The New Guy
At thirty-three, Jada Wilson was one of Stanford University’s brightest professors.
A rising star in Computer Science, she spent her days shaping the young minds of tomorrow, proving that with nothing more than a keyboard, the world could be cracked wide open.
Computers had been her first love. She’d taught herself to code long before she should’ve been trusted with the power, and once—just to test her limits—she’d tried changing her best friend’s grade in high school. Lena had been thrilled with that sudden A. The principal, not so much.
Her mother hadn’t been thrilled either. But her stepdad, George, had always been her cheerleader. It was his voice, steady and encouraging, that had convinced her mother to let Jada attend summer tech and coding programs. Without George’s gentle persistence, she might not be sitting in this office now.
Jada smiled as she finished grading the last essay on her desk, stretching her shoulders. She made a mental note to call her mom and George this week—or else endure their good-natured nagging for missing their standing Sunday video call.
Just as she capped her pen, a knock came at the door. She let out a quiet groan.
“Come in, it’s unlocked.”
“Professor Wilson. Of course, you’re still here.”
Jada looked up to see Dean Ross leaning against the doorway. “You know me, Audrey. Nothing if not a martyr for the cause.” Her voice was wry, but her eyes danced with humor.
Audrey Ross smiled knowingly. “You might be my secret favorite, but you’ll run yourself ragged if you don’t take a break once in a while.”
“Secret favorite?” Jada smirked, setting her pen down. “Please. There’s no secret about that.”
They both laughed. The Dean crossed the room and slid into the chair opposite, chestnut hair tumbling past her shoulders, sharp moss-green eyes missing nothing. Audrey was formidable and fair, the kind of woman who could silence a room with a look. Jada admired her for it—though she’d never say it out loud.
Once Jada had graduated from Stanford’s doctoral program four years ago, Audrey hadn’t hesitated to bring her on board. She’d been one of Audrey’s best students—and one of her favorites, though the Dean would never admit that to her own children. Now, she was among the most beloved professors in the School of Engineering, and Audrey couldn’t be prouder.
“Well, maybe that’s true,” Audrey said drily, “but we can at least pretend the playing field is even.”
Jada chuckled, arching a brow. She knew that look—the one Audrey wore now. It was the I-need-your-help look. “Okay, I’ll bite. This isn’t just a social call. I know you, Audrey. What do you want?”
Audrey gave a sly smile. “You know, I could only ask you first.”
“Sure…” Jada narrowed her gaze, amused but suspicious.
“We have a new professor starting tomorrow,” Audrey began smoothly, her tone deceptively casual. “He’ll be teaching both Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and he’s also stepping in as Senior Associate Dean for the School of Engineering. I want you to be his guide around campus, help him get settled.”
Jada blinked. “Audrey, I’d love to help, but I barely have time to breathe as it is. Can’t Derek handle at least one of them?”
“No,” Audrey said firmly, a trace of amusement flickering in her moss-green eyes. “Derek is drowning in physics faculty drama. And it’s not ‘them.’ It’s just one.”
Jada’s eyebrows shot up. She tilted her head in disbelief. “One person? You’re telling me one person is qualified to teach both majors and run the department? Audrey, come on—nobody is that well-rounded.”
“Ordinarily, I’d agree,” Audrey countered with a sly smirk. “But this guy… is something else.”
Jada folded her arms, suspicion written all over her face. “What’s his name? I want to google him right now because I’m ninety-nine percent sure he’s a unicorn.” She laughed as she flipped open her laptop.
“Alexander Walker,” Audrey replied, already halfway to the door. “And don’t bother trying to wiggle out of it, Jada. You’re showing him around tomorrow.”
Audrey’s heels clicked down the hall, leaving Jada staring after her in disbelief. With a huff, she typed his name into the search bar—and froze as the screen filled with results.
Her jaw went slack.
The man was real. Very real.
Not only did he hold joint degrees in both fields, but he’d also served as an Army EOD specialist. His accolades read like a myth wrapped in a résumé—academic genius, military hero, problem-solver in a dozen arenas most people would never even see.
Jada leaned back in her chair, eyebrows raised so high they nearly hit her hairline.
Of course. He’s going to be some awkward, arrogant tech-bro in khakis who can’t make eye contact with women. Probably thinks he’s God’s gift to engineering.
With a resigned sigh, she clicked on “Images.”
And her jaw actually dropped.
Alexander Walker was nothing like the geek she’d pictured. He was—well, there was no better word for it—unbelievably hot. Movie-star jawline, disarming smile, the kind of man who looked like he’d been designed by a focus group to ruin women’s lives.
Jada quickly slammed her laptop shut, exhaling hard as if she could push the image right out of her head. No excuse she could come up with would work on Audrey, and “my new boss might be the hottest man I’ve ever seen” wasn’t going to get her out of tomorrow’s assignment.
Packing her things, she locked her office and headed for her car, muttering under her breath.
It’s fine. Guys that good-looking and that brilliant always turn out to be jerks. Problem solved.
Still, as she crossed the parking lot, Jada couldn’t shake the uneasy truth: she was nervous about meeting the new guy.
The next morning, Jada strutted down the hallway, heels clicking against polished floors as she scrolled through Instagram with a Starbucks cup in hand. Her morning rhythm was clockwork, a routine she clung to—until her assistant, Grace, popped out of nowhere, nearly sending coffee flying.
“Grace, what the heck?” Jada hissed, clutching her cup.
“I’m sorry, Professor Wilson,” Grace whispered quickly, eyes wide, “but you have a visitor waiting in your office.”
Jada frowned. “I’m not expecting anyone. Who is it?”
“The new department head. Professor Walker.”
Jada froze mid-step. Fantastic. She’d been dreading this—babysitting some overqualified egomaniac who’d breeze in thinking he was God’s gift to academia. Worse, he was technically her new boss.
“When did he get here?” she asked, voice clipped.
“About five minutes ago.”
Jada sighed and handed Grace her coffee. “Thanks. I’ll take it from here.”
Grace started off, then turned back with a dreamy smile. “This might be unprofessional, but…he’s easily the most gorgeous man I’ve seen in a long time.”
Rolling her eyes, Jada waved her off. She didn’t need reminding—Google Images had already done the damage. Taking a steadying breath, she pushed open her office door.
And stopped dead.
He was even more striking in person.
Alexander Walker rose from the chair in front of her desk, golden hair catching the morning light. He turned with a smile, and Jada nearly forgot how to breathe.
Google hadn’t done him justice. His eyes were a piercing, electric blue, framed by lashes far too long for someone that dangerous-looking. His jawline looked like it had been carved by a sculptor, and that smile—warm, earnest, disarmingly genuine—was unfair. He wore a pale blue dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms, paired with black suit trousers that somehow looked both professional and devastatingly good.
He carried himself with the easy authority of a man used to command—military in its precision, but not overbearing. Controlled power, barely leashed.
And Jada was standing there gawking.
He stepped forward, closing the distance with unhurried confidence, and extended his hand. His voice was smooth, warm, threaded with a faint teasing lilt.
“Maybe it’s easier if I start. Alexander Walker. And you are?”
For half a second, she forgot her own name. Swallowing hard, she clasped his hand—firm, warm, steady—and forced composure. “Professor Jada Wilson. Computer Science. Sorry to keep you waiting—I thought you weren’t due until ten.”
He raised a brow, faint amusement tugging at his mouth. “I wanted to get a feel for the campus before meeting the team. As you know, I’m the new Head of Engineering.”
“I do know.” Jada managed what she hoped was an easy smile. “Congratulations on the appointment. Welcome to Stanford.”
Alexander didn’t reply right away.
He studied her with unnerving focus, as though searching her face for something familiar. Then, with a smirk that was equal parts charm and challenge, he tilted his head.
“It’s great to meet you, Professor Wilson. Dean Ross spoke very highly of you.”
Jada opened her mouth to respond, but his gaze flicked downward. Irritation flared—until she realized his eyes weren’t drifting anywhere inappropriate.
They were still holding hands.
Her breath hitched as awareness darted between them, warm and sharp, before she quickly slipped her hand free from his steady grip. His smile widened, just enough to tell her he’d noticed.
Jada ignored the lingering warmth of his handshake and cleared her throat, giving herself a mental shake. Focus.
“It’s good to meet you, Professor Walker. Dean Ross has spoken highly of you too.”
“Please, call me Alex. Professor Walker is for my future students.” His smile was easy, assured.
To her surprise, Jada felt her own lips curve in response. Not forced, not polite—an actual smile. He didn’t radiate arrogance or condescension, the two qualities she’d braced herself for. If anything, he seemed…warm. Charming, even.
Maybe playing babysitter for a few weeks wouldn’t be as soul-crushing as she’d imagined.
“Okay,” she said lightly, testing the sound. “Alex it is.”
She brushed past him into her office, and the subtle waft of his cologne wrapped around her like silk. Sandalwood. Cedarwood. A hint of vanilla and vetiver. Jada nearly let a sound escape her throat before she snapped herself back into control.
Alex turned back to her, casual but purposeful. “So, when does this tour begin? I’ve seen pictures of the campus—the labs look incredible. And Dean Ross insisted I couldn’t miss the observatory. That on our itinerary?”
Jada huffed a quiet laugh, arching a brow. “I’m just your measly tour guide, Alex. The tour’s yours. I’ll stop wherever you want me to.”
His smirk flickered. “That’s not true. Something tells me you’re not ‘measly’ at anything. But since I get to choose, first stop—the observatory.”
The unexpected compliment caught her off guard. For a second, her smile was real, unguarded. “Okay. First stop—the observatory. Follow me, Alex.”
“Sure thing, Miss Wilson,” he replied smoothly, the smile still tugging at his mouth.
She paused in the doorway, uncertainty softening her voice. “Please…call me Jada.”
His smirk deepened, slow and deliberate, sending a strange shiver up her spine. “Alright then. Jada it is.”
He brushed past her into the hall, still smirking, and Jada stood for a beat longer than she meant to. The man radiated calm authority—commanding but never heavy-handed. It was unsettling, in the most frustratingly magnetic way.
She gathered herself, pushed aside the tangle of impressions, and led him toward the observatory.
The vast dome opened above them, LED panels shimmering with the illusion of a midnight sky. Stars glittered across the projection, silver light spilling over the polished floors.
Alex stopped just inside, his gaze lifting. His expression softened in wonder, that faint smile playing at his lips. “This place is…impressive. How do you not spend the whole day here?” His voice carried both humor and quiet command, the kind that demanded an answer without pressure.
Jada tilted her head up, eyes tracing the endless stretch of stars overhead. “Trust me, I’ve tried. But Dean Ross doesn’t appreciate squatters.”
His laugh filled the chamber—low, warm, and unguarded. The sound echoed against the dome, wrapping around her. It was ridiculous, but Jada liked it. More than she should.
As they descended deeper into the observatory, she launched into an explanation of its design and history, her professor mode kicking in. Alex didn’t just nod along—he listened. Really listened. His sharp blue gaze tracked hers, his questions thoughtful, never performative. He gave her his full attention, like every word mattered.
It was jarring. Most department heads she’d met had either ignored her expertise or treated her intellect as something to flirt past. Alex Walker was different. He wasn’t trying to outshine her. He wasn’t dismissing her. He was making her feel, for once, like she was the brightest mind in the room.
And Jada, ever cautious, didn’t quite know what to do with that.
“I’m sorry if I’m overstepping,” Jada began, gesturing for them to sit, “but when Dean Ross told me one person was teaching two classes while stepping in as Head of Engineering? I was shocked.” She arched a brow. “When exactly are you planning to sleep?”
Alex smirked, leaning back in his chair with effortless ease. “I’m only teaching part-time. My focus will be the department. And besides—sleep is for the weak.”
Jada laughed, unable to stop herself. He was unnecessarily charming, and dangerously ambitious. Hopefully not reckless enough to burn out.
“Well, you’re brave for taking it all on,” she said, curiosity slipping past her usual guard. “But why here? I imagine you had every top university trying to recruit you.”
“You say that like Stanford isn’t already the best in the country,” he teased, his blue eyes holding hers with intent. Then, softer, almost earnest: “But really—it’s good to be home.”
Her head tilted, cautious interest sparking. “So this place means something to you? Close to your heart?”
For the briefest moment, Alex’s gaze sharpened—her probing stirred the instincts he usually kept buried. Then, smoothly, he shifted back into his professor persona. “My dad went here. He wanted me to, too, but I chose MIT for undergrad.”
Jada nodded. “Well, that’s a great school. Great people.”
His eyes left the room’s exit points and settled fully on her. A slow smile curved his lips. “I can say the same thing about this place.”
Her cheeks warmed before she could stop them. He couldn’t have missed it, but she quickly cleared her throat, rising gracefully to her feet.
She turned toward the massive telescope. “Want to give it a try while we’re here?”
Alex stood as well, offering his hand without hesitation. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Jada froze, her eyes flicking to his hand. She stared a beat too long before catching herself and slipping her smaller hand into his warm, steady grip. He held it just firmly enough to unsettle her composure.
She guided him to the telescope, stepping aside to let him lean in.
“Well?” she asked, curious despite herself. “What do you see?”
Alex bent down, peered through, then straightened with a grin. “Not much. It’s still daytime.”
The realization hit, and Jada snorted, covering her face with her hand. “Right. Of course.”
She would’ve melted into the floor from embarrassment if not for Alex chuckling along with her, his laugh rich and unguarded. The sound rolled through the observatory, warm and far too easy to enjoy.
