roman didn't soften the answer.
"If he learns about last night, he will use it."
Jayden went very still.
"Use it how?"
Roman's tone remained controlled.
"Professor sleeping with a student."
Jayden winced slightly.
"Yeah… that headline writes itself."
Roman nodded.
"He could take it to the university board."
Jayden's stomach tightened.
"Or?"
"Or the company board."
Jayden leaned back slowly.
"Wow."
Roman said nothing.
Jayden rubbed his face.
"Okay. So let me get this straight."
Roman waited.
Jayden pointed between them again.
"We hook up one time and suddenly we're in a political scandal?"
Roman's expression didn't change.
"Life moves quickly."
Jayden sighed.
"Great."
Then he looked at Roman again.
"But you still invited me here."
"Yes."
Jayden raised an eyebrow.
"So either you're reckless…"
Roman watched him.
"…or you really wanted me here."
Roman's answer came quietly.
"Oh hmm i did."
Jayden felt something shift in his chest.
Dangerous.
Complicated.
He cleared his throat.
"So what's the plan, Professor?"
Roman stood.
"We go to work."
Jayden blinked.
"Together?"
"Yes."
Jayden stared.
"Bold move."
Roman walked toward the counter and picked up his car keys.
"You wanted honesty yesterday."
Jayden nodded slowly.
Roman looked at him.
"This is my world."
Jayden held his gaze.
"And you're inviting me into it."
Roman's voice lowered slightly.
"You walked into it yourself."
Jayden smiled faintly.
"Fair point."
Roman stepped closer.
His hand briefly brushed Jayden's jaw where the faint bruise had been days ago.
The gesture was quiet.
Possessive.
"Finish your coffee," Roman said.
Jayden raised an eyebrow.
"Bossy again."
Roman's lips almost curved.
"We leave in ten minutes."
Jayden watched him walk away.
Then he muttered to himself,
"Well… this should be fun."
Outside, the morning sun was fully awake.
And somewhere across the city
Victor Hale was already preparing his first move.
The war Roman mentioned at breakfast had already begun.
Jayden just didn't know yet
how deeply he was about to be pulled into it.