Dangerous Work

Marco

I was just getting back into my room when I found Eduardo there. I hoped he wasn't here to tell me that my night wasn't over, it was already 4 a.m. I had been out all night, working and I was dreaming of relaxing in my bed.

"Your father asked to see you." Eduardo said as soon as I was close enough.

"What does he want..." I mumbled.

"He didn't tell me but you know he doesn't like to wait."

That was an understatement. I sighed but still followed Eduardo out of my bedroom. We walked the long corridors of the ancient family house until we reached my father's office. So formal. I might be his son, but he was treating me like staff. Eduardo knocked on the door and when we heard 'enter', we pushed the door open.

My father was sitting at his desk and he was watching us enter the room. His hazel eyes same as mine, were watching us like a hawk. He was still impressive for his age and everyone knew not to mess with Alfonso Leoni.

"Good. Eduardo did catch you before you went to sleep." He said as soon as I sat in the chair in front of his desk.

"What is it?" I asked, letting him know that he would need to be quick. I did want to catch some sleep before tomorrow.

"You're going back to the university to finish your degree."

His words clapped in the air like a whip. There was no arguing, no denying him, this was a command and I had to follow.

"Why?" I asked, surprised.

I was 23 and I never once went to school. I had all my degrees but I did it all either from home when I was a kid or followed classes online for the university. How could he ask from me to go like a normal person?

"I think it'll do you good to have a real world experience. I want you to take my place when you get your Master degree, Marco. It'll be good for you to see how people your age go about their lives. This'll help you for the business."

I didn't want to have to deal with normal people. My whole life was my family and the business, I didn't care about the rest.

"I don't have a choice anyway." I frowned.

"No, this is an order. As your father and as your boss, I have to give you this mission. It'll only be for a year and you'll still be working on the side, I'm not going to let you rot." He chuckled.

"If I can keep working, then all right." I sighed.

"Good. You can get some sleep, you'll need to be rested before tonight's mission."

I nodded before standing up and exiting the office to get back to my bedroom. How should I even consider going to the university? What would I have in common with those people? We didn't grow up the same way. We would never have the same interests or the same goal. What was the point?

I knew it was a rite of passage in my family, we always spent a year in the 'real' world but I found it utterly stupid. I had all I needed right here or it was only a phone call away. All the girls, money, amusement, I only had one number to dial to have it all. Why would I need to mingle? My dad was wrong to think I needed this to understand the business. I only needed to go to a club to see what young people liked. This was ridiculous.

I plopped on my bed and closed my eyes. I would show him that he was wrong, no doubt about it.

Summer past fast and we were the day of the beginning of the semestre. I was following the plan of the school to find my classroom. The place was unnecessarily huge, truly. This was starting to get on my nerves.

After 20 minutes of walking through campus, I finally found my classroom. I looked into the room and only a few people were here. There was a group of girls chatting and laughing, they all looked like the kind of girl I frequented, easy. There was a group of guys chatting loudly about a football game and a girl in the left corner.

She was wearing some video game hoodie that covered her upper body entirely and jeans. Interesting choice when it was still so hot outside. She threw me small glances behind her glasses before looking back to her desk quickly. She was right to be scared, I was undoubtedly a predator. I figured that she wouldn't bother me so I sat next to her.

She tried to stay as far away from me as possible. Good. I could be reassured that the year would be at least bearable.

One of the guys noticed me and he offered me a smile. Couldn't they read the room? I didn't want to talk to anyone.

"Hey, there. I don't know you, you're new?" He asked. "I'm Johny by the way."

"Marco." I answered. "Yes, I'm new."

"I thought so." He nodded. "Otherwise you wouldn't sit here."

The girl flinched next to me and I recognised the fear in her cornflower blue eyes. Why would she be afraid of another student?

"Why's that?" I asked.

"You see, Thalia here is the top student of our class. She has been ever since our first year. She's not funny nor interesting." He said as if that was the absolute truth.

"I can decide for myself." I frowned.

I didn't like people ordering me around. If Thalia was indeed a top student, then I had no problem with that as long as she stayed out of my way. Johny looked at me as if I was weird but I didn't mind, I was not here to make friends.

"You're new but you'll change your mind." He chuckled finally.

I noticed that Thalia was biting her tongue, she wouldn't even try to defend herself. Weak.

The professor entered the room and Johny went back to his seat. He looked at us and seemed satisfied. We weren't much but I supposed, my dad did choose this for this reason. Maybe he was a bit scared that I would attack them. That would be fun.

"All right, I'm Pr. Thorn. Welcome everyone. First, I need to tell you that this year will be difficult, you'll be graduating at the end of the year so we won't go easy on you. For my class, you'll need to realise a group project."

The classroom started to disagree but Pr. Thorn just lifted a hand and everyone went quiet.

"I don't care if you're not satisfied. The groups will be composed of two people so choose your partner wisely."

I wasn't happy about this. I hated to work with someone. I always had been alone and I felt better that way. I hoped I wouldn't be paired with Johny.

I glanced at the girl next to me and she seemed as uneasy as I was. I would choose her then. She would be easy to deal with and if she had great grades, that was all good for me. It meant that she would do her share without me having to breathe down her neck.

I raised my hand and the professor noticed me.

"Yes, Mr. Leoni?"

If he knew my name, it meant that he knew my father. Was it the reason I was here today?

"I'll work with her." I said, designating Thalia.

She yipped as if she was surprised that someone would choose her first. Seeing how she tried to disappear, I wasn't surprised.

"Good choice." The professor nodded. "I'll write down your names then."

"Are you sure?" A blonde asked me. "Thalia is weird."

"And who are you to judge Ms. Kendall?" Professor Thorn said.

She seemed offended but she didn't add anything. She seemed to be the top dog of the girls because the others all seemed surprised that someone would talk back at her. I would stay away from them, those girls were trouble. Thalia though, she seemed both scared and worried. What was wrong with her?