Chapter 15: The Professor

Brandon Cornwall's POV

After that trip to the dining hall, I have excused myself from Barbara's company as I was going to meet Alex. I don't think she knows that my friend was one of the Chemistry professor here at the campus.

I smiled in content when I saw the familiar building of the Chemistry department. Then, I made my way to Alex's office. I was happy that I will be able to give him my latest collection of the rock samples that I know Alex made in his office.

He thinks I don't know but I do.

I knocked on the door before someone shouted from the inside to come in. I opened the door before I saw Alex was with someone but not Azalea, his fiancée. It was Maya, his ex.

What the fuck?

I cleared my throat before I arched my eyebrow at Alex after Maya said something about a proposal and her thanks for the black coffee that Alex bought for her. Alex smiled before Maya greeted me as I stepped aside for her to get out of the office. I closed the door after her.

"What are you doing with her? I thought you already have Azalea," I asked him as I was glaring at him. One thing that I hated most was when a guy was cheating on his girl. Alex sighed.

"It's not what you think,'' he said as I scoffed at him.

"Then, explain so that I can understand," I said as I was narrowing my eyes at him. He sighed before he rubbed his face with his hands.

"Maya was asking for the proposal for the new expedition that I will be doing with my colleague," he said as I was arching my eyebrow.

"Azalea, she was one of the intended colleagues but I don't tell her yet," he said as I nodded at him before I took a seat in front of him and smiled at him.

"So, what brings you to my humble office?" Alex asked before he was setting his laptop aside and I was doing my best to ignore the rock collection that I gave to him. He was a sentimental guy.

"Well, I have something that you might be interested in," I said as I took out an Amazonite for his rock collection. It was a sky blue gem that can be found in the Amazon area. That's where the name came from.

"For me? You shouldn't have," he said but Alex took the rock and analyzed it. He was fascinated by the rock than me.

"Are you going to tell me why are you here? I know you're not one for social visit here," Alex said before he put the rock on the shelf. I smiled at him as he was always so direct with us.

That included Cam and Dylan as well.

"I thought I might be changing my career goals now," I said as Alex was arching his eyebrow at me.

"Oh? And why is that?" He asked me before smiling knowingly at me. I rubbed the back of my neck. I don't even know why I was confronting my feelings with him. I sighed.

"I don't know. I think I want more than just traveling and spending my time in the field site. I wanted to be more than just a geologist," I said as I was folding my hands together. Alex was regarding me with his blue eyes.

Another trait of Water wielder.

"Hmm, I see," he said. I arched my eyebrow at him.

"Okay, now what that was supposed to mean?" I asked him before Alex smiled at me with his pearly white teeth showing.

"Right, enough about that. Why don't we go out and have a drink?" He asked before I shook my head. I have to prepare for my leave for the field trip.

"I can't. I have to tell you I just wanted to stop by before I was in the Bay Area again," I said as I stood up before Alex stood up again.

"I see. You will be conducting a new excavation, I hope?" He asked as I shook my hands with him before hugging each other.

"Something like that,"

"But better, right?" He asked as I was smirking at me. He knows how to read me. I don't think anyone can do that with me.

Well, maybe except Barbara but I don't know yet.

"I wish you good luck in your new endeavor and of course, about the professor position," Alex mused before I laughed.

"It's an assistant professor but whatever," I said as I went out of the office and went back to the car as I parked near the Geology department. I looked at the building as I know Barbara was somewhere there as she stated that she will be teaching her lab. I smiled before I got inside the car and sped off from the campus.

I was in my house when I was looking around for my suitcase. It was not that big or small, just the right size for me to bring my stuff for one week on the field trip. I think Barbara thought it would be long because I don't specify her. Well…

My phone rang and when I looked at the number, I smiled. Even though I have been hearing her voice all day when we were on tour, I don't think it will ever be enough. I wondered why she called late at night.

"Hello?" I asked her as I was trying to control my amusement before I heard loud music that was blaring inside the phone.

"You piece of shit!" Barbara shouted as I was blinking a few times, trying to comprehend what she was talking about.

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah, that's right. You, Mr. Brandon Cornwall, is and will ever be a piece a shit,'' she slurred as she was giggling after that statement.

"Barbara, where are you?" I asked as I can count how much longer my anger was trying to get hold of my sanity. And with Barbara being vulnerable and drunk, I cannot think of anything else right now.

"Oh, you think you're all high and mighty. No, you don't. You might marry me on paper but you will never, under any circumstance, to own my body, mind, and soul. You are the worst of the worst, Mr. Cornwall," she said as I was gritting my teeth.

"Barbara Brown, I demand you where are you?" I asked as she was giggling at my question. Okay, that's it. No more mister nice guy.

"Barbara!"

"Will you cut it out? You always ask this and that, demand this and that. Right now, I'm sick of it and I will go away from you. Goodbye sir," she said as she hung up on me. I looked at the phone before I was trying to control my anger.

"Why you little…" I said as I was opening an app that I can track the phone call was being made. I hope it was long enough for the app to calculate and send the location to me.

I sighed as I saw the pinpoint of the location that Barbara was currently on. I took my car keys as I don't bother to get dirty again, even though I just showered.

Woah! What the hell? Where has that thought came from and I think it was not as bad as I liked to make it. Barbara as my wife, I felt my lips twisted into a smile.

Not bad, indeed.

I was speeding off from my house as I was locating the GPS onto Barbara's phone and when I saw the condition of the streets and the buildings, I must say I was on the Lower Eastside. The part in New York where most ruffians and mafia ran amok. I never thought that Barbara would be around here.

I sighed before my location was on my right. I parked the car as I took in the building that Barbara was in. It was a nightclub and I never thought she was a drinker. She hardly loses her shit and wit when she was with me.

I think she was trying to lose her stress tonight.

Not that I can blame her. We will be leaving for the field trip tomorrow but she had the nerve to be in here? I think I might spank her one or two. I gritted my teeth before I turned off the ignition and walked inside the club as the bouncer was looking at me before nodding at me.

I think he was approved of me because I have that dead eyes right now. Like I wanted to kill someone.

"Damn it," I said as I was accessing the crowd. I don't see well in dim light but I think I can solve that problem when I called for Barbara again. I heard the distant ringing of her ringtone because I was distinctive.

I turned to look at Barbara who was surrounded by guys as she was looking at the phone. She grimaced before she was ignoring my call.

Bloody hell!

I looked at her as she was throwing her laughter of something that the guy was saying and when I looked closely, she was wearing something scandalous, a black short dress that was revealing too much to the guys.

My blood boiled as I marched toward them. When I stopped in front of her, she turned to look at me and gasped.

"Well, fancy seeing you here, wife,"